German Type U 93 submarine

Type 93 was a class of U-boats built during World War I by the Kaiserliche Marine.

Type 93 U-boats carried 16 torpedoes and had various arrangements of deck guns. As with the type 81 and 87, some had only one 8.8 cm/30 gun while others had a single 10.5 cm/45 gun and some had both originally. In 1917 some of the boats were refitted with a single 105mm gun and 220 rounds.

These boats carried a crew of 39 and had excellent seagoing abilities with a cruising range of around 9,020 miles. Many arrangements from the Type 81, 87 and 93 were also seen on World War II Type IX U-boats when their design work took place 20 years later.

Compared to the previous type 87, the 93s were 5.75 metres longer, while the pressure hull was 5.98 metres longer. They were 1.2 knots faster on the surface, and unchanged at 8.6 knots submerged. Range decreased 2360 miles at 8 knots, to 9,020. They still carried 16 torpedoes with 4 bow and 2 stern tubes. Crew size was increased by 3 to 39.

Compared to the following type Large MS, the 93s were 11.95 metres shorter, and 610 tons lighter. Their range was 980 mile shorter, and speed was .2 knots slower on the surface but .5 knots faster submerged. The Large MS was intended for the deepest waters and the increased size made it more comfortable and very seaworthy.

Type 93 boats were responsible for sinking 3.201% of all allied shipping sunk during the war, taking a total of 411,304 tons. They also damaged 70,913 tons, and captured 235 tons.

List of Type 93 submarines
There were 24 Type 93 submarines commissioned into the Kaiserliche Marine.


 * SM U-93
 * SM U-94
 * SM U-95
 * SM U-96
 * SM U-97
 * SM U-98
 * SM U-105
 * SM U-106
 * SM U-107
 * SM U-108
 * SM U-109
 * SM U-110


 * SM U-111
 * SM U-112
 * SM U-113
 * SM U-114
 * SM U-160
 * SM U-161
 * SM U-162
 * SM U-163
 * SM U-164
 * SM U-165
 * SM U-166
 * SM U-167

By the end of World War I, 375 U-boats of 33 separate classes belonging to 7 general types had been commissioned. More boats were finished after the war and either destroyed or awarded to victorious nations.