WWI U-boats

U 78

 

Type

UE 1

Shipyard Vulcan, Hamburg  (Werk 60)
Ordered 9 Mar 1915 Laid down  
Launched 27 Feb 1916 Commissioned 20 Apr 1916 
Commanders
20 Apr 1916 - 15 Jan 1918   Otto Dröscher
16 Jan 1918 - 31 Jan 1918   Karl Thouret
1 Feb 1918 - 27 Feb 1918   Johann Vollbrecht
1 Mar 1918 - 26 Apr 1918   Karl Vesper
27 Apr 1918 - 24 May 1918   Wilhelm Meyer
25 May 1918 - 28 Oct 1918   Johann Vollbrecht
Career 12 patrols
9 Jul 1916 - 28 Oct 1918 I Flotilla
Successes17 ships sunk for a total of 27,488 tons.
1 ship damaged for a total of 7,869 tons.
2 ships taken as prize for a total of 3,427 tons. 
Fate 27 Oct 1918 - Torpedoed by HM Sub G2 N of North Sea at 5602N 0508E. 40 dead (all hands lost). 

The commonly listed sinking date of October 28, 1918 is in error.

See the 20 ships hit by U 78


There was another U 78 in World War Two
That boat was launched from its shipyard on 7 Dec 1940 and commissioned into the Kriegsmarine on 15 Feb 1941. Take a look at the U 78 from WWII.

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