Posted: January 23rd, 2024

The Strategic Role of Submarines Used in World War I

The Strategic Role of Submarines Used in World War I

Submarines were among the important new technologies that came to the fore during the First World War. Although work on submarines had been underway for decades, it was the first time they were really influential. Technology had reached a point where hostile nations could deploy reliable fighting submarines.

German Submarines: The U-Boats
Germany led the way in submarine technology and production. Germany’s large, long-range submarines were known as U-boats, a term derived from the word Unterseeboot, meaning “submarine boat.” Two other classes of submarines, UB-boats, and UC-boats, were also used. They were smaller vessels and did not have as good a range. They were used mostly in coastal waters.

One of the most remarkable features of the German submarine force was its pace of growth. The first German submarine entered service in 1906. 30 were available when war broke out in 1914. By the end of the war, another 350 had been in service, with up to 61 at sea at any one time.

One of the best decisions made by the German manufacturers was to stick with a limited number of designs. Instead of varying the U-boats, they built large numbers following similar templates. They were easier to manufacture and simplified crew training.

The U and UB-boats were equipped with torpedoes and guns, and their role was to harass Allied shipping. The U-boats operated far out in the oceans as Germany tried to cut off Allied supply lines, and destroy their opponents’ ability to wage war. The UC-boats were used to lay mines in the Baltic, Black Sea, English Channel, and Mediterranean.

The first of them, UC-1, was itself probably sunk by a mine off the Belgian coast.

As well as combat vessels, the Germans experimented with using submarines to carry cargo. The first of its type, the Deutschland, sailed to the then-neutral USA in 1916 to trade for war materials. It was as much a propaganda mission as a practical one, proving what Germany could achieve. However, it was evident that U-boats were more valuable as combatants than as traders, and the ships were converted into fighting submarines.

Initially, when U-boats met merchant ships, they surfaced before they attacked and allowed those on board time to escape. However, from February 1915, the Germans changed their tactics. U-boats began to fire on ships without warning – including neutral and passenger vessels.

This strategy proved effective but also controversial. It provoked outrage from neutral nations such as the USA, whose citizens and goods were endangered by the unrestricted submarine warfare. It also violated international law and naval conventions that required warning and rescue of civilians at sea.

The most notorious incident was the sinking of the British passenger liner Lusitania by U-20 on 7 May 1915. The ship was carrying 1,959 passengers and crew, including 128 Americans. A single torpedo hit caused a massive explosion that sank the ship in 18 minutes, killing 1,198 people.

The Lusitania disaster sparked a diplomatic crisis between Germany and the USA. Germany temporarily suspended its submarine campaign to avoid further escalation. However, in January 1917, Germany resumed its unrestricted submarine warfare in a desperate attempt to break the stalemate on land and sea.

This decision proved fatal for Germany’s war effort. It provoked the USA to declare war on Germany on 6 April 1917, bringing a powerful new ally to the side of the Allies.

Allied Submarines
Although not as well equipped as the Germans, all the principal Allied nations at the start of the war had submarines. The French had 123, by far the largest group. The Russians had 41. The Italians had 25. The British had 57, but 40 of them were suitable only to serve around the coast.

Most of the Allied nations had problems with their submarines. The French submarines at the start of the war were old and unreliable. Most of
the Italian boats were limited to short-range missions. The Russian vessels were outdated, and they relied on German engines to build more modern submarines – not an option when they were fighting the Germans.

None of those nations went in for building submarines to the same extent as the Germans although the British were close.

The British submarines played a significant role in several theatres of war. They operated in the North Sea against German warships and merchantmen. They also ventured into the Baltic Sea to support Russian operations and disrupt German trade with Sweden.

In addition, British submarines operated in the Mediterranean Sea against Austro-Hungarian and Turkish shipping and naval bases. They also patrolled in other regions such as the Atlantic Ocean, Indian Ocean, Pacific Ocean, and Black Sea.

Unlike the Germans, the British submarines mostly followed the rules of naval warfare and gave warning before attacking enemy ships. They also tried to avoid sinking neutral vessels, although some mistakes and accidents occurred.

The British submarines achieved some notable successes, such as the sinking of the German cruiser SMS Hela by E9 on 13 September 1914, the first major warship sunk by a submarine in the war. Another example was the sinking of the Turkish battleship Mesudiye by B11 on 13 December 1914, which helped the Allied campaign in the Dardanelles.

However, the British submarines also suffered heavy losses, especially in the Mediterranean. Out of 74 submarines lost by the British during the war, 54 were in that region. The main causes of death were mines, depth charges, and accidents.

The Strategic Impact of Submarines
Submarines had a significant impact on the course and outcome of the First World War. They challenged the traditional concepts of naval warfare and forced both sides to adapt their strategies and tactics.

The German submarine campaign was a formidable weapon that threatened to starve Britain and its allies of vital supplies and resources. It also posed a serious risk to neutral trade and provoked diplomatic tensions that eventually brought the USA into the war.

The Allied submarines were less aggressive but still effective in harassing and damaging enemy shipping and naval forces. They also contributed to Allied operations in various theatres of war and supported their allies on land and sea.

Submarines proved to be a decisive factor in the First World War. They demonstrated their potential as a new form of naval warfare that would continue to evolve and influence future conflicts.

Bibliography
[1] Warfare Under the Waves – Submarines in the First World War | War History Online. (n.d.). Retrieved January 23, 2024, from https://www.warhistoryonline.com/world-war-i/submarines-first-world-war.html

[2] Voices of the First World War: The Submarine War | Imperial War Museums. (n.d.). Retrieved January 23, 2024, from https://www.iwm.org.uk/history/voices-of-the-first-world-war-the-submarine-war

[3] Submarines and Submarine Warfare – 1914-1918-Online. (n.d.). Retrieved January 23, 2024, from https://encyclopedia.1914-1918-online.net/article/submarines_and_submarine_warfare

[4] Gray, E., & Hore, P. (2014). The U-boat war, 1914-1918. London: Conway.

[5] Halpern, P. G. (2012). A naval history of World War I. Annapolis, Md: Naval Institute Press.

[6] Herwig, H. H. (1980). The first world war: Germany and Austria-Hungary 1914-1918. London: Allen & Unwin.

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