Austro-Hungarian submarine U-XII

Austro-Hungarian submarine "U-XII" was part of the Austro-Hungarian Navy's U-boat fleet during the First World War.

She was built in 1911 and was lost in August 1915.

Early history

"U-XII" was originally designated "SS-3" and was built by Whitehead’s of Fiume as a private venture, using a design based on the Holland boats of the "U-V" class.

As such she was the first all-Imperial U-boat and provided the basis for the later "Havmanden" submarines built by the Empire for the Danish Navy and for the U-XXVII class later in the war.

ervice history

At the onset on the start of the First World War, in August 1914, "SS-3" was obtained by the Austro-Hungarian Navy ( "KuK Kreigsmarine") and commissioned as "U-XII". Her first captain was "Linienschiffsleutnant" Egon Lerche, who commanded her throughout her career.As Italy was neutral at this stage of the conflict, "U XII"’s operations were against French and British forces in the Adriatic and Mediterranean seas.Her first major success was on 21 December 1914 when she torpedoed the dreadnought "Jean Bart", damaging her and forcing her to retire for repairs.After Italy’s entry into the war in May 1915 "U XII" operated against the Italian fleet also but had no success before her last mission in August 1915.

Fate

In August 1915 "U XII" was sent to patrol and attack shipping off the Venice lagoon.

On 6 August 1915 "U XII" was attacked by the Italian destroyer "Rossolino Pilo"; she was rammed, but escaped with damage. However two days later "U XII" struck a mine off Venice; she sank just over 7 miles ESE of the Point Sabbioni lighthouse with all her crew.The wreck was later discovered by Italian divers; it was raised in January 1917 by the Italians, but was of no value, and was broken up for scrap. The bodies of her crew were buried on San Michele island.

ee Also

List of Austro-Hungarian U-boats

References

* Halpern "Naval History of World War I" (1994) ISBN 185728 295 7 HB
* Kemp "U-Boats Destroyed" (1997) ISBN 1 85409 515 3

External links

* [http://www.uboat.net/wwi/boats/index.html?boat=KUK+U12 U XII at uboatnet]
* [http://www.gwpda.org/naval/ahsubs.htm The Austro-Hungarian Submarine Force]