German submarine U-20 (1913)

German submarine U-20 (1913) was a Type U 19 U-boat of the Imperial German Navy during the First World War. It gained immense notoriety for its role in one of the war's most pivotal maritime incidents. Commanded by Kapitänleutnant Walther Schwieger, the submarine sank the British ocean liner RMS Lusitania in May 1915, an event that dramatically shifted global public opinion and influenced the course of the conflict. The vessel's operational career, though marked by this single action, was part of the broader U-boat campaign against Allied shipping.

Design and construction

The submarine was constructed as part of the U 19 class, a double-hulled design developed by the Imperial German Navy's construction office. Built at the Kaiserliche Werft Danzig shipyard, its keel was laid on 7 November 1912. The class represented a significant advancement in German submarine technology, featuring improved seakeeping, greater range, and more reliable MAN diesel engines compared to earlier types. Displacing 650 tonnes on the surface and 837 tonnes submerged, it was armed with four 50 cm (19.7 in) torpedo tubes and a single 8.8 cm deck gun. The boat was launched on 18 December 1913 and commissioned into the High Seas Fleet on 5 August 1913 under the command of Walther Schwieger.

Service history

Following its commissioning, U-20 was assigned to the I U-boat Flotilla based at Heligoland. At the outbreak of the First World War, it began combat patrols in the North Sea and around the British Isles. Prior to its infamous attack, the submarine conducted several war patrols, targeting merchant shipping as part of Germany's early commerce warfare strategy. These operations took it into the waters off the coast of Ireland and the strategic approaches to the English Channel. Its patrols were typical of the U-boat campaign, which sought to impose a blockade on the United Kingdom and disrupt the flow of supplies to the Allies.

Sinking of the RMS Lusitania

On 7 May 1915, while on patrol off the southern coast of Ireland near Old Head of Kinsale, U-20 encountered the Cunard Line passenger liner RMS Lusitania. Under the command of Walther Schwieger, the submarine fired a single torpedo which struck the ship's starboard side. A second, larger explosion followed, causing the liner to sink in just 18 minutes. Of the 1,959 passengers and crew aboard, 1,198 perished, including 128 American citizens. The sinking caused international outrage, particularly in the United States and the United Kingdom, and was widely used in Allied propaganda. The German government defended the action, citing the liner's carriage of munitions, a claim later substantiated by historical research, but the event became a major factor in turning American public opinion against Germany.

Fate

After the sinking of the RMS Lusitania, U-20 continued its wartime service, though it never again achieved similar notoriety. On 4 November 1916, while returning from a patrol in the North Sea, the submarine ran aground in heavy fog on the Danish coast near Thyborøn. Despite efforts by the crew and assistance from a German torpedo boat, the vessel could not be refloated. To prevent its capture, the crew set scuttling charges and abandoned the boat on 5 November 1916. The wreck was later broken up by the sea, though some artifacts, including its deck gun, were salvaged and are displayed in museums.

Legacy

The legacy of U-20 is inextricably linked to the sinking of the RMS Lusitania. The event is considered a major step toward the entry of the United States into the First World War in 1917. The submarine and its commander, Walther Schwieger, became central figures in historical narratives about unrestricted submarine warfare and the ethics of naval conflict. Wreckage from the submarine, including its conning tower, was rediscovered in the 1980s, renewing public and historical interest. The story of U-20 continues to be a subject of study regarding the impact of single military actions on global politics and the evolution of maritime law.

Category:World War I submarines of Germany Category:U-boats commissioned in 1913 Category:Maritime incidents in 1916