U-117

U—117

(Former German Submarine: dp. 1,164 (surf.), 1,612 (subm.); 1. 267~', b. 24~', dr. 13~'; s. 14.7 k. (surf.), 7 k. (subm.); cpl. 40; a. 1 6.9", 1 3.4", 2
mine tubes, 42 mines, 4 20" tt.; cl. U-117)

U-177—a UE-II series long-range minelayer submarine-was laid down in 1917 at Hamburg, Germany, by Aktiengesellschaft Vulcan, launched on 10 December 1917, and commissioned in the Imperial German Navy on 28 March 1918, Kapitanleutnant Otto Droscher in command.

After shakedown, U-117 was posted to the U-Krenzer Verband ( Submarine Cruiser Unit) on 1 June 1918. Over the next five weeks, she completed fitting out at Kiel and prepared for her single patrol during the war.

On 11 July, U-117 departed Kiel and took the eastern route through the Baltic around Denmark and out into the North Sea by way of the Skaggerak. After rounding the Shetland Islands, she set a course for the coast of North America to lay minefields off the coast of the United States and to conduct cruiser warfare. During the voyage across the Atlantic, heavy weather foiled her attempts to attack two lone steamers, two convoys, and a small cruiser.

However, once she reached the American coastal zone on 8 August, her luck improved. Two days later, U-117 encountered a fleet of fishing craft and went on a spree, sinking nine of the vessels with explosives and gunfire. On the 12th, she sighted the ballast-laden SS Sommerstadt and, after observing that the Norwegian

steamer was armed, made a submerged attack that sank her with a single torpedo. The following day the U-boat made another submerged torpedo attack and hit the 7,127-ton American tanker Frederick R. Kellogg bound from Tampico, Mex., for Boston with 7,500 barrels of crude oil. The action occurred only 12 miles north of the Barnegat Light, in shallow water which enabled the ship to be salvaged.

Later that same day, the minelayer submarine began the other half of her duty by laying mines near Barnegat Light. That field later claimed a victim when SS San Saba struck a mine and sank on 4 October. On 14 August, U-117 took a break from mining operations to resume cruiser warfare when she encountered an American schooner. The U-boat brought her deck guns to bear on the sailing vessel and sent her to the bottom with gunfire. However, shortly thereafter, the hunter became the hunted when an American seaplane forced the submarine to seek refuge beneath the ocean. The plane and SC-71 subjected U-117 to a brief barrage of bombs, and SC-71 attacked the submarine with depth charges before losing track of her.

The next day, U-117 resumed her mine laying operations off Fenwick Island Lightship. That field later claimed two victims, one damaged and the other sunk. On 29 September, Minnesota (Battleship No. 22) struck one of those mines and suffered extensive damage. The Naval Overseas Transportation Service cargo ship Saetia (Id. No. 2317) entered the same field on g November, struck a mine, and sank. Later that day— still 14 August-the submarine moved farther south and, after laying a third minefield near Winter Quarters Shoal Lightship, halted an American sailing vessel, the 1,613-ton Madrugada, and sank her with gunfire. A patrolling American seaplane foiled a subsequent attempt by the U-boat that day to stop another sailing ship.

On 16 August, U-117 resumed her mining operations, this time off Cape Hatteras, N.C. The approach of the 6,978-ton British steamer SS Mirlo interrupted her mine laying labors. Approaching the target submerged, U-117 fired a single torpedo which sent the merchantman to the bottom. Following that attack, the submarine resumed her mining duties and laid her fourth and final minefield. At that point, a severe shortage of fuel forced the U-boat to head for Germany.

The return voyage proved to be both more eventful and more successful than the outward-bound cruise. On 17 August, she stopped a Norwegian sailing ship, the 2,846-ton Nordhav, out of Buenos Aires, bound for New
York laden with linseed. U-117 crewmen placed bombs on board the cargo carrier which sank the prize. Three days later, the U-boat engaged in an unsuccessful surface gun duel with an unidentified, strongly armed steamer. On the 26th, she stopped the 162-ton Rush and sank that American trawler with bombs placed on board. The next day, U-117 caught sight of another Norwegian freighter, SS Bergedalen, steaming in ballast from La Pallice to Baltimore. Justifying her action with the observation that this modern Viking Norwegian mounted a gun, the submarine attacked unheralded and submerged, sinking her quarry with a single torpedo. Three days later, on 30 August, she encountered her final two victims. The submarine stopped two 136-ton British fishing trawlers, Elsie Porter and Potentate, and sank both by placing explosive charges on board.

After an unsuccessful attempt at a torpedo attack on a lone British steamer, SS War Rance, on 5 September U-117 concentrated on making the final run-in toward the Skagerrak and safety. Her critical fuel shortage forced the submarine to make wireless contact with U-140 on 8 September to set up a fuel replenishment rendezvous. The two U-boats met on the 12th and 13th near the Faroe Islands, and U-177 took on about 5,000 gallons of diesel oil before continuing on toward Kiel. The submarine pulled into Kiel rather ignominiously on 22 September, having had to call upon a patrolling torpedo boat to tow her the last few miles into port.

For the rest of the war, U-117 remained inactive. On 23 October 1918, she was reassigned to the I U Flotille, Hochseefotte (1st Submarine Flotilla, High Seas Fleet), however, she remained in a shipyard— probably at Kiel-for the duration.

The armistice of 11 November 1918 ended hostilities, and its terms required Germany to turn her submarines over to the Allies. U-117 surrendered at Harwich, England, 10 days later.

During the succeeding weeks, the United States Navy expressed an interest in acquiring several former German submarines to serve as exhibits during a Victory Bond campaign. U-117 became one of the six U-boats set aside for that purpose. In March 1919 her American crew took over the submarine and placer her in special commission, Lt. Comdr. Aquilla G. Dibrell in command.

After a hectic time preparing for sea, U-117 stood down the English Channel from Harwich on 3 April in company with Bushnell (Submarine Tender No. 2),

UB - 8, UB-148, and UC-97. This unlikely American task organization-dubbed the Ex-German Submarine Expeditionary Force-called at the Azores and at Bermuda before reaching New York City on 27 April where the submarines were soon opened to the public. Tourists, photographers, reporters, Navy Department technicians, and civilian submarine manufacturers all flocked in to see the six war trophies. Then orders came for her to begin a series of port visits to sell Victory Bonds. U-117 drew one of the east coast itineraries and, although exact information regarding her ports of call is not available, she did stop at Washington, D.C., and spent a significant period of time at the navy yard located there. At the conclusion of the bond drive late that summer, the U-boat was laid up at the Philadelphia Navy Yard along with U-140 and UB-148. There, she remained-partially dismantled-until taken out to sea in June 1921 to act as a target for aerial bombing tests conducted by the Navy and Army. On 22 June 1921, U-117 was sunk by bombing off the coast of Virginia, near Cape Charles.