SM U-157

History

German Empire

NameU-157

Ordered29 November 1916

Launched23 May 1917

Commissioned22 September 1917

Fate11 November 1918 – Interned at Trondheim, Norway. Surrendered to France on 8 February 1919. Broken up at Brest during July 1921.

General characteristics

Displacement1,512 tonnes (1,488 long tons) (surfaced) 1,875 tonnes (1,845 long tons) (submerged) 2,272 tonnes (2,236 long tons) (total)

Length65.00 m (213 ft 3 in) (o/a) 57.00 m (187 ft) (pressure hull)

Beam8.90 m (29 ft 2 in) (o/a) 5.80 m (19 ft) (pressure hull)

Height9.25 m (30 ft 4 in)

Draught5.30 m (17 ft 5 in)

Installed power800 PS (590 kW; 790 bhp) (surfaced) 800 PS (590 kW; 790 bhp) (submerged)

Propulsion2 × shafts, 2 × 1.60 m (5 ft 3 in) propellers

Speed12.4 knots (23.0 km/h; 14.3 mph) surfaced 5.2 knots (9.6 km/h; 6.0 mph) submerged

Range25,000 nmi (46,000 km; 29,000 mi) at 5.5 knots (10.2 km/h; 6.3 mph) surfaced, 65 nmi (120 km; 75 mi) at 3 knots (5.6 km/h; 3.5 mph) submerged

Test depth50 metres (160 ft)

Complement6 officers, 50 enlisted

Armament2 50 cm (20 in) bow torpedo tubes 18 torpedoes 2 × 15 cm (5.9 in) SK L/45 deck guns with 1672 rounds 2 × 8.8 cm (3.5 in) SK L/30 deck guns with 764 rounds

Service record

Part ofU-Kreuzer Flotilla 22 September 1917 – 11 November 1918

CommandersKptlt. Max Valentiner 22 September 1917 – 20 July 1918 KrvKpt. Ortwin Rave 21 July – 30 November 1918

Operations2 patrols

Victories15 merchant ships sunk (15,905 GRT)

SM U-157 was one of the 329 submarines serving in the Imperial German Navy in World War I. U-157 was engaged in the naval warfare and took part in the First Battle of the Atlantic.

Summary of raiding history

Date	Name	Nationality	Tonnage	Fate
26 December 1917	Lidia	Portugal	302	Sunk
7 January 1918	Oued Sebou	France	1,540	Sunk
10 January 1918	Hulda Maersk	Denmark	1,566	Sunk
11 January 1918	Norefos	Norway	1,788	Sunk
17 February 1918	Estrella Da Bissao	Portugal	129	Sunk
20 February 1918	Kithira	Greece	2,240	Sunk
14 March 1918	Arpillao	Spain	2,768	Sunk
4 August 1918	Remonstrant	Norway	1,073	Sunk
4 August 1918	Don	Norway	1,145	Sunk
9 August 1918	Orkney	Denmark	291	Sunk
15 August 1918	Kalps	Russian SFSR	284	Sunk
27 August 1918	Gloria	Portugal	120	Sunk
18 September 1918	Ledaal	Norway	2,257	Sunk
22 September 1918	Gaia	Portugal	278	Sunk
8 October 1918	Hawanee	United Kingdom	124	Sunk

Gröner, Erich; Jung, Dieter; Maass, Martin (1991). U-boats and Mine Warfare Vessels. German Warships 1815–1945. Vol. 2. Translated by Thomas, Keith; Magowan, Rachel. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-593-4.
Jung, Dieter (2004). Die Schiffe der Kaiserlichen Marine 1914-1918 und ihr Verbleib [German Imperial Navy ships 1914-1918 and their fate] (in German). Bonn: Bernard & Graefe. ISBN 3-7637-6247-7.