SM U-20 (Germany) History and Impact Explained

The SM U-20 was a German U-boat built during World War I. It was one of the first U-boats designed with a double hull.

The SM U-20 was launched in 1913 and was initially used for training purposes. It had a crew of 27 and was 43.8 meters long.

The SM U-20 was known for its speed, reaching a top speed of 16.4 knots. This made it one of the fastest U-boats of its time.

U-20 was a submarine that was ordered on November 25, 1910, making it a part of the U-19 Type submarines.

Her construction began at Kaiserliche Werft in Danzig, Poland, where the keel was laid on November 7, 1911.

She was launched on December 18, 1912, and commissioned on August 5, 1913, joining the III Flotille of the Kaiserliche Marine.

U-20 was equipped with four 19.7 inch torpedo tubes, two in the bow and two in the stern, that could carry a total of 9 torpedoes.

She also had one 88 mm deck gun, which would later be joined by an additional deck gun in 1916.

The sinking of the Lusitania was a pivotal moment in World War I history. On May 7, 1915, the British ocean liner was sunk by Imperial German U-boat SM U-20, 11 miles off the southern coast of Ireland.

The Lusitania was a massive ship, briefly the world's largest passenger vessel. Its sinking had a significant impact on the war.

The sinking of the Lusitania is often cited as a reason for the United States' declaration of war on Germany in 1917.