Name SM U-104 Laid down 4 August 1916 Construction started 4 August 1916 Draft 3.65 m | Ordered 15 September 1915 Commissioned 12 August 1917 Launched 3 July 1917 Builder AG Weser | |
Fate Depth-charged and sunk 25 April 1918. 41 dead, 1 survivor. Class and type German Type U 57 submarine | ||
SM U-104 was a German Type U 57 U-boat during the First World War. U-104 was built at AG Weser in Bremen, launched on 3 July 1917 and commissioned on 12 August 1917. She completed four patrols under Kptlt. Kurt Bernis and was responsible for the sinking of eight vessels of a total of 10,795 gross register tons (GRT). Among these was the American lightship LV 71, stationed at Diamond Shoals; the latter reported the submarine's presence in the area, at which point Bernis notified the lightship of his intentions and allowed her crew to depart before shelling the vessel and sinking her.
Loss
On 25 April 1918 the U-104 was engaged by USS Cushing in St. George's Channel and severely damaged. Later the same day HMS Jessamine came upon her and dropped further depth-charges, sinking her and leaving but a single survivor of her 42-member crew. The wreckage lies at position 51°59′N 6°26′W.