Submarine of trade

An underwater of trade (or underwater cargo liner ) is a particular type of Sous-marin conceived for the Maritime transport civil, without armament like the majority of the other submarines. Their main reasons to be would be to cross a Blocus or to be able to pass under the Icecap.

At present, only two submarines were designed to this end, by the Germany during the First World War, although other submarines were converted to transport small cargoes, especially in time of war.

Germany

The two only submarines designed especially for the trade were built in Germany, during the First World War. Their goal was to pass through the assured blockade of the Triple Entente mainly by the Royal Navy. This blockade prevented Germany from acquiring certain essential materials for its effort of war.

The two submarines, named Deutschland and Bremen , were built in 1916 by a company created for the occasion, the Deutsche Ozean-Reederei , subsidiary of the North German Lloyd and the Deutsche Bank. They were to make the crossing of Germany towards the the United States, then neutrals, to bring back these materials; the German currencies not being advantageous enough for American, these submarines were to also transport a cargo to the outward journey.

The the United Kingdom protested quickly at the United States in connection with this use of submarines, applicant who they could not be stopped and inspected (for example to seek ammunition there) like the other ships. The argument was rejected by the USA, since the submarines were then regarded as tradind ships like the others, therefore authorized to sail. In return, the brought back products met the needs for the industry of German war during several months

A third voyage envisaged in January 1917 was cancelled after the United States entered in war against Germany; this declaration of war intervened inter alia following the actions of the submarines (military) German running ships sailing towards England, sometimes near the American coasts. The submarine was taken again by the Kaiserliche Marine and converted into underwater Croiseur named U-155; it ran a total of 43 ships during three campaigns. After the war, it was taken by the British and brought back like trophy of war in December 1918. Demolished in 1921, its history finished tragically with the death of five workmen killed in an explosion during the demolition. It could also have run up against a mine close to the the Orkneys.

Others

Six other submarines of trade were in construction with the Deutsche Ozean-Reederei when the United States entered in war at the beginning of 1917. They were converted into underwater cruisers, like the Deutschland .

During the Second world war, Germany used the “cash cows”, of the submarines (type XIV) used to supply the submarines of attack in the Atlantic. These submarines, belonging to the Kriegsmarine, had a light armament in the form of anti-aircraft guns, and were not used for the trade, in spite of their great capacity of carrying.

Soviet Union

The Soviet Union envisaged to build underwater cargo liners during the Second world war and the Cold war, but no project succeeds. These projects auraint be of the submarines of trade in a strict sense since they would have been slightly armed and used mainly for tasks in time of war (transport of troops or supply).

Second world war

Soviet used submarines, inter alia, to supply the port of Sébastopol with the Crimea, besieged during the Second world war. The largest submarine could transport 95 tons of cargo, by charging even the torpedo tubes. Approximately 4000 tons were transported on 80 journeys accomplished by 27 submarines, but Sébastopol was overcome all the same.

By using this experiment, the Soviet Marine began a program of underwater transport. The first project (Project 605) considered a submarine consisting mainly of a Barge towed by a standard submarine. The idea failed because of the problems associated with the towing. Project 607, thereafter, considered submarines of a capacity from 250 to 300 tons with two folding cranes, and two guns on the bridge for any armament. The plans were abandoned in 1943 when the strategic situation changed.

Other uses

Another “commercial” use is the use of submarines of leisures for the drug trafficking. A Colombian trust of drug thus wanted to make build a 30 m length submarine which can transport 200 tons of goods, apparently conceived for the traffic of Cocaïne towards the USA. A raid of police force put an end to it, whereas the submarine was still in several pieces in a warehouse close to Bogotá.

Sources

Principal reference

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