SM U 29
U-29. 18/03/1915
U27 Class U boat.
Displacement: 679t disp (surf)
Length: 64.7m. Beam: 6.3m. Draught: 3.5 m.
Propulsion: Electric & Diesel
Complement: 32 officers and men.
Lost: 32
Armament: 4 T.T., (2 bow/2 stern, 6 torpedoes, 1 x 105mm deck gun
U27 Class U boat.
Displacement: 679t disp (surf)
Length: 64.7m. Beam: 6.3m. Draught: 3.5 m.
Propulsion: Electric & Diesel
Complement: 32 officers and men.
Lost: 32
Armament: 4 T.T., (2 bow/2 stern, 6 torpedoes, 1 x 105mm deck gun
U 29 was ordered in February 1912 and built at the Kaiserliche Werft, Danzig and launched in October 1913.
From August 1914 to February 1915 U 29 was commanded by Kptlt. Wilhelm Plange
In February 1915 the command of U 29 was passed to Kptlt. Otto Weddigen (Pour le Mérite)
Six ships were sunk by U 29 and all while under the command of Kptlt. Weddigen.
From August 1914 to February 1915 U 29 was commanded by Kptlt. Wilhelm Plange
In February 1915 the command of U 29 was passed to Kptlt. Otto Weddigen (Pour le Mérite)
Six ships were sunk by U 29 and all while under the command of Kptlt. Weddigen.
Kptlt. Otto Weddigen (Pour le Mérite)
Otto Weddigen was born on September. 15th, 1882, Herford, Westphalia, Germany. He joined the German Navy in 1901 and from 1908 was part of the development of the German U Boat fleet. In 1911 he was made commander of U9.
U 9
On September 22nd 1914 U9 was on patrol off the Dutch coast. Three cruisers of the Royal Navy were spotted and a torpedo was fired at HMS Aboukir, The other two cruisers, HMS Hogue and HMS Cressy, thinking HMS Aboukir had struck a mine closed in to pick up survivors and these two cruisers were also torpedoed. within an hour all three cruisers had sunk with the loss of 1459 men there were 837 survivors.
Weddigen Commemorative Medallion's. Royal Navy Submarine Museum. Photo LiWD
The following month U9 was on patrol off Scotland. On the 15th October 1914 the cruiser HMS Hawke was sighted NE of Aberdeen. A single torpedo sank the cruiser with the loss of 524 officers and men including her Captain.
U 29
Kptlt Weddigen was then given command a more modern submarine, U-29. On the first patrol, in March 1915, U 29 was sent to patrol off Lands End where four merchant ships were sunk and two damaged.
U 29 then changed patrol area to East Scotland where, on the 18th March, the U boat was rammed by the British battleship HMS Dreadnought and sunk with all hands.
This was the only U Boat to have been sunk by a Battleship.
U 29 then changed patrol area to East Scotland where, on the 18th March, the U boat was rammed by the British battleship HMS Dreadnought and sunk with all hands.
This was the only U Boat to have been sunk by a Battleship.
Daily News (London) - Monday 15 March 1915
VICTIMS OF THE PIRATES
CAPTURES BY U 29 NEAR SCILLY.
CREWS SAVED.
DISTRIBUTION OF WINE AND CIGARS.
Seven unarmed British merchantmen and a French steamer have been attacked by German submarines since last Wednesday. Three of these vessels are known to have been sunk. It is further reported that a Swedish steamer, the Hannah, has been I torpedoed off Flamborough, with! the loss of six lives. Some interesting evidence as to the speed of the modern German submarine is supplied by the captain of the Andalusian. That vessel was travelling at 11 knots, but the submarine, says the skipper, seemed to travel at twice the speed, " going all the time exactly like a greyhound after a hare." A haul of five steamers was made in the neighbourhood of the Scillies , by the U 29.
VICTIMS OF THE PIRATES
CAPTURES BY U 29 NEAR SCILLY.
CREWS SAVED.
DISTRIBUTION OF WINE AND CIGARS.
Seven unarmed British merchantmen and a French steamer have been attacked by German submarines since last Wednesday. Three of these vessels are known to have been sunk. It is further reported that a Swedish steamer, the Hannah, has been I torpedoed off Flamborough, with! the loss of six lives. Some interesting evidence as to the speed of the modern German submarine is supplied by the captain of the Andalusian. That vessel was travelling at 11 knots, but the submarine, says the skipper, seemed to travel at twice the speed, " going all the time exactly like a greyhound after a hare." A haul of five steamers was made in the neighbourhood of the Scillies , by the U 29.
Hampshire Telegraph - Friday 19 March 1915
SUNKEN STEAMERS
WORK OF THE U 29.
Her Commander's Hospitality.
The Press Association's Penzance correspondent telegraphs: The captains, officers, and crews, 95 in all, of the three steamers which were attacked by a German submarine off the Scilly Isles on Friday morning, were landed at Penzance on Saturday afternoon. The three steamers were the Indian City, of Cardiff, bound from Galveston to Havre with cotton; the Headlands, of Liverpool, with fruit from the Mediterranean to Bristol and the Andalusian, of Liverpool, the Ellerman liner, with its general cargo to Italian ports . No life was lost. U29 was the enemy pirate. Captain Williams, of the Indian City, said they were nine miles south of St. Mary's, Scilly, on Friday morning at 7.30, when they saw the submarine 300 yards astern. The Indian City was overhauled, 'and in perfect English the captain of the submarine told him to hoist his flag, which Captain Williams did. The submarine then showed the German ensign and told him he was going to sink the steamer, and they must get into their boats. As soon as the boats had pulled away from the vessel the steamer was torpedoed. The captain of the submarine invited Captain Williams aboard and, brought out a box of cigars and a bottle of wine, and conversed with the English sailors whilst towing the ship's boats with their .crews towards the islands. Then two patrol boats were sighted, and Captain Williams, who said the German commander acted as a gentleman towards him, was ordered to get into one of his own boats. The submarine then cleared off and the patrol boats chased and fired, but the submarine was very fast, and easily got away. The Indian City was a new steamer doing her first voyage.
The Next Victim.
The pirate then made for the steamer Headlands. _ . Captain Lugg, of Stockton -on - Tees, master of her, said that at nine o'clock they were eight miles south of the Scillian when they sighted a steamer on fire. the Indian City. he made for her, and half-an. hour later saw a submarine ahead being chased by a patrol boat. " We got out of the way fast as we could." said Captain I Lugg,''but when the submarine got out of the range of the patrol boat's guns, be came after us. He soon overhauled us, and fired rockets for us to stop." They, however, did not stop for a long time. Coming up again, the captain of the submarine gave him five minutes to get out of the Ship; then a torpedo was fired at her. The Headlands did not sink. Thirty-seven men from the Indian City and 24 from the Headlands were all picked up and landed at the Scillies.
The Man Who Sunk the Cruisers.
The "Plymouth Herald ' says members of the crews spoke in high terms of the courtesy of the submarine skipper, who stated that he was in charge of the submarine when she sank the Cressy, the Aboukir and the Hogue. The captain of the Headlands was on the bridge at the time of the attack on his vessel, and he took a photograph of the .submarine. The captain of the Andalusian stated that the Germans hoarded his chip and I carried off her cutlery. The Indian City was sunk, the Headlands was not sunk cad the sinking of the Andalusian is not officially confirmed.
SUNKEN STEAMERS
WORK OF THE U 29.
Her Commander's Hospitality.
The Press Association's Penzance correspondent telegraphs: The captains, officers, and crews, 95 in all, of the three steamers which were attacked by a German submarine off the Scilly Isles on Friday morning, were landed at Penzance on Saturday afternoon. The three steamers were the Indian City, of Cardiff, bound from Galveston to Havre with cotton; the Headlands, of Liverpool, with fruit from the Mediterranean to Bristol and the Andalusian, of Liverpool, the Ellerman liner, with its general cargo to Italian ports . No life was lost. U29 was the enemy pirate. Captain Williams, of the Indian City, said they were nine miles south of St. Mary's, Scilly, on Friday morning at 7.30, when they saw the submarine 300 yards astern. The Indian City was overhauled, 'and in perfect English the captain of the submarine told him to hoist his flag, which Captain Williams did. The submarine then showed the German ensign and told him he was going to sink the steamer, and they must get into their boats. As soon as the boats had pulled away from the vessel the steamer was torpedoed. The captain of the submarine invited Captain Williams aboard and, brought out a box of cigars and a bottle of wine, and conversed with the English sailors whilst towing the ship's boats with their .crews towards the islands. Then two patrol boats were sighted, and Captain Williams, who said the German commander acted as a gentleman towards him, was ordered to get into one of his own boats. The submarine then cleared off and the patrol boats chased and fired, but the submarine was very fast, and easily got away. The Indian City was a new steamer doing her first voyage.
The Next Victim.
The pirate then made for the steamer Headlands. _ . Captain Lugg, of Stockton -on - Tees, master of her, said that at nine o'clock they were eight miles south of the Scillian when they sighted a steamer on fire. the Indian City. he made for her, and half-an. hour later saw a submarine ahead being chased by a patrol boat. " We got out of the way fast as we could." said Captain I Lugg,''but when the submarine got out of the range of the patrol boat's guns, be came after us. He soon overhauled us, and fired rockets for us to stop." They, however, did not stop for a long time. Coming up again, the captain of the submarine gave him five minutes to get out of the Ship; then a torpedo was fired at her. The Headlands did not sink. Thirty-seven men from the Indian City and 24 from the Headlands were all picked up and landed at the Scillies.
The Man Who Sunk the Cruisers.
The "Plymouth Herald ' says members of the crews spoke in high terms of the courtesy of the submarine skipper, who stated that he was in charge of the submarine when she sank the Cressy, the Aboukir and the Hogue. The captain of the Headlands was on the bridge at the time of the attack on his vessel, and he took a photograph of the .submarine. The captain of the Andalusian stated that the Germans hoarded his chip and I carried off her cutlery. The Indian City was sunk, the Headlands was not sunk cad the sinking of the Andalusian is not officially confirmed.
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Capt. Lugg and the photograph he took of U-29 as described in article above.
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Birmingham Daily Post - Monday 15 March 1915
FRENCH VESSEL THE FIFTH VICTIM.
The crew of the French steamer Auguste Conseil have been landed at Falmouth. Their vessel was sunk off the Start by German Submarine U 29.
FRENCH VESSEL THE FIFTH VICTIM.
The crew of the French steamer Auguste Conseil have been landed at Falmouth. Their vessel was sunk off the Start by German Submarine U 29.
East Anglian Daily Times - Friday 19 March 1915
U9 DISABLED.
(Press Association War Special.) Amsterdam, Wednesday. | In a letter dated March 2nd, published in the “Lokalanzeiger,” the brother of a well-known submarine officer, Otto Weddigen, writes that the latter was for some days confined to his room in Wilhelmshaven, having sprained his foot, but he put out to sea again some days ago in the new submarine U 29. He adds that ‘the U 9, Weddigen's former submarine, is no longer fit for long voyages.
U9 DISABLED.
(Press Association War Special.) Amsterdam, Wednesday. | In a letter dated March 2nd, published in the “Lokalanzeiger,” the brother of a well-known submarine officer, Otto Weddigen, writes that the latter was for some days confined to his room in Wilhelmshaven, having sprained his foot, but he put out to sea again some days ago in the new submarine U 29. He adds that ‘the U 9, Weddigen's former submarine, is no longer fit for long voyages.
The Loss
On March 18th 1915 HMS Dreadnaught was steaming at 15 knots when, at 12.28 a periscope was spotted off the port bow at about 1500 yards. HMS Dreadnaught increased speed to 17.5 knots towards the U Boat. One round was fired at the periscope. At 12.35 the U Boat was rammed and the bow came out of the water. The number U29 was seen, in relief but painted over. The U boat sank and a large patch of oil, air bubbles and wreckage was observed. There were no survivors.
HMS Dreadnaught and page from logbook March 18th 1915 Photos LiWD Collection
Belfast News-Letter - Friday 26 March 1915
THE SINKING OF U29
Fate of Captain Weddigen. The naval correspondent of the Times" writes—The Admiralty announcement that U 29 has been sunk has special importance, since so far as is known this vessel was commanded by Captain Otto Weddigen. who, when commanding U9, sank the three British cruisers Hogue, Cressy, and Aboukir on 22nd September, and the Hawke on 16th October of last year. For his exploits those occasions Captain Weddigen received the German Order of Merit. as well the Iron Cross. With regard to the sinking of the three British cruisers, Captain Weddigen, in a personal narrative, given to an American paper, spoke of his boat as one of an old type, and expressed the hope that in a newer craft he might have further luck. There seems to be no doubt that Captain Weddigen’s career has now come to an end with that of his new boat. Our satisfaction at the occurrence is mingled with some regret at the death of a man who, so far is known, behaved bravely and skilfully, and where it was possible displayed his victims the humanity expected of a seamen, but which has not been characteristic of all his brother officers.
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Illustrated War News - Wednesday 31 March 1915
THE SINKING OF " U 29 " : LIEUT.-COMMANDER WEDDIGEN AND THE CREW OF " U 9," PROBABLY WITH HIM ON THE " U 29 " (ALL IRON-CROSSED)
The Admiralty have good reason to believe that the German submarine ' U 29,' has been sunk with all hands." This submarine was, it was understood, under the command of Lieut.-Commander Otto Weddigen, who, aboard the " U 9," sank the " Cressy," " Aboukir," and " Hogue." " U 29 " has been cruising off the Scilly Islands, and, by his conduct to the crews of steamers he sank, her commander became known as "the polite pirate." He told the captain of one steamer that the German submarines wanted to kill ships, not men. It was then that he said that he was in command of ' U 9 " when she sank the British cruisers. It is probable that he took w.th him to " U 29 " the crew of ' U 9." Lieut-Commander Weddigen is the third from the left, sitting.—[Photo),
The Wreck
U 29 has the Wreck Card 1725. Wreck had the first entry in which simply states ''Sunk in 582000N, 005700E Approx. (Authority not stated)
The card was last updated in 1991 ''Sunk in 581600N, 005900E Approx. (U-Boat Intelligence.1914-18)''
To date the wreck of U 29 has not been located.
The card was last updated in 1991 ''Sunk in 581600N, 005900E Approx. (U-Boat Intelligence.1914-18)''
To date the wreck of U 29 has not been located.
The Crew
WEDDIGEN, OTTO (32), Kapitänleutnant, Military Merit Order (Württemberg), Born 15.09.1882 Herford,
BARANDON, KARL / CARL (25), Oberleutnant zur See, Born in Kiel,
BRUNS, OTTO (22), Leutnant zur See, , Born in Elberfeld,
BERGMANN, FR., Oberbootsmannmaat, Born in Wilhelmshaven,
BRZENK, JOHANN, Heizer, U-29, †18/03/1915, Born in Gomnitz,
FAUST, AUGUST, Bootsmannmaat, Born in Wiesbaden,
FRIEDRICH, R.A., Maschinist, Born in Swinemünde,
GROSSMANN, F., Heizer, Born in Lötzdorf,
GRUNDMEIER, R., Maschinenmaat, Born in Lippstadt, Westf,
GURNIK, FELIX, Maschine-Ingenieur, Born in Elbing,
HARCK, HUBERT, Matrose, Born in Seppau,
HEIDEL, FRIEDRICH, Heizer, Born in Kiel,
HENKE, H., Obermaschinist-Anwärter, Born in Kiel,
HEYNE, ARTHUR, Maschinenmaat, Born in Osterode,
KAGEL, KARL, Maschinenmaat, Born in Gagien i. Meckl.-Schw,
KAISER, ERNST, Obermaschinistenmaat, Born in Elberfeld,
KRÄHE, ERNST, Maschinenanwärter, Born in Tangermünde,
LAUTH, JOHANN, Heizer, Born in Gunters-Blum,
LIBORIUS, WALTER, Matrose d. Res., Born in Verden,
MALZ, PETER, Maschinenmaat, Born in Cöln,
MICHALSKY, OTTO, Heizer, Born in Zduny,
NABITZ, WALTER, Obermatrose, Born in Königsberg,
PAULSSEN, HUBERT, Matrose, Born in Aachen,
PINNOW, EMIL, Maschinenmaat, Born in Stettin,
SCHMIDT, KARL, Kriegs-Lotse, Born in Hamburg,
SCHNEIDER, WILHELM, Obermatrose, Born in Wünschendorf,
SCHRÖDER, WILHELM, Obermaschinist-Anwärter, Born in Hamburg,
SCHULZE, WILHELM, Maschinist, Born in Berlin,
SCHUMANN, E., Funktelegraphie-Gast, Born in Magdeburg,
SIMON, PAUL, Steuermann, Born in Neustettin,
SLIWINSKY, JOHANN, Heizer, Born in Braunschweig,
WALDOW, MAX, Maschinenanwärter, Born in Cottbus,
BARANDON, KARL / CARL (25), Oberleutnant zur See, Born in Kiel,
BRUNS, OTTO (22), Leutnant zur See, , Born in Elberfeld,
BERGMANN, FR., Oberbootsmannmaat, Born in Wilhelmshaven,
BRZENK, JOHANN, Heizer, U-29, †18/03/1915, Born in Gomnitz,
FAUST, AUGUST, Bootsmannmaat, Born in Wiesbaden,
FRIEDRICH, R.A., Maschinist, Born in Swinemünde,
GROSSMANN, F., Heizer, Born in Lötzdorf,
GRUNDMEIER, R., Maschinenmaat, Born in Lippstadt, Westf,
GURNIK, FELIX, Maschine-Ingenieur, Born in Elbing,
HARCK, HUBERT, Matrose, Born in Seppau,
HEIDEL, FRIEDRICH, Heizer, Born in Kiel,
HENKE, H., Obermaschinist-Anwärter, Born in Kiel,
HEYNE, ARTHUR, Maschinenmaat, Born in Osterode,
KAGEL, KARL, Maschinenmaat, Born in Gagien i. Meckl.-Schw,
KAISER, ERNST, Obermaschinistenmaat, Born in Elberfeld,
KRÄHE, ERNST, Maschinenanwärter, Born in Tangermünde,
LAUTH, JOHANN, Heizer, Born in Gunters-Blum,
LIBORIUS, WALTER, Matrose d. Res., Born in Verden,
MALZ, PETER, Maschinenmaat, Born in Cöln,
MICHALSKY, OTTO, Heizer, Born in Zduny,
NABITZ, WALTER, Obermatrose, Born in Königsberg,
PAULSSEN, HUBERT, Matrose, Born in Aachen,
PINNOW, EMIL, Maschinenmaat, Born in Stettin,
SCHMIDT, KARL, Kriegs-Lotse, Born in Hamburg,
SCHNEIDER, WILHELM, Obermatrose, Born in Wünschendorf,
SCHRÖDER, WILHELM, Obermaschinist-Anwärter, Born in Hamburg,
SCHULZE, WILHELM, Maschinist, Born in Berlin,
SCHUMANN, E., Funktelegraphie-Gast, Born in Magdeburg,
SIMON, PAUL, Steuermann, Born in Neustettin,
SLIWINSKY, JOHANN, Heizer, Born in Braunschweig,
WALDOW, MAX, Maschinenanwärter, Born in Cottbus,
All remembered on the U-Boot-Ehrenmal Möltenort
