# SM U-46

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German and Japanese submarine

For other ships with the same name, see [German submarine U-46](/source/German_submarine_U-46).

History German Empire Name U-46 Ordered 4 August 1914 Builder Kaiserliche Werft, Danzig Yard number 24 Launched 18 May 1915 Commissioned 17 December 1915 Fate Surrendered to Japan 26 November 1918 Japanese Empire Name O-2 Acquired 26 November 1918 Commissioned 1920 Decommissioned 1921 Fate Possibly scrapped 1922; Possibly foundered on 21 April 1925 or Scuttled on or after 5 August 1927 General characteristics [1] Class & type Type U-43 submarine Displacement 725 t (714 long tons) surfaced 940 t (930 long tons) submerged Length 65.00 m (213 ft 3 in) (o/a) Beam 6.20 m (20 ft 4 in) (oa) 4.18 m (13 ft 9 in) (pressure hull) Height 9.00 m (29 ft 6 in) Draught 3.74 m (12 ft 3 in) Installed power 2 × 2,000 PS (1,471 kW; 1,973 shp) surfaced 2 × 1,200 PS (883 kW; 1,184 shp) submerged Propulsion 2 shafts Speed 15.2 knots (28.2 km/h; 17.5 mph) surfaced 9.7 knots (18.0 km/h; 11.2 mph) submerged Range 11,400 nmi (21,100 km; 13,100 mi) at 8 knots (15 km/h; 9.2 mph) surfaced 51 nmi (94 km; 59 mi) at 5 knots (9.3 km/h; 5.8 mph) submerged Test depth 50 m (164 ft 1 in) Complement 36 Armament 6 × torpedo tubes (four bow, two stern) [2] 8 torpedoes 1 × 8.8 cm (3.5 in) SK L/30 deck gun Service record[3] Part of III Flotilla 29 March 1916 – 11 November 1918 Commanders Kptlt. Leo Hillebrand 17 December 1915 - 6 December 1917 Kptlt. Alfred Saalwächter 7 December 1916 – 15 January 1917 Kptlt. Leo Hillebrand 16 January – 11 November 1918 Operations 11 patrols Victories 51 merchant ships sunk (138,942 GRT) 1 auxiliary warship sunk (1,372 GRT) 1 merchant ship damaged (7,378 GRT)

**SM *U-46*** was one of the 329 [submarines](/source/Submarine) serving in the [Imperial German Navy](/source/Imperial_German_Navy) in [World War I](/source/World_War_I). *U-46* was engaged in the [combat](/source/Naval_warfare_of_World_War_I) during World War I and took part in the [First Battle of the Atlantic](/source/First_Battle_of_the_Atlantic). After the war, she served in the [Imperial Japanese Navy](/source/Imperial_Japanese_Navy) as ***O-2***.

## Imperial German Navy

Ordered on 4 August 1914, *U-46* was constructed at the [Kaiserliche Werft](/source/Kaiserliche_Werft_Danzig) in [Danzig](/source/Danzig), [Germany](/source/German_Empire). [Launched](/source/Ship_naming_and_launching) on 18 May 1915, she was [commissioned](/source/Ship_commissioning) on 17 December 1915.[4]

Assigned to the III Flotilla, *U-46* began her first war patrol on 29 March 1916. Remaining in the III Flotilla for the rest of the war, she conducted a total of 11 war patrols before the war ended on 11 November 1918 and was credited with sinking 51 [merchant ships](/source/Merchant_ship) totaling 138,942 [gross register tons](/source/Gross_register_ton) and one auxiliary warship of 1,372 gross register tons and damaging one merchant ship of 7,378 gross register tons.[4]

After the end of the war, she surrendered to [Japan](/source/Japan) on 26 November 1918.[4]

### Summary of raiding history

Date Name Nationality Tonnage[Note 1] Fate[5] 29 September 1916 Ravn Norway 1,260 Sunk 29 September 1916 Sinsen Norway 1,925 Sunk 30 September 1916 Hafnia Norway 962 Sunk 30 September 1916 Hekla Norway 950 Sunk 4 October 1916 Brantingham United Kingdom 2,617 Sunk 6 October 1916 Erika Russian Empire 2,430 Sunk 9 October 1916 Astoria United Kingdom 4,262 Sunk 11 October 1916 Iolo United Kingdom 3,903 Sunk 16 December 1916 Chassie Maersk Denmark 1,387 Sunk 16 December 1916 Taki Maru Japan 3,208 Sunk 16 December 1916 Gerda Denmark 775 Sunk 17 December 1916 Bayhall United Kingdom 3,898 Sunk 19 December 1916 Falk Norway 948 Sunk 23 December 1916 Marques De Urquijo Spain 2,170 Sunk 25 December 1916 Marie Pierre France 166 Sunk 27 December 1916 Aislaby United Kingdom 2,692 Sunk 27 December 1916 Goulfar France 259 Sunk 21 March 1917 Hindustan United Kingdom 3,692 Sunk 23 March 1917 Argo Portugal 1,563 Sunk 24 March 1917 Montreal France 3,342 Sunk 1 April 1917 Aztec United States 3,727 Sunk 3 April 1917 Hesperus Russian Empire 2,231 Sunk 5 April 1917 Benheather United Kingdom 4,701 Sunk 7 April 1917 Fiskaa Norway 1,700 Sunk 15 May 1917 Grosholm Norway 1,847 Sunk 17 May 1917 Lewisham United Kingdom 2,810 Sunk 18 May 1917 Llandrindod United Kingdom 3,841 Sunk 18 May 1917 Penhale United Kingdom 3,712 Sunk 20 May 1917 HMS Paxton[6] Royal Navy 1,372 Sunk 22 May 1917 Tansan Maru Japan 2,443 Sunk 24 May 1917 Jersey City United Kingdom 4,670 Sunk 24 July 1917 Brumaire United Kingdom 2,324 Sunk 24 July 1917 Zermatt United Kingdom 3,767 Sunk 25 July 1917 Peninsula United Kingdom 1,384 Sunk 25 July 1917 Purley United Kingdom 4,500 Sunk 27 July 1917 Begona No. 4 United Kingdom 2,407 Sunk 31 July 1917 Shimosa United Kingdom 4,221 Sunk 22 October 1917 Zillah United Kingdom 3,788 Sunk 24 October 1917 Ilderton United Kingdom 3,125 Sunk 28 October 1917 Baron Balfour United Kingdom 3,991 Sunk 4 November 1917 Irina Russian Empire 2,210 Sunk 7 November 1917 Obj Norway 1,829 Sunk 27 January 1918 Andania United Kingdom 13,405 Sunk 31 January 1918 Towneley United Kingdom 2,476 Sunk 1 February 1918 Cavallo United Kingdom 2,086 Sunk 3 February 1918 Lutece France 1,346 Sunk 5 February 1918 Cresswell United Kingdom 2,829 Sunk 13 March 1918 Crayford United Kingdom 1,209 Sunk 18 March 1918 Atlantic Sun United States 2,333 Sunk 30 March 1918 Stabil Norway 538 Sunk 25 May 1918 Rathlin Head United Kingdom 7,378 Damaged 16 September 1918 Tasman United Kingdom 5,023 Sunk 25 September 1918 Gloire a Jesus France 60 Sunk

## Imperial Japanese Navy

Transferred to Japan after surrendering, the submarine was commissioned into the [Imperial Japanese Navy](/source/Imperial_Japanese_Navy) in 1920 as *O-2*. [Decommissioned](/source/Ship_decommissioning) in 1921, she was partly dismantled at the [Kure Naval Arsenal](/source/Kure_Naval_Arsenal) in April 1921.[4]

A photo of U-46 apparently at the time of transfer to Japan shows the submarine docked and flying the flag of the Imperial Japanese Navy over the flag of the Imperial German Navy.[7]

Some sources claim that *O-2* was scrapped in 1922.[8][9] Other sources claim that in 1925, *O-2* was rebuilt at [Yokosuka Naval Arsenal](/source/Yokosuka_Naval_Arsenal) to serve as a testbed for submarine salvage operations by the submarine salvage ship *[Asahi](/source/Japanese_battleship_Asahi)* and foundered in the [Pacific Ocean](/source/Pacific_Ocean) in a storm off the coast of Japan during her transfer voyage from [Yokosuka](/source/Yokosuka) to [Kure](/source/Kure) on 21 April 1925,[4] adding that an American [merchant ship](/source/Merchant_ship) sighted her derelict hulk floating in the Pacific west of [Oahu](/source/Oahu), [Hawaii](/source/Hawaii), on 5 August 1927, and that the hulk subsequently was scuttled.[4]

## References

### Notes

1. **[^](#cite_ref-tonnage_5-0)** Merchant ship tonnages are in [gross register tons](/source/Gross_register_tons). Military vessels are listed by tons [displacement](/source/Displacement_(ship)).

### Citations

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEGröner19918–10_1-0)** [Gröner 1991](#CITEREFGröner1991), pp. 8–10.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTERössler1981328–329_2-0)** [Rössler 1981](#CITEREFRössler1981), pp. 328–329.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-uboatnet_3-0)** Helgason, Guðmundur. ["WWI U-boats: U 46"](https://www.uboat.net/wwi/boats/index.html?boat=46.htm). *German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net*. Retrieved 2 December 2014.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-O2_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-O2_4-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-O2_4-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-O2_4-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-O2_4-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-O2_4-5) ["U 46"](http://uboat.net/wwi/boats/index.html?boat=46). Uboat.net. Retrieved 20 August 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** Helgason, Guðmundur. ["Ships hit by U 46"](https://uboat.net/wwi/boats/successes/u46.html). *German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net*. Retrieved 2 December 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-onecity_7-0)** ["Richard Tallack"](https://web.archive.org/web/20160305100319/http://www.ataleofonecity.portsmouth.gov.uk/firstworldwar/richard-tallack/). *A Tale of one City*. Archived from [the original](http://www.ataleofonecity.portsmouth.gov.uk/firstworldwar/richard-tallack/) on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 24 May 2015.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-U46DuringTransferToJapan_8-0)** ["Photo of U-46 at the time of transfer to the Imperial Japanese Navy"](http://www.iwm.org.uk/history/the-u-boat-campaign-that-almost-broke-britain#&gid=1&pid=1). *Imperial War Museums (UK)*. Retrieved 1 August 2017.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** Gardiner, p. 177

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** Gröner, p. 9.

## Bibliography

- Gardiner, Robert (1985). *Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1906-1921*. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-87021-907-3](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-87021-907-3).

- 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](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-85177-593-4](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-85177-593-4).

- Rössler, Eberhard (1981). *The U-boat : the evolution and technical history of German submarines*. London: Cassell. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0304361208](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0304361208).

Type U 43 submarine U-43 U-44 U-45 U-46 U-47 U-48 U-49 U-50 Preceded by: Type U 31 Followed by: Type U 51 List of U-boats of Germany

v t e Shipwrecks and maritime incidents in 1925 Shipwrecks 2 Jan: Mohawk 20 Jan: HMS Monarch 9 Feb: Tosa 21 Apr: O-2, Raifuku Maru 29 Apr: No. 2525 8 May: M.E. Norman 9 May: USCGC AB-3 4 Jun: Murakumo 21 Jul: Shirakumo 2 Sep: HMCS Armentières 25 Sep: USS S-51 4 Oct: S2 19 Oct: Flora 29 Oct: Ro-52 5 Nov: Paul 12 Nov: M1 16 Nov: Obotrita 1 Dec: Cotopaxi 15 Dec: USS Curlew 27 Dec: Cowichan Unknown date: USFS Merganser Other incidents 12 Jan: Ceramic 13 Jan: USS S-19 20 Jan: Archangel 29 Jan: USS S-48 25 Feb: USS Huron 27 Feb: Montlaurier 8 Apr: Pierre Chailley 14 Apr: Montlaurier 24 May: Lesbian 11 Jun: West Saginaw 12 Jun: Equity 19 Jul: West Cohas 7 Aug: Montrose 23 Aug: Talthybius 26 Aug: President Garfield August (unknown date}: Bari 12 Sep: Velasco 15 Sep: Flora 3 Oct: Magnetic 26 Oct: Blokshiv No. 1 October (unknown date): USS R-8, USS Widgeon November (unknown date): Cameronia Unknown date: Celtic, Eider 1924 1926

v t e Shipwrecks and maritime incidents in 1927 Shipwrecks 25 Feb: Artemis 11 Mar: El Sol 27 Jun: Craster Hall 5 Aug: Chiyoda, O-2 18 Aug: Hennepin 22 Aug: Prince Rupert 24 Aug: Warabi 21 Oct: Irene 25 Oct: Principessa Mafalda 28 Oct: Fortuna 3 Nov: Greycliffe 21 Nov: Georgia 7 Dec: Kamloops 17 Dec: USS S-4 30 Dec: Seneca Other incidents 29 Jan: Celtic 6 Mar: USCGC Seminole 11 Mar: Sac City 1 May: USS Colorado 2 May: Astoria 5 Jul: RMS Ebro 15 Jul: Veendam 24 Aug: Jintsū 25 Sep: Minnekahda 6 Oct: Domala 19 Oct: Irene 20 Oct: Irene, HMS L4, HMS L5 3 Nov: Tahiti 8 Nov: Catala 20 Nov: Pierre Chailley 27 Nov: Wahehe November (unknown date): Hougomont 12 Dec: Fylgia 16 Dec: Equity 17 Dec: USCGD Paulding 29 Dec: Galatée 29 Dec: J. A. Moffett Jr. 31 Dec: Consul Horn Unknown date: America Unknown date: Pelican 1926 1928

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [SM U-46](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SM_U-46) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SM_U-46?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.