type submarine boat german_imperial_navy german kaiserliche_marine world war laid december class german und sold germany class november german control class known type boats renumbered redesigned reconstructed german specifications launched june commissioned august days war patrol march sunk british ship hands sank ships brief career post war german study found fault captain following established procedures avoiding ships design construction austro hungarian navy evaluated foreign submarine designs selected design known type new class submarines navy ordered boats february class seen improved version class design designed boats displace tonnes long tons surface tonnes long tons submerged doubled boats metres long overall beam metres draft metres austrian specifications called shafts twin diesel engines metric horsepower total surface running knots mph twin electric motors shp total maximum knots mph submerged boats designed torpedo tubes located bow stern boats armament include single deck gun laid december boats construction slated complete months sister boats complete world war began august boats construction kiel austrians convinced impossible delivery boats need towed mediterranean past gibraltar british territory result sisters sold imperial_german_navy november renumbered germans class redesignated type imperial_german_navy submarines redesigned reconstructed german standards increased surface displacement tonnes long tons submerged tonnes long tons torpedo load increased deck gun upgraded gun originally specified service career launched june august commissioned imperial_german_navy command new submarine commander november assigned departed march begin war patrol headed assigned operating area britain west coast came british ship appearance unarmed command approximately fired torpedo narrowly missed ship bow continued deception continued speed course surfaced yards astern moved ship port quarter fired shot ship bow stopped blew steam launched boat simulate surrender closed yards raised white ensign uncovered guns opened fire pounder guns british gunners scored hits boat rapidly fired rounds began sink campbell steered location dropped depth charge blew bow submarine water began going stern gunners scored hits boat conning tower sank loss men position southern ireland sank ships brief service career post war german study commander failing follow established procedures dealing neutral vessels order avoid ships like according report broken rules approaching commander german high seas fleet boats post war memoirs reports inexperienced captain contrary usual practice sent sea experienced boat captain gain knowledge
SM U-68