U-18: Snuck Into Scapa Flow and Was Sunk in 1914

From Wikipedia.

The April 2017 VFW magazine had this ship attacking the American town of Orleans, Massachusetts, and the tug Perth Amboy on July 21, 1918, but it didn't as it was sunk in 1914.

Most likely the German submarine firing at these was the U-156 and I have written about it in the past month.

The U-18 was one of 328 submarines in the German Navy during World War I and participated in the First Battle of the Atlantic. It was 205 feet long and had a crew of 4 officers and and 25 men.

It was launched in October 1914 and on its third patrol 23 November, was able to to penetrate the British fleet anchorage at Scapa Flow by following a steamer through the boom.  However, the fleet was not there. That could have been a disaster for Britain.

On its way back out, its periscope was spotted and the periscope was rammed, rendering it unservicable.  Then, the luckless submarine had its diving plane motor break and the ship  became unable to maintain its depth.

The U-18 was rammed a second time by the British destroyer HMS Garry and it was forced to surface.  The crew scuttled the submarine and all were taken prisoner except one man who died.

Talk About Your Bad Luck.  --Cooter