SM U-139

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SM U-139 was a German submarine used in World War I and the lead ship of the Type U 139 class. Built at Kiel by Germaniawerft, she was launched on 3 December 1917 and commissioned on 18 May 1918 under Kapitänleutnant Lothar von Arnauld de la Perière, who named her Kapitänleutnant Schwieger after Walther Schwieger, who sunk the Lusitania in 1915.

U-139 made one war patrol and sunk three merchant ships and one auxiliary warship (a total of about 6,301 + 487 GRT). One auxiliary warship was damaged (2,502 GRT). She surrendered to France on 24 November 1918 and was renamed Halbronn; France acquired her that day and she was in service until 24 July 1935 when she was broken up.

Notable action: On 14 October 1918, U-139 attacked the Portuguese civilian steamer SS São Miguel in the Atlantic. It was defended by the Portuguese trawler NRP Augusto de Castilho, which engaged U-139 for several hours but was destroyed, allowing São Miguel to escape.

Specifications: Displacement 1,930 tons surfaced and 2,483 tons submerged. Length 92.0 m overall (71.5 m pressure hull). Beam 9.12 m (o/a) and 5.75 m (pressure hull). Armament included six 50 cm torpedo tubes (four bow, two stern) with 19–24 torpedoes, and two 15 cm deck guns. Crew of about 57 (1 officer and 56 enlisted). Top speed 15.3 knots surfaced and 7.6 knots submerged. Range 12,630 nautical miles at 8 knots on the surface; 53 nautical miles at 4.5 knots submerged. Test depth 75 meters. She served with the U-Kreuzer Flotilla.