U-boat: Timeline

1905   The first U-boat

1915   Sinking of the battleship ''HMS Formidable'', off Lyme Regis, Dorset Dorset

Dorset is a county in the south-west of England [i], on the English Channel [i] coast. ... 

, England England

England is the largest and most populous constituent country [i] of the United Kingdom [i]. ... 

, by a German Germany

Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a country [i] in central Europe [i]. ... 

 U-Boat.

1915   World War I World War I

World War I, also known as the First World War, the Great War and "The War to End All War... 

: The RMS ''Lusitania'' is sunk by a German Germany

Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a country [i] in central Europe [i]. ... 

 U-boat killing 1,198.

1917   World War I: Germany Germany

Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a country [i] in central Europe [i]. ... 

 announces its U-boats will engage in unrestricted submarine Submarine

A submarine is a specialized watercraft [i] that can operate underwater [i]. ... 

 warfare.

1941   World War II: 950 miles off the coast of Brazil Brazil

Brazil, officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest and most populous country [i] ... 

, the freighter SS ''Robin Moor'' becomes the first United States United States

The United States of America, also known as the United States, the U.S., the U.S.A., a... 

 ship sunk by a German U-boat. in May 1941]]

1941   World War II World War II

World War II, or the Second World War, was a worldwide [i] conflict [i] fought betwe ... 

: The destroyer USS ''Reuben James'' is torpedoed by a German Germany

Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a country [i] in central Europe [i]. ... 

 U-boat near Iceland Iceland

Iceland, officially the Republic of Iceland is a volcanic island nation [i] in the northern Atlantic Ocean [i] ... 

, killing more than 100 United States Navy United States Navy

The United States Navy is the branch of the United States armed forces [i] responsible for conducting naval [i] ... 

 sailors.

1941   World War II: The aircraft carrier Aircraft carrier

Additive synthesis is a technique of audio synthesis which creates music [i]al timbre [i]. ... 

 HMS ''Ark Royal'' HMS Ark Royal (91)

colspan="2" align="center"> [i] ... 

 is hit by German U-boat U-81

1942   World War II World War II

World War II, or the Second World War, was a worldwide [i] conflict [i] fought betwe ... 

: German Germany

Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a country [i] in central Europe [i]. ... 

 U-Boats sink three more merchant ships in Gulf of St. Lawrence.

1942   World War II World War II

World War II, or the Second World War, was a worldwide [i] conflict [i] fought betwe ... 

: Battle of the Atlantic - German Germany

Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a country [i] in central Europe [i]. ... 

 Grand Admiral Karl Dönitz Karl Dönitz

Karl Dnitz ; September 16, 1891 – December 24, 1980) was a German naval leader, famous for his com... 

 orders the last U-boats to withdraw from their United States United States

The United States of America, also known as the United States, the U.S., the U.S.A., a... 

 Atlantic coast positions in response to an effective American convoy system.

1942   A German U-boat sinks the ferry SS Caribou, killing 137.

1942   German U-boat sinks ''SS Ben Lomond'' off the coast of Brazil. One crewman, Chinese second steward Poon Lim, is separated from the others and spends 130 days adrift until he is rescued April 3 1943

1945   World War II: Admiral Karl Dönitz Karl Dönitz

Karl Dnitz ; September 16, 1891 – December 24, 1980) was a German naval leader, famous for his com... 

 orders all U-boats to cease offensive operations and return to their bases.