SM UB-16 - Unrestricted Submarine Warfare

Unrestricted Submarine Warfare

By the time of the so-called "turnip winter" of 1916–17, the Royal Navy blockade of Germany had severely limited imports of food and fuel into Germany. Among the results were an increase in infant mortality and as many as 700,000 deaths attributed to starvation or hypothermia during the war. With the blockade having such dire consequences, Kaiser Wilhelm II personally approved a resumption of unrestricted submarine warfare to begin on 1 February 1917 to help force the British to make peace. The new rules of engagement specified that no ship was to be left afloat.

With the new campaign already underway, Niemer was replaced as UB-16's commander by Oblt. Hugo Thielmann on 18 March. Although only in command of UB-16 for little more than a month, Thielmann sank one ship on UB-16. The 107-ton Dutch motor vessel Arie was sunk in the Hoofden area on 20 April; there were no reports of casualties.

Kapitänleutnant Wilhelm Rhein was assigned to UB-16 on 23 April, and under his command, UB-16 may have been responsible for damaging the Norwegian cargo ship Kongsli on 26 April. On 9 August, UB-16 torpedoed and sank the British destroyer Recruit 3 nautical miles (5.6 km) from the North Hinder Lightship. Recruit, commissioned four months earlier, sank with 54 of her complement. Rhein was succeeded by Oblt. Günther Bachmann on 26 August, and he, in turn, was succeeded by Oblt. Alfred Krameyer on 25 December.