home
Explore History

First World War (1914-1918)
The U-Boat Menace

The emergence of the submarine was a major development in naval warfare. German submarine - or U-Boat - attacks against Allied shipping in the Atlantic and in European waters posed a major threat to the Allied war effort.

Periscope Lens, U-117
Periscope Lens, U-117

This lens is part of the periscope that allowed U-Boats to see what was happening on or above the water.

After sinking more than 20 ships during the last year of the war, U-117 surrendered at Harwich, England after the November 1918 armistice. A.R.M. Lower, a Canadian officer in the Royal Navy and later a prominent Canadian historian, once owned the lens.

Periscope Lens
CWM 19740259-010





The Return of U-9
U-Boat Deck Gun
Periscope Lens, U-117
U-Boat Signalling Lamp
Cut-Away German U-Boat Mine
German Naval Mine, U-153
SS Audax Sinking
Life Ring, SS Brussels
Life Ring, UC-77
"We risk our lives to bring you food. It's up to you not to waste it."
Porthole, RMS Lusitania
Qu'importe l'existence des Neutres! L'Allemagne est au dessus de tout! (Neutrality is irrelevant! Germany sees herself above all else!)
HMHS Llandovery Castle
Depth Charge, "Type G"
Model, U-27
First World War Atlantic Convoy
German Submarine U-118