SM U-37 was a Type U 31 U-boat of the Imperial German Navy during World War I.
Overview Ordered on 12 March 1912, SM U-37 was laid down on 28 February 1913, launched on 12 May 1914, and commissioned into the Imperial German Navy on 10 October 1914. She was built by Germaniawerft in Kiel, Germany. As a Type U 31 submarine, she was designed for extensive patrols and commerce raiding, armed with torpedoes and a deck gun.
Service History Throughout her active service, SM U-37 conducted several successful war patrols. Her sole commander was Kapitänleutnant Gustav Seiß, who commanded the boat from her commissioning until her loss. During her operational period, U-37 proved to be one of the more successful U-boats of her time. She sank 31 merchant ships totaling 56,128 gross registered tons (GRT) and damaged four ships for an additional 7,867 GRT. Her targets ranged from cargo vessels to passenger liners, primarily operating in the English Channel and the Atlantic approaches.
Loss SM U-37 departed from Emden on 7 November 1915, for what would be her final patrol in the Atlantic. She was last heard from on 11 November 1915. It is widely believed that U-37 struck a mine and sank in the English Channel, west of Portland Bill. The minefield was likely laid by the British minelayers HMS Apollo or HMS Andromache on 7 October 1915. All 33 crew members aboard SM U-37 were lost.