Type U 5s had an
overall length of The boats'
beam was , the
draught was . The boats
displaced when surfaced and when submerged. Type U 5s were fitted with two
Körting 6-cylinder and two 8-cylinder two-stroke
paraffin engines with a total of for use on the surface and two
SSW double-acting
electric motors with a total of for underwater use. These engines powered two shafts, which gave the boats a top surface speed of , and when submerged. Cruising range was at on the surface and at submerged. Constructional diving depth was . The U-boats were armed with four
torpedo tubes, two fitted in the
bow and two in the
stern, and carried six
torpedoes. The boats'
complement was 4 officers and 24 enlisted men. Type U 5 U-boats were the first U-boats to be equipped with a
radiotelegraphy station. This station had a range of between U-boats and double that distance towards shore stations. Two aerial masts were installed on the deck, which could be lowered from inside the boat. A crude
underwater telegraph consisting of a
bell with a clapper activated by compressed air, was also introduced with the Type U 5s, but this system was not deemed satisfactory. == List of Type U 5 boats ==