SM U-74

For other ships with the same name, see German submarine U-74.

History
German Empire
Name	U-74
Ordered	6 January 1915
Builder	Kaiserliche Werft Danzig
Yard number	30
Launched	10 August 1915
Commissioned	24 November 1915
Fate	17 May 1916 - Sank in a mine handling accident 3.5 nmi (6.5 km; 4.0 mi) off Dunbar, Scotland. 34 dead (all hands lost). [1]
General characteristics [2]
Class and type	Type UE I submarine
Displacement	745  t (733 long tons) surfaced 829 t (816 long tons) submerged
Length	56.80 m (186 ft 4 in) (o/a) 46.66 m (153 ft 1 in) (pressure hull)
Beam	5.90 m (19 ft 4 in) (o/a) 5.00 m (16 ft 5 in) (pressure hull)
Height	8.25 m (27 ft 1 in)
Draught	4.84 m (15 ft 11 in)
Installed power	2 × 800  PS (588  kW; 789  shp) surfaced 2 × 800 PS (588 kW; 789 shp) submerged
Propulsion	2 shafts, 2× 1.41 m (4 ft 8 in) propellers
Speed	10.6 knots (19.6 km/h; 12.2 mph) surfaced 7.9 knots (14.6 km/h; 9.1 mph) submerged
Range	5,480  nmi (10,150 km; 6,310 mi) at 7 knots (13 km/h; 8.1 mph) surfaced 83 nmi (154 km; 96 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph) submerged
Test depth	50 m (164 ft 1 in)
Complement	4 officers, 28 enlisted
Armament	2 × 50 cm (19.7 in) torpedo tubes (one starboard bow, one starbord stern) 4 torpedoes 1 × 8.8 cm (3.5 in) SK L/30 deck guns
Service record
Part of:	I Flotilla 18 March – 17 May 1916
Commanders:	Kptlt. Erwin Weisbach [3] 24 November 1915 – 17 May 1916
Operations:	2 patrols
Victories:	1 merchant ship sunk (2,802  GRT) [1]

SM U-74 ^{[Note 1]} was a Type UE 1 submarine and one of the 329 submarines serving in the Imperial German Navy in World War I. U-74 was engaged in the naval warfare and took part in the First Battle of the Atlantic.

Design

Type UE I submarines were preceded by the longer Type U 66 submarines. U-74 had a displacement of 755 tonnes (743 long tons) when at the surface and 829 tonnes (816 long tons) while submerged. ^[2] She had a total length of 56.80 m (186 ft 4 in), a pressure hull length of 46.66 m (153 ft 1 in), a beam of 5.90 m (19 ft 4 in), a height of 8.25 m (27 ft 1 in), and a draught of 4.84 m (15 ft 11 in). The submarine was powered by two 800 metric horsepower (590 kW; 790 shp) engines for use while surfaced, and two 800 metric horsepower (590 kW; 790 shp) engines for use while submerged. She had two propeller shafts. She was capable of operating at depths of up to 50 metres (160 ft). ^[2]

The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 10.6 knots (19.6 km/h; 12.2 mph) and a maximum submerged speed of 7.9 knots (14.6 km/h; 9.1 mph). ^[2] When submerged, she could operate for 83 nautical miles (154 km; 96 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph); when surfaced, she could travel 5,480 nautical miles (10,150 km; 6,310 mi) at 7 knots (13 km/h; 8.1 mph). U-74 was fitted with two 50 centimetres (20 in) torpedo tubes (one at the port bow and one starboard stern), four torpedoes, and one 8.8 cm (3.5 in) SK L/30 deck gun. She had a complement of thirty-two (twenty-eight crew members and four officers). ^[2]

Summary of raiding history

Date	Name	Nationality	Tonnage [Note 2]	Fate [4]
20 April 1916	Sabbia	United Kingdom	2,802	Sunk

References

Notes

1. "SM" stands for "Seiner Majestät" (English: His Majesty's) and combined with the U for Unterseeboot would be translated as His Majesty's Submarine.
2. Tonnages are in gross register tons

Citations

1. Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boats: U 74". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 24 December 2014.
2. Gröner 1991, pp. 10–11.
3. Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Erwin Weisbach". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 18 January 2015.
4. Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U 74". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 18 January 2015.

Bibliography

• Gröner, Erich; Jung, Dieter; Maass, Martin (1991). U-boats and Mine Warfare Vessels. German Warships 1815–1945. Vol. 2. Translated by Thomas, Keith; Magowan, Rachel. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN   0-85177-593-4.