SM UB-21

	SM UB-45, a U-boat similar to UB-21
History
German Empire
Name	UB-21
Ordered	30 April 1915
Builder	Blohm & Voss, Hamburg
Yard number	251
Launched	26 September 1915
Completed	18 February 1916
Commissioned	20 February 1916
Fate	Sunk as target 30 September 1920
General characteristics
Class and type	Type UB II submarine
Displacement	263 t (259 long tons) surfaced; 292 t (287 long tons) submerged;
Length	36.13 m (118 ft 6 in) o/a ; 27.13 m (89 ft) pressure hull ;
Beam	4.36 m (14 ft 4 in) o/a; 3.85 m (13 ft) pressure hull;
Draught	3.70 m (12 ft 2 in)
Propulsion	1 × propeller shaft ; 2 × 6-cylinder diesel engine, 284 PS (209 kW; 280 bhp); 2 × electric motor, 280 PS (210 kW; 280 shp);
Speed	9.15 knots (16.95 km/h; 10.53 mph) surfaced; 5.81 knots (10.76 km/h; 6.69 mph) submerged;
Range	6,450 nmi (11,950 km; 7,420 mi) at 5 knots (9.3 km/h; 5.8 mph) surfaced; 45 nmi (83 km; 52 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph) submerged;
Test depth	50 m (160 ft)
Complement	2 officers, 21 men
Armament	2 × 50 cm (19.7 in) torpedo tubes ; 4 × torpedoes (later 6); 1 × 5 cm SK L/40 gun ;
Notes	45-second diving time
Service record
Part of:	I Flotilla; 14 April 1916 – 1 February 1917; II Flotilla; 1 February – 10 September 1917; V Flotilla; 10 September 1917 – 29 April 1918; I Flotilla; 29 April – 7 October 1918; Training Flotilla; 7 October – 11 November 1918;
Commanders:	Kptlt. Ernst Hashagen; 20 February – 26 November 1916; Oblt.z.S. Franz Walther; 27 November 1916 – 9 September 1917; Oblt.z.S. Walter Scheffler; 10 September 1917 – 28 April 1918; Oblt.z.S. Bruno Mahn; 29 April – 7 October 1918;
Operations:	26 patrols
Victories:	33 merchant ships sunk ; (36,764 GRT); 1 merchant ship damaged ; (3,734 GRT); 4 merchant ships taken as prize ; (2,722 GRT);

Last updated October 13, 2024

SM UB-21^{[Note 1]} was a German Type UB II submarine or U-boat in the German Imperial Navy (German : Kaiserliche Marine) during World War I. The U-boat was ordered on 30 April 1915 and launched on 26 September 1915. She was commissioned into the German Imperial Navy on 20 February 1916 as SM UB-21. The submarine sank 33 ships in 26 patrols for a total of 36,764 gross register tons (GRT).^[7] Surrendered to Britain in accordance with the requirements of the Armistice with Germany, UB-21 was sunk as a target by HMS Terror in the Solent on 30 September 1920; the wreck was sold in 1970 and most had been cleared by 1998, although some remnants survive.^[8]

Design

A Type UB II submarine, UB-21 had a displacement of 263 tonnes (259 long tons) when at the surface and 292 tonnes (287 long tons) while submerged. She had a total length of 36.13 m (118 ft 6 in), a beam of 4.36 m (14 ft 4 in), and a draught of 3.70 m (12 ft 2 in). The submarine was powered by two Körting six-cylinder, four-stroke diesel engines producing a total of 280 metric horsepower (280 shp; 210 kW), two Siemens-Schuckert electric motors producing 280 metric horsepower (210 kW; 280 shp), and one propeller shaft. She was capable of operating at depths of up to 50 metres (160 ft).^[2]

The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 9.15 knots (16.95 km/h; 10.53 mph) and a maximum submerged speed of 5.81 knots (10.76 km/h; 6.69 mph). When submerged, she could operate for 45 nautical miles (83 km; 52 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph); when surfaced, she could travel 6,650 nautical miles (12,320 km; 7,650 mi) at 5 knots (9.3 km/h; 5.8 mph). UB-21 was fitted with two 50 centimetres (20 in) torpedo tubes, four torpedoes, and one 5 cm (2.0 in) SK L/40 deck gun. She had a complement of twenty-one crew members and two officers and a 45-second dive time.^[2]

Summary of raiding history

Date	Name	Nationality	Tonnage^{[Note 2]}	Fate^[9]
5 May 1916	Harald	Sweden	275	Sunk
20 October 1916	Lekna	Sweden	204	Sunk
20 October 1916	Randi	Norway	467	Sunk
20 October 1916	Svartvik	Sweden	322	Sunk
21 October 1916	Fritzöe	Norway	641	Captured as prize
21 October 1916	Grönhaug	Norway	667	Sunk
22 October 1916	London	Denmark	184	Sunk
22 October 1916	Thor	Norway	372	Sunk
3 November 1916	Pluto	Norway	1,148	Captured as prize
16 February 1917	Lady Ann	United Kingdom	1,016	Sunk
17 February 1917	Excel	United Kingdom	157	Sunk
22 February 1917	John Miles	United Kingdom	687	Sunk
29 March 1917	Bywell	United Kingdom	1,522	Sunk
31 March 1917	Norden	Norway	776	Captured as prize
29 April 1917	Victoria	United Kingdom	1,620	Sunk
2 May 1917	Rikard Noordrak	Norway	1,123	Sunk
5 May 1917	Edith Cavell	United Kingdom	20	Sunk
6 May 1917	Harold	Sweden	1,679	Sunk
8 May 1917	Batavier II	Netherlands	157	Captured as prize
6 June 1917	S.N.A. 2	France	2,294	Sunk
7 June 1917	Sir Francis	United Kingdom	1,991	Sunk
21 July 1917	Trelyon	United Kingdom	3,099	Sunk
22 July 1917	Glow	United Kingdom	1,141	Sunk
23 July 1917	Vanland	Sweden	1,285	Sunk
24 August 1917	Springhill	United Kingdom	1,507	Sunk
18 October 1917	Amsteldam	United Kingdom	1,233	Sunk
19 October 1917	Gemma	United Kingdom	1,385	Sunk
23 November 1917	Ocean	United Kingdom	1,442	Sunk
29 December 1917	Inverness	United Kingdom	3,734	Damaged
29 December 1917	Patria	Russian Empire	838	Sunk
30 December 1917	Hercules	United Kingdom	1,295	Sunk
25 March 1918	Hercules	United Kingdom	1,095	Sunk
8 May 1918	Constantia	United Kingdom	772	Sunk
10 May 1918	Anboto Mendi	Spain	2,114	Sunk
11 May 1918	Gothia	Sweden	1,826	Sunk
12 May 1918	Haslingden	United Kingdom	1,934	Sunk
4 July 1918	Mentor	Norway	539	Sunk
26 September 1918	Paul	Belgium	659	Sunk

Related Research Articles

SM UB-19 was a German Type UB II submarine or U-boat in the German Imperial Navy during World War I. The U-boat was ordered on 30 April 1915 and launched on 2 September 1915. She was commissioned into the German Imperial Navy on 16 December 1915 as SM UB-19. The submarine sank 13 ships in 15 patrols for a total of 10,040 gross register tons (GRT). UB-19 was sunk in the English Channel at 49°56′N2°45′W on 30 November 1916 by British Q ship HMS Penshurst.

SM UB-20 was a German Type UB II submarine or U-boat in the German Imperial Navy during World War I. The U-boat was ordered on 30 April 1915 and launched on 26 September 1915. She was commissioned into the German Imperial Navy on 10 February 1916 as SM UB-20. The submarine sank 13 ships in 15 patrols for a total of 10,230 gross register tons (GRT). UB-20 was mined and sunk on 28 July 1917 at 51°21′N2°38′E. Fifteen crew members died in the event.

SM UB-22 was a German Type UB II submarine or U-boat in the German Imperial Navy during World War I. The U-boat was ordered on 30 April 1915 and launched on 9 October 1915. She was commissioned into the German Imperial Navy on 2 March 1915 as SM UB-22. The submarine sank 27 ships in 18 patrols for a total of 16,645 gross register tons (GRT). UB-22 was mined and sunk in the same incident with the torpedoboat SMS S16 in the North Sea at 54°40′N6°32′E on 19 January 1918 in a British minefield.

SM UB-23 was a German Type UB II submarine or U-boat in the German Imperial Navy during World War I. The U-boat was ordered on 30 April 1915 and launched on 9 October 1915. She was commissioned into the Imperial German Navy on 13 March 1916 as SM UB-23. The submarine sank 51 ships in 21 patrols for a total of 33,880 gross register tons (GRT). On 26 July 1917, UB-23 was badly damaged by a depth charge attack by HMS PC-60 off the Lizard; she put in at Corunna, Spain, on 29 July 1917 and was interned. On 22 January 1919 she was surrendered to France in accordance with the requirements of the Armistice with Germany, and she was broken up in Cherbourg in July 1921.

SM UB-27 was a German Type UB II submarine or U-boat in the German Imperial Navy during World War I. The U-boat was ordered on 30 April 1915 and launched on 10 February 1916. She was commissioned into the German Imperial Navy on 23 February 1916 as SM UB-27. UB-27 sank 11 ships in 17 patrols for a total of 18,091 gross register tons (GRT).

SM UB-30 was a German Type UB II submarine or U-boat in the German Imperial Navy during World War I. The U-boat was ordered on 22 July 1915 and launched on 16 November 1915. She was commissioned into the German Imperial Navy on 18 March 1916 as SM UB-30.

SM UB-31 was a German Type UB II submarine or U-boat in the German Imperial Navy during World War I. The U-boat was ordered on 22 July 1915 and launched on 16 November 1915. She was commissioned into the German Imperial Navy on 25 March 1916 as SM UB-31.

SM UB-35 was a German Type UB II submarine or U-boat in the German Imperial Navy during World War I. The U-boat was ordered on 22 July 1915 and launched on 28 December 1915. She was commissioned into the German Imperial Navy on 22 June 1916 as SM UB-35.

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SM UB-37 was a German Type UB II submarine or U-boat in the German Imperial Navy during World War I. The U-boat was ordered on 22 July 1915 and launched on 28 December 1915. She was commissioned into the German Imperial Navy on 17 June 1916 as SM UB-37.

SM UB-38 was a German Type UB II submarine or U-boat in the German Imperial Navy during World War I.

SM UB-39 was a German Type UB II submarine or U-boat in the German Imperial Navy during World War I.

SM UB-41 was a German Type UB II submarine or U-boat in the German Imperial Navy during World War I.

SM UB-58 was a German Type UB III submarine or U-boat in the German Imperial Navy during World War I. She was commissioned into the Flanders Flotilla of the German Imperial Navy on 10 August 1917 as SM UB-58.

SM UB-64 was a German Type UB III submarine or U-boat in the German Imperial Navy during World War I. She was commissioned into the German Imperial Navy on 5 August 1917 as SM UB-64.

SM UB-73 was a German Type UB III submarine or U-boat in the German Imperial Navy during World War I. She was commissioned into the German Imperial Navy on 2 October 1917 as SM UB-73.

SM UB-78 was a German Type UB III submarine or U-boat in the German Imperial Navy during World War I. She was commissioned into the German Imperial Navy on 20 October 1917 as SM UB-78. Mined off Dover on 19 April 1918 all 35 crew lost.

SM UB-87 was a German Type UB III submarine or U-boat in the German Imperial Navy during World War I. She was commissioned into the German Imperial Navy on 27 December 1917 as SM UB-87.

SM UB-92 was a German Type UB III submarine or U-boat in the German Imperial Navy during World War I. She was commissioned into the German Imperial Navy on 27 April 1918 as SM UB-92.

SM UB-104 was a German Type UB III submarine or U-boat in the German Imperial Navy during World War I. She was commissioned into the German Imperial Navy on 15 March 1918 as SM UB-104.

References

Notes

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

Citations

1 2 3 4 5 Rössler 1979, p. 64.
1 2 3 Gröner 1991, pp. 23–25.
↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Ernst Hashagen (Royal House Order of Hohenzollern)". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 29 January 2015.
↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Franz Walther". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 29 January 2015.
↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Walter Scheffler". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 29 January 2015.
↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Bruno Mahn". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 29 January 2015.
↑ Bendert 2000, p. 195.
↑ Dodson, Aidan; Cant, Serena (2020). Spoils of War: the fate of enemy fleets after the two World Wars. Barnsley: Seaforth. pp. 49, 129. ISBN 978-1-5267-4198-1.
↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by UB-21". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 29 January 2015.

Bibliography

Bendert, Harald (2000). Die UB-Boote der Kaiserlichen Marine, 1914-1918. Einsätze, Erfolge, Schicksal (in German). Hamburg: Verlag E.S. Mittler & Sohn GmbH. ISBN 3-8132-0713-7.
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.
Rössler, Eberhard (1979). Die deutschen U-Boote und ihre Werften: eine Bilddokumentation über den deutschen U-Bootbau; in zwei Bänden (in German). Vol. I. Munich: Bernard & Graefe. ISBN 3-7637-5213-7.

50°44′28″N1°01′6″W / 50.74111°N 1.01833°W / 50.74111; -1.01833

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[7] "SM" stands for "Seiner Majestät" (English: His Majesty's) and combined with the U for Unterseeboot would be translated as His Majesty's Submarine.

[tonnage-10] Tonnages are in gross register tons

[FOOTNOTERössler197964-1] 1 2 3 4 5 Rössler 1979, p. 64.

[FOOTNOTEGröner199123–25-2] 1 2 3 Gröner 1991, pp. 23–25.

[3] Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Ernst Hashagen (Royal House Order of Hohenzollern)". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 29 January 2015.

[4] Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Franz Walther". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 29 January 2015.

[5] Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Walter Scheffler". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 29 January 2015.

[6] Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Bruno Mahn". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 29 January 2015.

[FOOTNOTEBendert2000195-8] Bendert 2000, p. 195.

[9] Dodson, Aidan; Cant, Serena (2020). Spoils of War: the fate of enemy fleets after the two World Wars. Barnsley: Seaforth. pp. 49, 129. ISBN 978-1-5267-4198-1.

[11] Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by UB-21". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 29 January 2015.

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v t e German Type UB II submarines
UB-18 UB-19 UB-20 UB-21 UB-22 UB-23 UB-24 UB-25 UB-26 UB-27 UB-28 UB-29 UB-30 UB-31 UB-32 UB-33 UB-34 UB-35 UB-36 UB-37 UB-38 UB-39 UB-40 UB-41 UB-42 UB-43 UB-44 UB-45 UB-46 UB-47
Preceded by: Type UB I Followed by: Type UB III
List of U-boats of Germany

v t e Shipwrecks and maritime incidents in 1920
Shipwrecks	8 Jan: St. Louis 12 Jan: Afrique, Serbier 26 Jan: Mielero 29 Jan: Novara January (unknown date): HMS A2, USC&GS Isis 12 Feb: West Aleta February (unknown date) Zante 10 Mar: Jutland 13 Mar: Olockson 18 Mar: USS Althea 22 Mar: Rock Island Bridge 24 Mar: USS H-1, Mutlah March (unknown date): USS Brown, Kerowlee 1 Apr: USFS Murre 2 Apr: USCGC Leader 18 Apr: William O'Brien 9 May: USAT Northern Pacific 25 May: USFS Osprey 20 Aug: Superior City 7 Jun: U-151, UC-97 11 Jun: St. Boswells 12 Jul: Lake Frampton 21 Jul: Carlo Alberto Racchia 1 Sep: USS S-5 3 Sep: USS S-5 6 Sep: Berwyn 8 Sep: Comboyne 20 Sep Prince Rupert 24 Sep USS Cushing September (unknown date): Southern Cross 10 Oct: Benicia October (unknown date): Gromoboi 1 Nov: USS Coast Battleship No. 1 3 Nov: Hastier 14 Nov: Ferret 15 Nov: HMS Amethyst 16 Nov: HMS Tyne 27 Nov: Comboyne November (unknown date): Rostislav 10 Dec: Yellowstone 20 Dec: Dora 27 Dec: Lakeside Bridge Unknown date: UB-21, Varyag
Other incidents	9 Jan: West Avenal 1 Feb: Berrima 2 Feb: Vincenzo Giordano Orsini 15 Feb: Regina 6 Mar: Pisa 8 Mar: USS H-1 12 Mar: O'Higgins 25 May: Equity 20 Jul: Alice Dollar 21 Jul: Alice Dollar , USS Monocacy 28 Jul: Niki July (various dates): USS Princess Matoika ("mutiny") 24 Aug: O'Higgins 25 Aug: Wardha 9 Sep: Siboney 10 Sep: USS Pittsburgh 27 Oct: Hastier 6–7 Dec: Pilade Bronzetti 16 Dec: Inca 25 Dec: Kwinana 29 Dec: Nieuw Amsterdam
1919 1921

History
SM UB-45, a U-boat similar to UB-21
German Empire
Name	UB-21
Ordered	30 April 1915^[1]
Builder	Blohm & Voss, Hamburg ^[1]
Yard number	251^[1]
Launched	26 September 1915^[1]
Completed	18 February 1916^[1]
Commissioned	20 February 1916
Fate	Sunk as target 30 September 1920
General characteristics ^[2]
Class and type	Type UB II submarine
Displacement	263 t (259 long tons) surfaced 292 t (287 long tons) submerged
Length	36.13 m (118 ft 6 in) o/a 27.13 m (89 ft) pressure hull
Beam	4.36 m (14 ft 4 in) o/a 3.85 m (13 ft) pressure hull
Draught	3.70 m (12 ft 2 in)
Propulsion	1 × propeller shaft 2 × 6-cylinder diesel engine, 284 PS (209 kW; 280 bhp) 2 × electric motor, 280 PS (210 kW; 280 shp)
Speed	9.15 knots (16.95 km/h; 10.53 mph) surfaced 5.81 knots (10.76 km/h; 6.69 mph) submerged
Range	6,450 nmi (11,950 km; 7,420 mi) at 5 knots (9.3 km/h; 5.8 mph) surfaced 45 nmi (83 km; 52 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph) submerged
Test depth	50 m (160 ft)
Complement	2 officers, 21 men
Armament	2 × 50 cm (19.7 in) torpedo tubes 4 × torpedoes (later 6) 1 × 5 cm SK L/40 gun
Notes	45-second diving time
Service record
Part of:	I Flotilla 14 April 1916 – 1 February 1917 II Flotilla 1 February – 10 September 1917 V Flotilla 10 September 1917 – 29 April 1918 I Flotilla 29 April – 7 October 1918 Training Flotilla 7 October – 11 November 1918
Commanders:	Kptlt. Ernst Hashagen^[3] 20 February – 26 November 1916 Oblt.z.S. Franz Walther^[4] 27 November 1916 – 9 September 1917 Oblt.z.S. Walter Scheffler^[5] 10 September 1917 – 28 April 1918 Oblt.z.S. Bruno Mahn^[6] 29 April – 7 October 1918
Operations:	26 patrols
Victories:	33 merchant ships sunk (36,764 GRT) 1 merchant ship damaged (3,734 GRT) 4 merchant ships taken as prize (2,722 GRT)