SM UB-29

	SM UB-45, a U-boat similar to UB-29
History
German Empire
Name	UB-29
Ordered	30 April 1915
Builder	AG Weser, Bremen
Cost	1,291,000 German Papiermark
Yard number	243
Laid down	15 July 1915
Launched	31 December 1915
Commissioned	18 January 1916
Fate	Sunk by depth charge 13 December 1916
General characteristics
Class and type	Type UB II submarine
Displacement	265 t (261 long tons) surfaced; 291 t (286 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	3.66 m (12 ft)
Propulsion	1 × propeller shaft ; 2 × four-stroke 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	6,650 nautical miles (12,320 km; 7,650 mi) at 5 knots (9.3 km/h; 5.8 mph) surfaced; 45 nmi (83 km; 52 mi) at 5 knots (9.3 km/h; 5.8 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	30-second diving time
Service record
Part of:	Training Flotilla; 8 March – 13 December 1916;
Commanders:	Oblt.z.S. Herbert Pustkuchen; 18 January – 2 November 1916; Oblt.z.S. Erich Platsch; 3 November – 13 December 1916;
Operations:	17 patrols
Victories:	36 merchant ships sunk ; (47,107 GRT); 2 merchant ships damaged ; (3,713 GRT); 1 warship damaged ; (3,750 tons); 2 merchant ships taken as prize ; (2,170 GRT);

Last updated October 21, 2024

SM UB-29 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 31 December 1915. She was commissioned into the German Imperial Navy on 18 January 1916 as SM UB-29.^{[Note 1]}

The submarine sank 36 ships in 17 patrols for a total of 47,107 gross register tons (GRT).^[5]UB-29 was supposedly sunk by two depth charges from HMS Landrail south of Goodwin Sands at 51°9′N1°46′E / 51.150°N 1.767°E / 51.150; 1.767 on 13 December 1916 ,^[2] although the location of its wreck discovered in Belgian waters, approximately 15 nm NW of Ostend, contradicts this claim. The Landrail might have mistaken UB-29 for another boat, possibly the UC-19.^[6]

The UB-29's wreckage – exceptionally well preserved and with the hull still intact – was found by Belgian divers in the summer of 2017, and formally identified in November 2017. Its exact location was not published, in order to enable further research and protection of the site.^[7]

Design

A Type UB II submarine, UB-29 had a displacement of 265 tonnes (261 long tons) when at the surface and 291 tonnes (286 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 3.66 m (12 ft). The submarine was powered by two Benz six-cylinder diesel engines producing a total 267 metric horsepower (263 shp; 196 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 5 knots (9.3 km/h; 5.8 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-29 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 thirty-second dive time.^[2]

Summary of raiding history

Date	Name	Nationality	Tonnage^{[Note 2]}	Fate^[8]
19 March 1916	Nominoe	France	3,155	Sunk
20 March 1916	Langeli	Norway	1,565	Sunk
20 March 1916	Skodsborg	Denmark	1,697	Sunk
24 March 1916	Salybia	United Kingdom	3,352	Sunk
24 March 1916	Sussex	France	1,353	Damaged
6 April 1916	Vesuvio	United Kingdom	1,391	Sunk
6 April 1916	Asger Ryg	Denmark	1,134	Sunk
7 April 1916	Braunton	United Kingdom	4,575	Sunk
7 April 1916	Marguerite	France	42	Sunk
25 April 1916	Berkelstroom	Netherlands	736	Sunk
25 April 1916	HMS Penelope	Royal Navy	3,750	Damaged
17 May 1916	Boy Percy	United Kingdom	46	Sunk
17 May 1916	Boy Sam	United Kingdom	46	Sunk
17 May 1916	Wanderer	United Kingdom	47	Sunk
6 August 1916	Loch Lomond	United Kingdom	42	Sunk
3 September 1916	Gotthard	Norway	1,636	Sunk
3 September 1916	Notre Dame De Lourdes	France	161	Sunk
5 September 1916	Jeanne	Denmark	1,191	Sunk
6 September 1916	Torridge	United Kingdom	5,036	Sunk
6 September 1916	Yvonne	France	104	Sunk
7 September 1916	Alice	France	119	Sunk
9 September 1916	Consolation	United Kingdom	47	Sunk
9 September 1916	Dorado	United Kingdom	36	Sunk
9 September 1916	Favourite	United Kingdom	38	Sunk
9 September 1916	Muriel Franklin	United Kingdom	29	Sunk
21 October 1916	Fart 3	Norway	230	Sunk
21 October 1916	Grit	United Kingdom	147	Sunk
21 October 1916	Princess May	United Kingdom	104	Sunk
22 October 1916	Georges M. Embiricos	Greece	3,636	Sunk
24 October 1916	Anna Gurine	Norway	1,147	Sunk
24 October 1916	Sidmouth	United Kingdom	4,045	Sunk
28 October 1916	Saint Charles	France	521	Sunk
12 November 1916	Batavier VI	Netherlands	1,085	Captured as prize
15 November 1916	Midsland	Netherlands	1,085	Captured as prize
1 December 1916	Bossi	Norway	1,462	Sunk
1 December 1916	Briardene	United Kingdom	2,701	Sunk
2 December 1916	Hitterøy	Norway	1,985	Sunk
6 December 1916	Ans	Russian Empire	362	Sunk
6 December 1916	Marie	Denmark	325	Sunk
7 December 1916	Keltier	Belgium	2,360	Damaged
7 December 1916	Meteor	Norway	4,217	Sunk

Wreckage

The well preserved wreckage of the submarine was discovered in 2017 off the coast of Ostend. Hence, the assumption that it was sunk south of Goodwin Sands after a collision with HMS Landrail cannot be maintained. One possible explanation is that UB-29 escaped after the collision, and ran into a mine in Belgian waters. Another explanation is that HMS Landrail sank another U-boat, possibly the UC-19. The German government decided to leave the 22 crew members in the wreckage. Only some minor artefacts lying outside the submarine will be salvaged for an exposition in Belgium and will later be handed to the Internationales Maritimes Museum Hamburg.^[9]

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.
↑ Merchant ship tonnages are in gross register tons. Military vessels are listed by tons displacement.

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-21 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 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). 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.

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-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-32 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 4 December 1915. She was commissioned into the German Imperial Navy on 11 April 1916 as SM UB-32.

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.

SM UB-36 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 15 January 1916. She was commissioned into the German Imperial Navy on 22 May 1916 as SM UB-36.

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-59 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 25 August 1917 as SM UB-59.

SM UB-62 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 9 July 1917 as SM UB-62.

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

1 2 3 4 Rössler 1979, p. 54.
1 2 3 4 5 Gröner 1991, pp. 23–25.
↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Herbert Pustkuchen (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: Erich Platsch". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 29 January 2015.
↑ Bendert 2000, p. 195.
↑ "In Noordzee gevonden Duitse WO 1 duikboot geidentificeerd". vrt.be (in Flemish). Retrieved 2017-11-14.
↑ "Gezonken WOI-duikboot voor onze kust geeft geheimen prijs". hln.be (in Flemish). Retrieved 2017-11-14.
↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by UB 29". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 30 January 2015.
↑ "In Noordzee gevonden Duitse WO 1 duikboot geidentificeerd". vrt.be (in Flemish). Retrieved 2017-11-14.

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.

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[5] "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-9] Merchant ship tonnages are in gross register tons. Military vessels are listed by tons displacement.

[FOOTNOTERössler197954-1] 1 2 3 4 Rössler 1979, p. 54.

[FOOTNOTEGröner199123–25-2] 1 2 3 4 5 Gröner 1991, pp. 23–25.

[3] Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Herbert Pustkuchen (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: Erich Platsch". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 29 January 2015.

[FOOTNOTEBendert2000195-6] Bendert 2000, p. 195.

[7] "In Noordzee gevonden Duitse WO 1 duikboot geidentificeerd". vrt.be (in Flemish). Retrieved 2017-11-14.

[8] "Gezonken WOI-duikboot voor onze kust geeft geheimen prijs". hln.be (in Flemish). Retrieved 2017-11-14.

[10] Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by UB 29". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 30 January 2015.

[11] "In Noordzee gevonden Duitse WO 1 duikboot geidentificeerd". vrt.be (in Flemish). Retrieved 2017-11-14.

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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 December 1916
Shipwrecks	1 Dec: HMS E37 3 Dec: Kanguroo 4 Dec: Caledonia 6 Dec: Mount Temple, SM UC-19 7 Dec: SM UB-46 10 Dec: Georgic 11 Dec: Regina Margherita 13 Dec: SM UB-29 14 Dec: Russian 15 Dec: Powhatan 21 Dec: HMS Hoste, HMS Negro, Murex 22 Dec: HMS E30 25 Dec: Maitai 27 Dec: Gaulois 29 Dec: Alondra
Other incidents	7 Dec: Keltier 12 Dec: Saint Théodore 16 Dec: USS H-3 23 Dec: Boutefeu, Casque, Giuseppe Cesare Abba 28 Dec: Prince Rupert
1915 1916 1917 November 1916 January 1917

History
SM UB-45, a U-boat similar to UB-29
German Empire
Name	UB-29
Ordered	30 April 1915^[1]
Builder	AG Weser, Bremen ^[1]
Cost	1,291,000 German Papiermark
Yard number	243^[1]
Laid down	15 July 1915
Launched	31 December 1915^[1]
Commissioned	18 January 1916^[2]
Fate	Sunk by depth charge 13 December 1916
General characteristics ^[2]
Class and type	Type UB II submarine
Displacement	265 t (261 long tons) surfaced 291 t (286 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	3.66 m (12 ft)
Propulsion	1 × propeller shaft 2 × four-stroke 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	6,650 nautical miles (12,320 km; 7,650 mi) at 5 knots (9.3 km/h; 5.8 mph) surfaced 45 nmi (83 km; 52 mi) at 5 knots (9.3 km/h; 5.8 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	30-second diving time
Service record
Part of:	Training Flotilla 8 March – 13 December 1916
Commanders:	Oblt.z.S. Herbert Pustkuchen^[3] 18 January – 2 November 1916 Oblt.z.S. Erich Platsch^[4] 3 November – 13 December 1916
Operations:	17 patrols
Victories:	36 merchant ships sunk (47,107 GRT) 2 merchant ships damaged (3,713 GRT) 1 warship damaged (3,750 tons) 2 merchant ships taken as prize (2,170 GRT)