SM UB-31

Last updated

SM UB 45.jpg
SM UB-45, a U-boat similar to UB-31
History
War Ensign of Germany 1903-1918.svg German Empire
NameUB-31
Ordered22 July 1915 [1]
Builder Blohm & Voss, Hamburg [1]
Cost1,152,000 German Papiermark [2]
Yard number255 [1]
Launched16 November 1915 [1]
Completed24 March 1916 [1]
Commissioned25 March 1916 [2]
FateSunk 2 May 1918 by British warships [2]
General characteristics [2]
Class and type Type UB II submarine
Displacement
  • 274  t (270 long tons) surfaced
  • 303 t (298 long tons) submerged
Length
Beam
  • 4.37 m (14 ft 4 in) o/a
  • 3.85 m (12 ft 8 in) pressure hull
Draught3.69 m (12 ft 1 in)
Propulsion
Speed
  • 9.06 knots (16.78 km/h; 10.43 mph) surfaced
  • 5.71 knots (10.57 km/h; 6.57 mph) submerged
Range
  • 7,030  nmi (13,020 km; 8,090 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 depth50 m (160 ft)
Complement2 officers, 21 men
Armament
Notes42-second diving time
Service record
Part of:
  • Baltic Flotilla
  • 16 May 1916 – 24 February 1917
  • Flandern Flotilla
  • 24 February 1917 – 2 May 1918
Commanders:
  • Oblt.z.S. Karl Vesper [3]
  • 18 March – 11 August 1916
  • Oblt.z.S. Thomas Bieber [4]
  • 12 August 1916 – 31 January 1918
  • Oblt.z.S. Wilhelm Braun [5]
  • 1 February – 2 May 1918
Operations: 25 patrols
Victories:
  • 27 merchant ships sunk
    (73,810  GRT)
  • 8 merchant ships damaged
    (34,699  GRT)

SM UB-31 [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 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.

Contents

The submarine sank 27 ships in 25 patrols. UB-31 was depth charged and sunk by British warships HMS Lord Leitrim, HMS Loyal Friend, and HMS Ocean Roamer in the English Channel on 2 May 1918. [2] Alternatively she may have been sunk by a mine on that date. [6]

Design

A Type UB II submarine, UB-31 had a displacement of 274 tonnes (270 long tons) when at the surface and 303 tonnes (298 long tons) while submerged. She had a total length of 36.90 m (121 ft 1 in), a beam of 4.37 m (14 ft 4 in), and a draught of 3.69 m (12 ft 1 in). The submarine was powered by two Benz six-cylinder diesel engines producing a total 270 metric horsepower (270 shp; 200 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 9.06 knots (16.78 km/h; 10.43 mph) and a maximum submerged speed of 5.71 knots (10.57 km/h; 6.57 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 7,030 nautical miles (13,020 km; 8,090 mi) at 5 knots (9.3 km/h; 5.8 mph). UB-31 was fitted with two 50 centimetres (20 in) torpedo tubes, four torpedoes, and one 8.8 cm (3.5 in) Uk L/30 deck gun. She had a complement of twenty-one crew members and two officers and a 42-second dive time. [2]

Summary of raiding history

DateNameNationalityTonnage [Note 2] Fate [7]
9 April 1917 Kittiwake Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 1,866Sunk
24 April 1917 Saint Jacques Flag of France.svg  France 415Damaged
28 April 1917 Medina Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 12,350Sunk
21 May 1917 City of Corinth Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 5,870Sunk
15 June 1917 Teesdale Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 2,470Damaged
17 June 1917 Stanhope Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 2,854Sunk
5 July 1917 Ocean Swell Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 195Sunk
6 July 1917 Ariadne Christine Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 3,550Damaged
7 July 1917 Bellucia Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 4,368Sunk
10 July 1917 Hildegard Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg  United States 622Sunk
11 July 1917 Brunhilda Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 2,296Sunk
1 August 1917 Alcyone Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 149Sunk
1 August 1917 Laertes Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 4,541Sunk
2 August 1917 Newlyn Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 4,019Sunk
3 August 1917 Renee Marthe Flag of France.svg  France 49Sunk
8 August 1917 Algerie Flag of France.svg  France 3,386Damaged
8 September 1917 Elizabeth Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 58Sunk
9 September 1917 Pluton Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 1,449Sunk
19 October 1917 Waikawa Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 5,666Sunk
20 October 1917 Colorado Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 7,165Sunk
23 October 1917 Lepanto Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 6,389Damaged
19 November 1917 Farn Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 4,393Sunk
13 December 1917 Britannic Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 92Sunk
15 December 1917 Sachem Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 5,354Damaged
18 December 1917 Riversdale Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 2,805Sunk
20 December 1917 Alice Marie Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 2,210Sunk
20 December 1917 Eveline Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 2,605Sunk
20 December 1917 Warsaw Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 608Sunk
22 January 1918 Admiral Cochrane Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 6,565Damaged
22 January 1918 Greatham Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 2,338Sunk
24 January 1918 Elsa Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 3,581Sunk
28 February 1918 Heenvliet Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands 492Sunk
20 March 1918 Boorara Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 6,570Damaged
24 April 1918 Agnete Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 1,127Sunk
25 April 1918 Joseph Flag of France.svg  France 42Sunk

Related Research Articles

SM UB-33 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 5 December 1915. She was commissioned into the German Imperial Navy on 22 April 1916 as SM UB-33.

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

SM <i>UB-64</i> German submarine

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 <i>UB-72</i>

SM UB-72 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 September 1917 as SM UB-72.

SM <i>UB-73</i> German Imperial Navy submarine

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 <i>UB-78</i>

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 <i>UB-82</i>

SM UB-82 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 8 September 1917 as SM UB-82.

SM <i>UB-83</i>

SM UB-83 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 October 1917 as SM UB-83.

SM <i>UB-87</i>

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 <i>UB-104</i>

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.

SM <i>UB-124</i>

SM UB-124 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 22 April 1918 as SM UB-124.

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. 1 2 3 4 5 Rössler 1979, p. 64.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Gröner 1991, pp. 23–25.
  3. ↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Karl Vesper (Royal House Order of Hohenzollern)". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 1 February 2015.
  4. ↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Thomas Bieber (Royal House Order of Hohenzollern)". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 1 February 2015.
  5. ↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Wilhelm Braun". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 1 February 2015.
  6. ↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "UB-31". U-Boat.net. Retrieved 8 May 2018.
  7. ↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by UB-31". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 1 February 2015.

Bibliography

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.