SM UB-34

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SM UB 45.jpg
SM UB-45, a U-boat similar to UB-34
History
War Ensign of Germany 1903-1918.svg German Empire
NameUB-34
Ordered22 July 1915 [1]
Builder Blohm & Voss, Hamburg [1]
Cost1,152,000 German Papiermark [2]
Yard number258 [1]
Launched28 December 1915 [1]
Completed17 May 1916 [1]
Commissioned10 June 1916 [2]
FateSurrendered 26 November 1918 [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 [3]
Part of:
  • I Flotilla
  • 27 July 1916 – 1 February 1917
  • II Flotilla
  • 1 February – 10 September 1917
  • V Flotilla
  • 10 September 1917 – 3 May 1918
  • I Flotilla
  • 3 May – 9 September 1918
  • Flandern Flotilla
  • 9 September – 6 October 1918
  • Training Flotilla
  • 6 October – 11 November 1918
Commanders:
  • Oblt.z.S. Theodor Schultz
  • 10 June 1916 – 16 March 1917
  • Oblt.z.S. Ludwig Schaafhausen
  • 17 March – 31 August 1917
  • Oblt.z.S. Helmuth von Ruckteschell
  • 1 September 1917 – 30 March 1918
  • Oblt.z.S. Erich Förste
  • 31 March – 8 September 1918
  • Lt.z.S. Hans Illing
  • 9 September - 6 October 1918
Operations: 21 patrol
Victories:
  • 29 merchant ships sunk
    (39,122  GRT)
  • 2 auxiliary warships sunk
    (374  GRT)
  • 2 merchant ships damaged
    (12,406  GRT)
  • 2 merchant ships taken as prize
    (2,210  GRT)

SM UB-34 [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 5 December 1915. She was commissioned into the German Imperial Navy on 10 June 1916 as SM UB-34.

Contents

UB-34 sank 31 ships in 21 patrols. They included the William Cory and Son collier SS Hurstwood, which UB-34 torpedoed and sank in the North Sea off Whitby on 5 February 1917. [4]

The submarine served in the Training Flotilla at the end of the war and was surrendered on 26 November 1918 in accordance with the requirements of the Armistice with Germany. UB-34 was broken up in Canning Town in 1922. [5]

Design

A Type UB II submarine, UB-34 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-34 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 [6]
21 October 1916 Ull Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 1,139Sunk
22 October 1916 Effort Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 159Sunk
23 October 1916 Regina Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 823Sunk
26 October 1916 Titan Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 171Sunk
18 December 1916 Arran Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 176Sunk
19 December 1916 Ansgar Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 926Sunk
19 December 1916 Kornmo Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 591Sunk
19 December 1916 Bretland Flag of Denmark.svg  Denmark 2,025Captured as prize
20 December 1916 Eva Flag of Denmark.svg  Denmark 109Sunk
20 December 1916 Mereddio Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden 1,372Sunk
5 February 1917 Hurstwood Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 1,229Sunk
6 February 1917 Ferruccio Flag of Italy (1861-1946) crowned.svg  Kingdom of Italy 2,192Sunk
7 February 1917 Corsican Prince Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 2,776Sunk
7 February 1917 Saint Ninian Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 3,026Sunk
25 April 1917 Este Flag of Denmark.svg  Denmark 1,420Sunk
7 September 1917 Grelfryda Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 5,136Damaged
8 September 1917 Aladdin Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 753Sunk
27 September 1917 Greltoria Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 5,143Sunk
29 September 1917 Bertha Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands 185Captured as prize
27 October 1917 Lady Helen Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 811Sunk
13 December 1917 Bangarth Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 1,872Sunk
15 December 1917 Dafni Flag of Greece (1822-1978).svg  Greece 1,190Sunk
24 January 1918 HMT Desire Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy 135Sunk
24 January 1918 X6 Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 160Sunk
24 January 1918 X110 Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 160Sunk
25 January 1918 Folmina Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands 1,158Sunk
25 January 1918 Humber Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 280Sunk
26 January 1918 Hartley Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 1,150Sunk
26 January 1918 Athos Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 1,708Sunk
9 March 1918 Randelsborg Flag of Denmark.svg  Denmark 1,551Sunk
13 March 1918 Adine Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 2,235Sunk
16 March 1918 Quintero Flag of Denmark.svg  Denmark 1,611Sunk
21 April 1918 Lompoc Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 7,270Damaged
10 June 1918 Lowtyne Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 3,231Sunk
22 September 1918 HMT Elise Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy 239Sunk

Related Research Articles

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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-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-26 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 14 December 1915. She was commissioned into the German Imperial Navy on 27 December 1915 as SM UB-26. UB-26 was trapped in anti-submarine nets trailed by the Trombe and was scuttled in Le Havre harbour on 5 April 1916. She was raised by the French on 30 August 1917 and served as Roland Morillot.

SM UB-29 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 31 December 1915. She was commissioned into the German Imperial Navy on 18 January 1916 as SM UB-29.

SM UB-24 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 18 October 1915. She was commissioned into the German Imperial Navy on 18 November 1915 as SM UB-24. The submarine was surrendered to France in accordance with the requirements of the Armistice with Germany on 24 November 1918 and 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-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-40 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.

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 Gröner 1991, pp. 23–25.
  3. Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boats: UB 34". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 10 December 2014.
  4. Bendert 2000, p. 96.
  5. Gröner 1991, pp. 50–51.
  6. Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by UB 34". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 10 December 2014.

Bibliography