SM UB-71

For other ships with the same name, see German submarine U-71.

UB-148 at sea, a U-boat similar to UB-71.
History
German Empire
Name	UB-71
Ordered	20 May 1916 [1]
Builder	Friedrich Krupp Germaniawerft, Kiel
Cost	3,276,000 German Papiermark
Yard number	289
Launched	12 July 1917 [2]
Commissioned	23 November 1917 [2]
Fate	Sunk 21 April 1918 by depth charges off Menorca ( 35°58′N5°18′E / 35.967°N 5.300°E / 35.967; 5.300 ) by British warship, 32 dead [2]
General characteristics [2]
Class and type	German Type UB III submarine
Displacement	513  t (505 long tons) surfaced 647 t (637 long tons) submerged
Length	55.83 m (183 ft 2 in) (o/a)
Beam	5.80 m (19 ft)
Draught	3.67 m (12 ft 0 in)
Propulsion	2 × propeller shaft 2 × MAN four-stroke 6-cylinder diesel engines, 1,085  bhp (809 kW) 2 × Siemens-Schuckert electric motors, 780  shp (580 kW)
Speed	13.2 knots (24.4 km/h; 15.2 mph) surfaced 7.6 knots (14.1 km/h; 8.7 mph) submerged
Range	9,090  nmi (16,830 km; 10,460 mi) at 6 knots (11 km/h; 6.9 mph) surfaced 55 nmi (102 km; 63 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph) submerged
Test depth	50 m (160 ft)
Complement	3 officers, 31 men [2]
Armament	5 × 50 cm (19.7 in) torpedo tubes (4 bow, 1 stern) 10 torpedoes 1 × 8.8 cm (3.46 in) deck gun
Service record
Part of:	I Flotilla Unknown – 21 April 1918
Commanders:	Kptlt. Kurt Schapler [3] 23 November 1917 – 21 April 1918
Operations:	1 patrol
Victories:	None

SM UB-71 was a German Type UB III submarine or U-boat in the German Imperial Navy (German : Kaiserliche Marine) during World War I. She was commissioned into the German Imperial Navy on 23 November 1917 as SM UB-71. ^{[Note 1]}

UB-71 was serving in the Mediterranean when she was sunk by depth charges from HMS ML413 off Menorca on 21 April 1918. ^[2]

Construction

Main article: German Type UB III submarine

She was built by Friedrich Krupp Germaniawerft of Kiel and following just under a year of construction, launched at Kiel on 12 July 1917. UB-71 was commissioned later that same year under the command of Kptlt. Kurt Schapler. Like all Type UB III submarines, UB-71 carried 10 torpedoes and was armed with a 8.8 cm (3.46 in) deck gun. UB-71 would carry a crew of up to 3 officer and 31 men and had a cruising range of 9,090 nautical miles (16,830 km; 10,460 mi). UB-71 had a displacement of 513  t (505 long tons) while surfaced and 647 t (637 long tons) when submerged. Her engines enabled her to travel at 13.2 knots (24.4 km/h; 15.2 mph) when surfaced and 7.6 knots (14.1 km/h; 8.7 mph) when submerged.

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.

Citations

1. Rössler 1979, p. 28.
2. Gröner 1991, pp. 25–30.
3. Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Kurt Schapler". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 8 March 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.