SM UC-12

Last updated
History
War Ensign of Germany 1903-1918.svg German Empire
NameUC-12
Ordered23 November 1914 [1]
Builder AG Weser, Bremen [2]
Yard number226 [1]
Laid down27 January 1915 [1]
Launched29 April 1915 [1]
Commissioned2 May 1915 [1]
FateSunk by own mine, 16 March 1916 [1]
General characteristics [3]
Class & type Type UC I submarine
Displacement
  • 168  t (165 long tons), surfaced
  • 182 t (179 long tons), submerged
Length
Beam3.15 m (10 ft 4 in)
Draft3.06 m (10 ft 0 in)
Propulsion
Speed
  • 6.49 knots (12.02 km/h; 7.47 mph), surfaced
  • 5.67 knots (10.50 km/h; 6.52 mph), submerged
Range
  • 910  nmi (1,690 km; 1,050 mi) at 5 knots (9.3 km/h; 5.8 mph) surfaced
  • 50 nmi (93 km; 58 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph) submerged
Test depth50 m (160 ft)
Complement14
Armament
  • 6 × 100 cm (39 in) mine tubes
  • 12 × UC 120 mines
  • 1 × 8 mm (0.31 in) machine gun
Service record
Part of:
  • Pola Flotilla
  • 27 June 1915 – 16 March 1916
Commanders:
  • Oblt.z.S. Cäsar Bauer [4]
  • 2 May – 26 June 1915
  • Kptlt. Karl Palis [5]
  • 27 June 1915 – 1 January 1916
  • Oblt.z.S. Eberhard Fröhner [6]
  • 2 January – 16 March 1916
Operations: 7 patrols
Victories:
  • 1 merchant ship sunk
    (2,382  GRT)
  • 5 auxiliary warships sunk
    (907  GRT)

SM UC-12 was a German Type UC I minelayer submarine or U-boat in the German Imperial Navy (German : Kaiserliche Marine) during World War I.

Contents

Design

A Type UC I submarine, UC-1 had a displacement of 168 tonnes (165 long tons) when at the surface and 182 tonnes (179 long tons) while submerged. She had a length overall of 33.99 m (111 ft 6 in), a beam of 3.15 m (10 ft 4 in), and a draught of 3.06 m (10 ft). The submarine was powered by one Benz six-cylinder, four-stroke diesel engine producing 80 metric horsepower (59 kW; 79 shp), an electric motor producing 175 metric horsepower (129 kW; 173 shp), and one propeller shaft. She was capable of operating at a depth of 50 metres (160 ft). [3]

The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 6.49 knots (12.02 km/h; 7.47 mph) and a maximum submerged speed of 5.67 knots (10.50 km/h; 6.52 mph). When submerged, she could operate for 50 nautical miles (93 km; 58 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph); when surfaced, she could travel 910 nautical miles (1,690 km; 1,050 mi) at 5 knots (9.3 km/h; 5.8 mph). UC-1 was fitted with six 100 centimetres (39 in) mine tubes, twelve UC 120 mines, and one 8 millimetres (0.31 in) machine gun. She was built by AG Weser Bremen and her complement was fourteen crew members. [3]

Construction

The U-boat was ordered on 23 November 1914, laid down on 27 January 1915, and was launched on 29 April 1915. She was commissioned into the German Imperial Navy on 2 May 1915 as SM UC-12. [Note 1]

Service history

UC-12 served with the Pola Flotilla based at Cattaro in the Adriatic. She operated as a minelayer, and undertook seven patrols in this role. Mines laid by UC-12 were credited with sinking six ships. One of these, the Italian Marechiaro sunk on 21 February 1916, was listed as a hospital ship and sank with over 200 casualties. [7] Since Germany was not at war with Italy at this stage, though Austria was, UC 12, like other German U-boats in the Mediterranean, operated under the Austro-Hungarian flag.

Fate

On 16 March 1916 UC-12 was sunk by the detonation of one of her own mines while laying a mine fields off Taranto harbour. Italian divers inspected the wreck and established its identity. The knowledge that Germany, technically their ally, was assiduously mining their naval bases was a contributing factor in Italy’s decision in August 1916 to declare war on Germany. [8] The submarine was raised by Italy and commissioned as X-1 in the Italian Royal Navy. [1]

The wreck of the UC-12 was located 1700 metres from the shore and it was decided to recover it, given that it was lying in shallow water (31 metres deep). [9]

Summary of raiding history

DateNameNationalityTonnage [Note 2] Fate [10]
16 February 1916 Memphis Flag of France.svg France 2,382Sunk
21 February 1916 Marechiaro Flag of Italy (1861-1946) crowned.svg  Regia Marina 412Sunk
23 February 1916 Monsone Flag of Italy (1861-1946) crowned.svg  Regia Marina 249Sunk
26 February 1916 HMD Lily Reaich Naval ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy 88Sunk
3 March 1916 HMD Boy Harold Naval ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy 74Sunk
8 March 1916 HMD Enterprise II Naval ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy 84Sunk

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

Citations

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boats: UC 12". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 20 February 2009.
  2. ↑ Tarrant, p. 173.
  3. 1 2 3 Gröner 1991, pp. 30–31.
  4. ↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Cäsar Bauer". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 9 February 2015.
  5. ↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Karl Palis". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 9 February 2015.
  6. ↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Eberhard Fröhner". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 9 February 2015.
  7. ↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit during WWI: Marechiaro". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net.
  8. ↑ Kemp p 17
  9. ↑ "Smg. X 1 (1916)". Betasom - XI Gruppo Sommergibili Atlantici. 2010-03-11. Retrieved 2025-09-14.
  10. ↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by UC 12". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 9 February 2015.

Bibliography

  • Bendert, Harald (2001). Die UC-Boote der Kaiserlichen Marine 1914-1918. Minenkrieg mit U-Booten (in German). Hamburg, Berlin, Bonn: Mittler. ISBN   3-8132-0758-7.
  • 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.
  • Gardiner, Robert; Gray, Randal, eds. (1985). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1906–1921. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN   978-0-87021-907-8. OCLC   12119866.
  • Kemp, Paul (1997). U-Boats Destroyed, German submarine losses in the World Wars. Arms and Armour. ISBN   1-85409-515-3.
  • Tarrant, V. E. (1989). The U-Boat Offensive: 1914–1945. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN   978-0-87021-764-7. OCLC   20338385.
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