SM UC-26

History
German Empire
Name	UC-26
Ordered	29 August 1915
Builder	AG Vulcan, Hamburg
Yard number	65
Launched	22 June 1916
Commissioned	18 July 1916
Fate	Rammed and sunk by HMS Milne, 8 May 1917
General characteristics
Class and type	Type UC II submarine
Displacement	400 t (390 long tons), surfaced; 480 t (470 long tons), submerged;
Length	49.45 m (162 ft 3 in) o/a ; 39.30 m (128 ft 11 in) pressure hull ;
Beam	5.22 m (17 ft 2 in) o/a; 3.65 m (12 ft 0 in) pressure hull;
Draught	3.68 m (12 ft 1 in)
Propulsion	2 × propeller shafts ; 2 × 6-cylinder, 4-stroke diesel engines, 500 PS (370 kW; 490 bhp); 2 × electric motors, 460 PS (340 kW; 450 shp);
Speed	11.6 knots (21.5 km/h; 13.3 mph), surfaced; 6.6 knots (12.2 km/h; 7.6 mph), submerged;
Range	9,260 nmi (17,150 km; 10,660 mi) at 7 knots (13 km/h; 8.1 mph), surfaced; 53 nmi (98 km; 61 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph), surfaced;
Test depth	50 m (160 ft)
Complement	26
Armament	6 × 100 cm (39.4 in) mine tubes; 18 × UC 200 mines ; 3 × 50 cm (19.7 in) torpedo tubes (2 bow/external; one stern); 7 × torpedoes ; 1 × 8.8 cm (3.5 in) Uk L/30 deck gun ;
Notes	48-second diving time
Service record
Part of:	Flandern Flotilla; 12 September 1916 – 8 May 1917;
Commanders:	Oblt.z.S. Matthias Graf von Schmettow; 18 July 1916 – 8 May 1917;
Operations:	9 patrols
Victories:	29 merchant ships sunk ; (44,859 GRT); 3 warships sunk ; (1267 tons); 7 auxiliary warships sunk ; (15,354 GRT); 5 merchant ships damaged ; (17,784 GRT);

Last updated October 24, 2024

SM UC-26 was a German Type UC II minelaying submarine or U-boat in the German Imperial Navy (German : Kaiserliche Marine) during World War I. The U-boat was ordered on 29 August 1915 and was launched on 22 June 1916. She was commissioned into the German Imperial Navy on 18 July 1916 as SM UC-26.^{[Note 1]} In nine patrols UC-26 was credited with sinking 39 ships, either by torpedo or by mines laid. On 16 February 1917, SM UC-26 was rammed by the Royal Naval vessel Mona's Queen (with over 1,000 troops embarked) near Le Harve. The submarine was hit by the port paddlebox of the Mona's Queen, with her steel paddle floats severely damaging the submarine's bow. UC-26 was ultimately rammed and sunk by HMS Milne off Calais on 8 May 1917.^[1]

Design

A Type UC II submarine, UC-26 had a displacement of 400 tonnes (390 long tons) when at the surface and 480 tonnes (470 long tons) while submerged. She had a length overall of 49.45 m (162 ft 3 in), a beam of 5.22 m (17 ft 2 in), and a draught of 3.65 m (12 ft). The submarine was powered by two six-cylinder four-stroke diesel engines each producing 250 metric horsepower (180 kW; 250 shp) (a total of 500 metric horsepower (370 kW; 490 shp)), two electric motors producing 460 metric horsepower (340 kW; 450 shp), and two propeller shafts. She had a dive time of 48 seconds and was capable of operating at a depth of 50 metres (160 ft).^[3]

The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 11.6 knots (21.5 km/h; 13.3 mph) and a submerged speed of 6.6 knots (12.2 km/h; 7.6 mph). When submerged, she could operate for 53 nautical miles (98 km; 61 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph); when surfaced, she could travel 9,260 nautical miles (17,150 km; 10,660 mi) at 7 knots (13 km/h; 8.1 mph). UC-26 was fitted with six 100 centimetres (39 in) mine tubes, eighteen UC 200 mines, three 50 centimetres (20 in) torpedo tubes (one on the stern and two on the bow), seven torpedoes, and one 8.8 cm (3.5 in) Uk L/30 deck gun. Her complement was twenty-six crew members.^[3]

Summary of raiding history

Date	Name	Nationality	Tonnage^{[Note 2]}	Fate^[6]
23 September 1916	Prinsessan Ingeborg	Sweden	3,670	Damaged
30 September 1916	Maywood	United Kingdom	1,188	Sunk
30 September 1916	William George	United Kingdom	151	Sunk
1 October 1916	Vanellus	United Kingdom	1,797	Sunk
1 October 1916	Villebois Mareuil	France	32	Sunk
3 October 1916	Ada	Norway	1,111	Sunk
4 October 1916	Risholm	Norway	2,550	Sunk
5 October 1916	Isle of Hastings	United Kingdom	1,575	Sunk
13 October 1916	Mercator	Finland	2,827	Sunk
27 October 1916	Blanc Nez	French Navy	247	Sunk
28 October 1916	HMHS Galeka	Royal Navy	6,772	Sunk
30 October 1916	Saint Hubert	French Navy	216	Sunk
1 November 1916	Torpilleur 300	French Navy	99	Sunk
15 November 1916	Saint Leonards	United Kingdom	4,574	Damaged
16 November 1916	HMT Anthony Hope	Royal Navy	288	Sunk
16 November 1916	Joachim Brinch Lund	Norway	1,603	Sunk
16 November 1916	San Nicolao	Portugal	2,697	Sunk
17 November 1916	Monmouth	United Kingdom	4,078	Damaged
19 November 1916	Finn	Norway	3,806	Sunk
21 November 1916	Cap Lihou	France	252	Sunk
22 November 1916	Brierton	United Kingdom	3,255	Sunk
22 November 1916	Trym	Norway	1,801	Sunk
23 November 1916	Dansted	Denmark	1,499	Sunk
25 November 1916	Alfred De Courcy	France	164	Sunk
25 November 1916	Malvina	France	112	Sunk
10 December 1916	Strathalbyn	United Kingdom	4,331	Sunk
28 January 1917	Egret	Russia	4,055	Sunk
28 January 1917	Argo	Norway	1,261	Sunk
28 January 1917	Heimland I	Norway	505	Sunk
7 February 1917	Noella	French Navy	277	Sunk
16 February 1917	Mona's Queen	Isle of Man	1,200	Damaged during ramming
10 April 1917	HMS P26	Royal Navy	613	Sunk
10 April 1917	HMHS Salta	Royal Navy	7,284	Sunk
11 April 1917	HMT Amy	Royal Navy	270	Sunk
11 April 1917	Branksome Hall	United Kingdom	4,262	Damaged
11 April 1917	Duchess of Cornwall	United Kingdom	1,706	Sunk
13 April 1917	Gambetta	France	39	Sunk
14 April 1917	Tom	Spain	2,413	Sunk
18 April 1917	Surcouf	France	195	Sunk
19 April 1917	Senator Dantziger	United Kingdom	164	Sunk
2 May 1917	Certo	Norway	1,629	Sunk
2 May 1917	HMS Derwent	Royal Navy	555	Sunk
3 May 1917	Ussa	United Kingdom	2,066	Sunk
8 May 1917	Iris	United Kingdom	75	Sunk

Related Research Articles

SM UC-17 was a German Type UC II minelaying submarine or U-boat in the Imperial German Navy in World War I. She was ordered on 29 August 1915 and launched on 29 February 1916. She was commissioned into the Imperial German Navy on 21 July 1916 as SM UC-17.

SM UC-20 was a German Type UC II minelaying submarine or U-boat in the German Imperial Navy during World War I. The U-boat was ordered on 29 August 1915 and was launched on 1 April 1916. She was commissioned into the German Imperial Navy on 7 September 1916 as SM UC-20. In 13 patrols UC-20 was credited with sinking 21 ships, either by torpedo or by mines laid. UC-20 was surrendered on 16 January 1919 and broken up at Preston in 1919–20.

SM UC-21 was a German Type UC II minelaying submarine or U-boat in the German Imperial Navy during World War I. The U-boat was ordered on 29 August 1915 and was launched on 1 April 1916. She was commissioned into the German Imperial Navy on 12 September 1916 as SM UC-21.

SM UC-22 was a German Type UC II minelaying submarine or U-boat in the German Imperial Navy during World War I. The U-boat was ordered on 29 August 1915 and was launched on 1 February 1916. She was commissioned into the German Imperial Navy on 30 June 1916 as SM UC-22. In 15 patrols UC-22 was credited with sinking 23 ships, either by torpedo or by mines laid. UC-22 was surrendered to France on 3 February 1919 and was broken up at Landerneau in July 1921.

SM UC-23 was a German Type UC II minelaying submarine or U-boat in the German Imperial Navy during World War I. The U-boat was ordered on 29 August 1915 and was launched on 29 February 1916. She was commissioned into the German Imperial Navy on 17 July 1916 as SM UC-23. In 17 patrols UC-23 was credited with sinking 46 ships, either by torpedo or by mines laid. UC-23 was surrendered at Sevastopol on 25 November 1918 and broken up at Bizerta in August 1921.

SM UC-25 was a German Type UC II minelaying submarine or U-boat in the German Imperial Navy during World War I. The U-boat was ordered on 29 August 1915 and was launched on 10 June 1916. She was commissioned into the German Imperial Navy on 28 June 1916 as SM UC-25. In 13 patrols UC-25 was credited with sinking 21 ships, either by torpedo or by mines laid. From March to September 1918, she was commanded by Karl Dönitz, later grand admiral in charge of all U-boats in World War II. UC-25 was scuttled at Pola on 28 October 1918 on the surrender of Austria-Hungary.

SM UC-31 was a German Type UC II minelaying submarine or U-boat in the German Imperial Navy during World War I. The U-boat was ordered on 29 August 1915 and was launched on 7 August 1916. She was commissioned into the German Imperial Navy on 2 September 1916 as SM UC-31. In 13 patrols UC-31 was credited with sinking 38 ships, either by torpedo or by mines laid. UC-31 was surrendered on 26 November 1918 and broken up at Canning Town in 1922.

SM UC-33 was a German Type UC II minelaying submarine or U-boat in the German Imperial Navy during World War I. The U-boat was ordered on 29 August 1915 and was launched on 26 August 1916. She was commissioned into the German Imperial Navy on 25 September 1916 as SM UC-33. In seven patrols UC-33 was credited with sinking 36 ships, either by torpedo or by mines laid. UC-33 was shelled and then rammed by patrol boat PC61 captained by Frank Worsley at position 51°55′N6°14′W in St. George's Channel on 26 September 1917.

SM UC-35 was a German Type UC II minelaying submarine or U-boat in the German Imperial Navy during World War I. The U-boat was ordered on 20 November 1915 and was launched on 6 May 1916. She was commissioned into the German Imperial Navy on 2 October 1916 as SM UC-35. In eleven patrols UC-35 was credited with sinking 48 ships, either by torpedo or by mines laid. UC-35 was sunk by gunfire from the French torpedo boat Aigli southwest of Sardinia on 16 May 1918 at 39°48′N7°42′E.

SM UC-37 was a German Type UC II minelaying submarine or U-boat in the German Imperial Navy during World War I. The U-boat was ordered on 20 November 1915 and was launched on 5 June 1916. She was commissioned into the German Imperial Navy on 17 October 1916 as SM UC-37. In 13 patrols UC-37 was credited with sinking 66 ships, either by torpedo or by mines laid. UC-37 was surrendered at Sevastopol on 25 November 1918 and broken up at Bizerta in August 1921.

SM UC-40 was a German Type UC II minelaying submarine or U-boat in the German Imperial Navy during World War I. The U-boat was ordered on 20 November 1915 and was launched on 5 September 1916. She was commissioned into the German Imperial Navy on 1 October 1916 as SM UC-40. In 17 patrols UC-40 was credited with sinking 30 ships, either by torpedo or by mines laid. UC-40 was being taken to surrender but foundered in the North Sea en route on 21 January 1919.

SM UC-45 was a German Type UC II minelaying submarine or U-boat in the German Imperial Navy during World War I. The U-boat was ordered on 20 November 1915 and was launched on 20 October 1916. She was commissioned into the German Imperial Navy on 18 November 1916 as SM UC-45. In five patrols UC-45 was credited with sinking 12 ships, either by torpedo or by mines laid. UC-45 sank in a diving accident on 17 September 1917 in the North Sea. The German salvage vessel Vulkan raised the wreck and UC-45 re-entered service on 24 October 1918. She was surrendered on 24 November 1918 and broken up at Preston in 1919–20.

SM UC-49 was a German Type UC II minelaying submarine or U-boat in the German Imperial Navy during World War I. The U-boat was ordered on 20 November 1915 and was launched on 7 November 1916. She was commissioned into the German Imperial Navy on 2 December 1916 as SM UC-49. In 13 patrols UC-49 was credited with sinking 26 ships, either by torpedo or by mines laid. UC-49 was sunk by mine off coast of Flanders on 14 August 1918.

SM UC-52 was a German Type UC II minelaying submarine or U-boat in the German Imperial Navy during World War I. The U-boat was ordered on 12 January 1916 and was launched on 23 January 1917. She was commissioned into the German Imperial Navy on 15 March 1917 as SM UC-52. In seven patrols UC-52 was credited with sinking 18 ships, either by torpedo or by mines laid. She notably sank the Italian troopship Verona, killing 880 soldiers. UC-52 was surrendered on 16 January 1919 and broken up at Morecambe.

SM UC-57 was a German Type UC II minelaying submarine or U-boat in the German Imperial Navy during World War I. The U-boat was ordered on 12 January 1916, laid down on 14 March 1916, and was launched on 7 September 1916. She was commissioned into the German Imperial Navy on 22 January 1917 as SM UC-57. In seven patrols UC-57 was credited with sinking 5 ships, either by torpedo or by mines laid.

SM UC-64 was a German Type UC II minelaying submarine or U-boat in the German Imperial Navy during World War I. The U-boat was ordered on 12 January 1916, laid down on 3 April 1916, and was launched on 23 January 1917. She was commissioned into the German Imperial Navy on 22 February 1917 as SM UC-64. In 15 patrols UC-64 was credited with sinking 26 ships, either by torpedo or by mines laid. UC-64 was mined and sunk in the Dover Strait on 20 June 1918.

SM UC-65 was a German Type UC II minelaying submarine or U-boat in the German Imperial Navy during World War I. The U-boat was ordered on 12 January 1916 and was launched on 8 July 1916. She was commissioned into the German Imperial Navy on 7 November 1916 as SM UC-65. In eleven patrols UC-65 was credited with sinking 106 ships, either by torpedo or by mines laid. UC-65 was torpedoed and sunk by HMS C15 on 3 November 1917.

SM UC-73 was a German Type UC II minelaying submarine or U-boat in the German Imperial Navy during World War I. The U-boat was ordered on 12 January 1916 and was launched on 26 August 1916. She was commissioned into the German Imperial Navy on 24 December 1916 as SM UC-73. In ten patrols UC-73 was credited with sinking 16 ships, either by torpedo or by mines laid. UC-73 was surrendered on 6 January 1919 and broken up at Brighton Ferry in 1919 – 20.

SM UC-74 was a German Type UC II minelaying submarine or U-boat in the German Imperial Navy during World War I. The U-boat was ordered on 12 January 1916 and was launched on 19 October 1916. She was commissioned into the German Imperial Navy on 26 November 1916 as SM UC-74. In ten patrols UC-74 was credited with sinking 37 ships, either by torpedo or by mines laid. UC-74 was interned at Barcelona on 21 November 1918 when she ran out of fuel. The U-boat was surrendered to France on 26 March 1919 and was broken up at Toulon in July 1921.

SM UC-79 was a German Type UC II minelaying submarine or U-boat in the German Imperial Navy during World War I.

References

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.

Citations

1 2 3 4 5 6 Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boats: UC 26". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 22 February 2009.
↑ Tarrant, p. 173.
1 2 3 Gröner 1991, pp. 31–32.
↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "UC Type II". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 25 August 2017.
↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Matthias Graf von Schmettow (Royal House Order of Hohenzollern)". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 2 January 2015.
↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by UC 26". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 2 January 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, ed. (1985). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1906–1921. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 978-0-87021-907-8. OCLC 12119866.
Tarrant, V. E. (1989). The U-Boat Offensive: 1914–1945. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 978-0-87021-764-7. OCLC 20338385.

51°3′N1°40′E / 51.050°N 1.667°E / 51.050; 1.667

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.

[6] "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-7] Merchant ship tonnages are in gross register tons. Military vessels are listed by tons displacement.

[UC-26-1] 1 2 3 4 5 6 Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boats: UC 26". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 22 February 2009.

[Tarrant-173-2] Tarrant, p. 173.

[FOOTNOTEGröner199131–32-3] 1 2 3 Gröner 1991, pp. 31–32.

[4] Helgason, Guðmundur. "UC Type II". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 25 August 2017.

[5] Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Matthias Graf von Schmettow (Royal House Order of Hohenzollern)". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 2 January 2015.

[8] Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by UC 26". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 2 January 2015.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[Note 1]

[Note 2]

[6]

v t e Type UC II submarines
UC-16 UC-17 UC-18 UC-19 UC-20 UC-21 UC-22 UC-23 UC-24 UC-25 UC-26 UC-27 UC-28 UC-29 UC-30 UC-31 UC-32 UC-33 UC-34 UC-35 UC-36 UC-37 UC-38 UC-39 UC-40 UC-41 UC-42 UC-43 UC-44 UC-45 UC-46 UC-47 UC-48 UC-49 UC-50 UC-51 UC-52 UC-53 UC-54 UC-55 UC-56 UC-57 UC-58 UC-59 UC-60 UC-61 UC-62 UC-63 UC-64 UC-65 UC-66 UC-67 UC-68 UC-69 UC-70 UC-71 UC-72 UC-73 UC-74 UC-75 UC-76 UC-77 UC-78 UC-79
Preceded by: Type UC I Followed by: Type UC III
List of U-boats of Germany

v t e Shipwrecks and maritime incidents in May 1917
Shipwrecks	1 May: SM U-81 2 May: HMS Derwent 4 May: Ilva , Transylvania 6 May: Hebble 7 May: SM UB-39 8 May: SM UC-26 11 May: HMT Bracklyn 14 May: SM U-59 15 May: Borea, Boutefeu 16 May: SMS S17 20 May: HMS Paxton 21 May: Lanthorn, SM UC-36 24 May: SM UC-24 25 May: HMS Hilary 26 May: HMHS Dover Castle 28 May: Asters 30 May: SS Italia 31 May: Miyazaki Maru Unknown date: HMS C17, Morzh, SM UB-36
Other incidents	16 May: HMS Dartmouth Unknown date: HMS Lurcher
1916 1917 1918 April 1917 June 1917

History

German Empire
Name	UC-26
Ordered	29 August 1915^[1]
Builder	AG Vulcan, Hamburg ^[2]
Yard number	65^[1]
Launched	22 June 1916^[1]
Commissioned	18 July 1916^[1]
Fate	Rammed and sunk by HMS Milne, 8 May 1917^[1]
General characteristics ^[3]
Class and type	Type UC II submarine ^[4]
Displacement	400 t (390 long tons), surfaced 480 t (470 long tons), submerged
Length	49.45 m (162 ft 3 in) o/a 39.30 m (128 ft 11 in) pressure hull
Beam	5.22 m (17 ft 2 in) o/a 3.65 m (12 ft 0 in) pressure hull
Draught	3.68 m (12 ft 1 in)
Propulsion	2 × propeller shafts 2 × 6-cylinder, 4-stroke diesel engines, 500 PS (370 kW; 490 bhp) 2 × electric motors, 460 PS (340 kW; 450 shp)
Speed	11.6 knots (21.5 km/h; 13.3 mph), surfaced 6.6 knots (12.2 km/h; 7.6 mph), submerged
Range	9,260 nmi (17,150 km; 10,660 mi) at 7 knots (13 km/h; 8.1 mph), surfaced 53 nmi (98 km; 61 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph), surfaced
Test depth	50 m (160 ft)
Complement	26
Armament	6 × 100 cm (39.4 in) mine tubes 18 × UC 200 mines 3 × 50 cm (19.7 in) torpedo tubes (2 bow/external; one stern) 7 × torpedoes 1 × 8.8 cm (3.5 in) Uk L/30 deck gun
Notes	48-second diving time
Service record
Part of:	Flandern Flotilla 12 September 1916 – 8 May 1917
Commanders:	Oblt.z.S. Matthias Graf von Schmettow^[5] 18 July 1916 – 8 May 1917
Operations:	9 patrols
Victories:	29 merchant ships sunk (44,859 GRT) 3 warships sunk (1267 tons) 7 auxiliary warships sunk (15,354 GRT) 5 merchant ships damaged (17,784 GRT)