SM UC-29

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Submarine and anti-submarine (1919) (14594694407).jpg
The U-boat (SM UC-29) never recovered from the surprise (attack by HMS Pargust)
History
War Ensign of Germany 1903-1918.svg German Empire
NameUC-29
Ordered29 August 1915 [1]
Builder AG Vulcan, Hamburg [2]
Yard number68 [1]
Launched15 July 1916 [1]
Commissioned15 August 1916 [1]
FateSunk by British Q ship, 7 June 1917 [1]
General characteristics [3]
Class and type German Type UC II submarine
Displacement
  • 400 t (390 long tons), surfaced
  • 480 t (470 long tons), submerged
Length
Beam
  • 5.22 m (17 ft 2 in) o/a
  • 3.65 m (12 ft) pressure hull
Draught3.68 m (12 ft 1 in)
Propulsion
Speed
  • 11.6 knots (21.5 km/h; 13.3 mph), surfaced
  • 6.7 knots (12.4 km/h; 7.7 mph), submerged
Range
  • 9,410  nmi (17,430 km; 10,830 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), submerged
Test depth50 m (160 ft)
Complement26
Armament
Notes48-second diving time
Service record
Part of:
  • I Flotilla
  • 19 October 1916 – 7 June 1917
Commanders:
  • Oblt.z.S. Ernst Rosenow [4]
  • 15 August 1916 – 7 June 1917
Operations: 7 patrols
Victories:
  • 16 merchant ships sunk
    (21,469  GRT)
  • 2 auxiliary warships sunk
    (440  GRT)
  • 2 merchant ships damaged
    (13,042  GRT)
  • 2 auxiliary warships damaged
    (4,112  GRT)

SM UC-29 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 15 July 1916. She was commissioned into the German Imperial Navy on 15 August 1916 as SM UC-29. [1] [Note 1] In an eight-month career, the UC-29 performed seven combat patrols into the Atlantic Ocean during the German war on Allied trade ( Handelskrieg ). In these patrols she was very successful, sinking 18 allied ships, totalling 21,909 GRT. She also damaged 4 ships of 17,154 GRT. On 7 June 1917 she torpedoed the British Q-ship HMS Pargust off the Irish coast, but was ambushed by her hidden armaments when she approached too close and was sunk with 23 hands. Pargust was commanded by British submarine hunter Gordon Campbell and had on board Ronald Niel Stuart and William Williams, who were awarded the Victoria Cross for their actions in the engagement.

Contents

Her wreck lies in Cork Harbour, Ireland. [5]

Design

A German Type UC II submarine, UC-29 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 3.68 m (12 ft 1 in). The submarine was powered by two six-cylinder four-stroke diesel engines each producing 260 metric horsepower (190 kW; 260 shp) (a total of 520 metric horsepower (380 kW; 510 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 6.7 knots (12.4 km/h; 7.7 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 9,410 nautical miles (17,430 km; 10,830 mi) at 7 knots (13 km/h; 8.1 mph). UC-29 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

DateNameNationalityTonnage [Note 2] Fate [6]
17 November 1916 Canganian Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 1,143Sunk
23 January 1917 Clan Shaw Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 3,943Sunk
24 January 1917 Sunniva Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 589Sunk
5 February 1917 Primrose Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 136Sunk
9 February 1917 HMT Yesso Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy 229Sunk
10 February 1917 San Fraterno Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 9,587Damaged
11 February 1917 Norwood Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 798Sunk
11 February 1917 Roanoke Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 3,455Damaged
1 March 1917 Herbert Ingram Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 142Sunk
1 March 1917 Redcap Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 199Sunk
3 March 1917 HMT Northumbria Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy 211Sunk
14 March 1917 Storaas Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 3,041Sunk
24 April 1917 Upton Castle Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 145Sunk
27 April 1917 Nidelven Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 1,262Sunk
27 April 1917 Ragnhild Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 1,117Sunk
29 April 1917 Carbo I Flag of Denmark.svg  Denmark 1,385Sunk
1 May 1917 Firelight Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 1,143Sunk
3 June 1917 Elisabeth Flag of France.svg  France 2,061Sunk
3 June 1917 HMS Mavis Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy 1,295Damaged
4 June 1917 Songvand Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 2,206Sunk
7 June 1917 HMS Pargust Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy 2,817Damaged
3 August 1917 Hornchurch Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 2,159Sunk

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SM <i>UC-21</i> German Type UC II minelaying submarine

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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 Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boats: UC 29". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 22 February 2009.
  2. ↑ Tarrant, p. 173.
  3. 1 2 3 Gröner 1991, pp. 31–32.
  4. ↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Ernst Rosenow". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 16 February 2015.
  5. ↑ [Irish Wrecks Online http://www.irishwrecksonline.net/Lists/CorkListC.htm]
  6. ↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by UC 29". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 16 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.
  • 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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