SM UC-40

Last updated
History
War Ensign of Germany 1903-1918.svg German Empire
NameUC-40
Ordered20 November 1915 [1]
Builder AG Vulcan, Hamburg [2]
Yard number73 [1]
Launched5 September 1916 [1]
Commissioned1 October 1916 [1]
FateSank while on way to surrender, 21 January 1919 [1]
General characteristics [3]
Class and type 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
  • 11.7 knots (21.7 km/h; 13.5 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
  • 60 nmi (110 km; 69 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
  • 15 December 1916 – 24 September 1918
  • Flandern I Flotilla
  • 24 September – 11 October 1918
  • I Flotilla
  • 11 October – 11 November 1918
Commanders:
  • Oblt.z.S. Gustav Deuerlich [4]
  • 1 October 1916 – 15 August 1917
  • Oblt.z.S. / Kptlt. Hermann Menzel [5]
  • 16 August 1917 – 7 August 1918
  • Lt.z.S. Bernhard Wischhausen [6]
  • 9 August – 11 November 1918
Operations: 17 patrols
Victories:
  • 24 merchant ships sunk
    (39,698  GRT)
  • 6 auxiliary warships sunk
    (3,149  GRT)
  • 7 merchant ships damaged
    (25,876  GRT)
  • 1 warship damaged
    (1,300 tons)

SM UC-40 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 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. [Note 1] 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. [1]

Contents

Design

A German Type UC II submarine, UC-40 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 11.7 knots (21.7 km/h; 13.5 mph) and a submerged speed of 6.7 knots (12.4 km/h; 7.7 mph). When submerged, she could operate for 60 nautical miles (110 km; 69 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-40 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 [7]
22 January 1917 Kamma Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden 1,516Sunk
28 March 1917 Hero Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 66Sunk
1 April 1917 Bergenhus Flag of Denmark.svg  Denmark 1,017Sunk
6 April 1917 Presto Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 1,143Sunk
10 May 1917 HMT Lord Ridley Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy 215Sunk
23 May 1917 Gran Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 1,153Sunk
25 June 1917 HMT Gelsina Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy 227Sunk
30 July 1917 Amor Flag of Denmark.svg  Denmark 196Sunk
6 August 1917 Polanna Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 2,345Sunk
8 September 1917 Family’s Pride Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 39Sunk
9 September 1917 Swiftsure Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 823Sunk
10 September 1917 Margarita Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 2,788Damaged
10 September 1917 Parkmill Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 1,316Sunk
12 September 1917 HMT Asia Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy 309Sunk
12 September 1917 Glenelg Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 4,160Damaged
11 October 1917 Voronezh Flag of Russia.svg  Russian Empire 5,331Damaged
19 October 1917 Slavonic Flag of Russia.svg  Russian Empire 3,604Sunk
21 October 1917 Anglo Dane Flag of Denmark.svg  Denmark 808Sunk
21 October 1917 Flynderborg Flag of Denmark.svg  Denmark 1,400Sunk
24 October 1917 Novington Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 3,442Damaged
24 October 1917 Woron Flag of Russia.svg  Russian Empire 3,342Sunk
8 December 1917 HMS Grive Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy 2,037Sunk
12 December 1917 Leonatus Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 2,099Sunk
8 March 1918 Corsham Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 2,760Sunk
8 March 1918 Intent Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 1,564Sunk
10 March 1918 HMT Columba Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy 138Sunk
14 March 1918 Castleford Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 1,741Sunk
28 April 1918 HMT Emley Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy 223Sunk
28 April 1918 Upcerne Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 2,984Sunk
8 June 1918 Eros Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 181Sunk
12 June 1918 Afrique Flag of France.svg  France 2,457Sunk
15 June 1918 Cairnmona Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 4,666Damaged
16 June 1918 Melanie Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 2,996Sunk
23 July 1918 HMS Vanity Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy 1,300Damaged
26 July 1918 Blairhall Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 2,549Sunk
27 July 1918 Crimdon Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden 1,599Sunk
30 July 1918 War Deer Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 5,323Damaged
3 August 1918 Skjold Flag of Denmark.svg  Denmark 166Damaged

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SM UC-26 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 22 June 1916. She was commissioned into the German Imperial Navy on 18 July 1916 as SM UC-26. In nine patrols UC-26 was credited with sinking 39 ships, either by torpedo or by mines laid. UC-26 was rammed and sunk by HMS Milne off Calais on 8 May 1917.

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-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.

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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.

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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.

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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

  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 40". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 23 February 2009.
  2. Tarrant, p. 173.
  3. 1 2 3 Gröner 1991, pp. 31–32.
  4. Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Gustav Deuerlich". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 23 February 2015.
  5. Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Hermann Menzel (Royal House Order of Hohenzollern)". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 23 February 2015.
  6. Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Bernhard Wischhausen". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 23 February 2015.
  7. Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by UC 40". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 23 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). German Warships 1815–1945, U-boats and Mine Warfare Vessels. 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.

54°55′N0°6′E / 54.917°N 0.100°E / 54.917; 0.100