SM UC-41

Last updated
History
War Ensign of Germany 1903-1918.svg German Empire
NameUC-41
Ordered20 November 1915 [1]
Builder AG Vulcan, Hamburg [2]
Yard number74 [1]
Launched13 September 1916 [1]
Commissioned11 October 1916 [1]
FateSunk by own mine, 21 August 1917 [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
  • 18 December 1916 – 21 August 1917
Commanders:
  • Kptlt. Kurt Bernis [4]
  • 11 October 1916 – 4 August 1917
  • Oblt.z.S. Hans Förste [5]
  • 5 – 21 August 1917
Operations: 7 patrols
Victories:
  • 15 merchant ships sunk
    (18,870  GRT)
  • 3 auxiliary warships sunk
    (605  GRT)
  • 2 merchant ships damaged
    (1,232  GRT)

SM UC-41 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 13 September 1916. She was commissioned into the German Imperial Navy on 11 October 1916 as SM UC-41. [Note 1]

Contents

In a nine-month career that encompassed seven patrols UC-41 was credited with sinking 18 ships totaling 19,475 GRT, either by torpedo or by mines laid. The writer David Masters attributed the sinking of the two tiny naval fishing smacks Nelson and Ethel & Millie to UC-41 during an engagement on 15 August 1917. However this was actually UC-63, the logs of which record the event.

UC-41 was lost on 21 August 1917 after suffering an unexplained internal explosion of one of her mines which forced her to suddenly rise to the surface in the Tay estuary, where she was spotted by British naval trawlers and depth charged, killing all 27 German sailors and possibly seven British prisoners of war as well. Her wreck was rediscovered in 2003.

Design

A German Type UC II submarine, UC-41 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-41 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]
1 March 1917 Tillycorthie Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 382Sunk
1 March 1917 Orion Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 1,354Sunk
3 March 1917 Elfi Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 1,120Damaged
3 March 1917 Ring Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 998Sunk
13 April 1917 Breadalbane Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 112Damaged
13 April 1917 Stork Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 152Sunk
16 April 1917 Lord Chancellor Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 135Sunk
17 April 1917 U.s.a. Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 182Sunk
18 April 1917 John S. Boyle Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 143Sunk
18 April 1917 Rameses Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 155Sunk
20 April 1917 Ballochbuie Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 921Sunk
20 April 1917 HMT Othonna Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy 180Sunk
20 April 1917 Ringholm Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 705Sunk
22 April 1917 Godø Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 870Sunk
23 April 1917 Stegg Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 463Sunk
26 April 1917 HMT Repro Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy 230Sunk
11 June 1917 Breid Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 1,062Sunk
16 July 1917 Valentia Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 3,242Sunk
25 July 1917 Oakleaf Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 8,106Sunk
22 August 1917 HMT Sophron Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy 195Sunk

Related Research Articles

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

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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.

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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.

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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 Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boats: UC 41". 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: Kurt Bernis". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 23 February 2015.
  5. ↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Hans Förste". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 23 February 2015.
  6. ↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by UC 41". 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). 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.


56°25′N2°35′E / 56.417°N 2.583°E / 56.417; 2.583

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