SM UC-47

Last updated
History
War Ensign of Germany 1903-1918.svg German Empire
NameUC-47
Ordered20 November 1915 [1]
Builder AG Weser, Bremen [2]
Yard number257 [1]
Laid down1 February 1916 [1]
Launched30 August 1916 [1]
Commissioned13 October 1916 [1]
FateRammed, depth charged and sunk by patrol boat off Flamborough Head, 18 November 1917 [1]
General characteristics [3]
Class and type Type UC II submarine
Displacement
  • 420  t (410 long tons), surfaced
  • 502 t (494 long tons), submerged
Length
Beam
  • 5.22 m (17 ft 2 in) o/a
  • 3.65 m (12 ft) pressure hull
Draught3.67 m (12 ft 0 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
  • 7,280  nmi (13,480 km; 8,380 mi) at 7 knots (13 km/h; 8.1 mph) surfaced
  • 54 nmi (100 km; 62 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph) submerged
Test depth50 m (160 ft)
Complement26
Armament
Notes30-second diving time
Service record
Part of:
  • Flandern / Flandern II Flotilla
  • 23 January – 18 November 1917
Commanders:
  • Oblt.z.S. / Kptlt. Paul Hundius [4]
  • 13 October 1916 – 8 October 1917
  • Oblt.z.S. Günther Wigankow [5]
  • 9 October – 18 November 1917
Operations: 13 patrols
Victories:
  • 55 merchant ships sunk
    (73,100  GRT)
  • 1 warship sunk
    (880 tons)
  • 2 auxiliary warships sunk
    (514  GRT)
  • 7 merchant ships damaged
    (14,218  GRT)
  • 1 auxiliary warship damaged
    (224  GRT)

SM UC-47 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, laid down on 1 February 1916, and was launched on 30 August 1916. She was commissioned into the German Imperial Navy on 13 October 1916 as SM UC-47. [Note 1] In 13 patrols UC-47 was credited with sinking 58 ships, either by torpedo or by mines laid. UC-47 was rammed and depth charged by British patrol boat P-57, under the command of H.C. Birnie, off Flamborough Head on 18 November 1917. UC-47 went down with all hands. [1] [6]

Contents

Design

A Type UC II submarine, UC-47 had a displacement of 420 tonnes (410 long tons) when at the surface and 502 tonnes (494 long tons) while submerged. She had a length overall of 51.85 m (170 ft 1 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 300 metric horsepower (220 kW; 300 shp) (a total of 600 metric horsepower (440 kW; 590 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 54 nautical miles (100 km; 62 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph); when surfaced, she could travel 7,280 nautical miles (13,480 km; 8,380 mi) at 7 knots (13 km/h; 8.1 mph). UC-47 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]
31 January 1917 Modiva Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 1,276Sunk
1 February 1917 Portia Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 1,127Sunk
8 February 1917 HMS Ghurka Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy 880Sunk
8 February 1917 Lullington Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 2,816Sunk
10 February 1917 Japanese Prince Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 4,876Sunk
12 February 1917 Aghios Spyridon Flag of Greece (1822-1978).svg  Greece 1,618Sunk
12 February 1917 Brissons Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 60Sunk
13 February 1917 Sequoya Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 5,263Damaged
13 February 1917 F. D. Lambert Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 2,195Sunk
13 February 1917 Fleurette Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 60Sunk
11 March 1917 Charles Le Cour Flag of France.svg  France 2,352Sunk
11 March 1917 G. A. Savage Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 357Sunk
12 March 1917 C.A.S. Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 60Sunk
12 March 1917 Ena Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 56Sunk
12 March 1917 Gratia Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 37Sunk
12 March 1917 Hyacinth Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 56Sunk
12 March 1917 Inter-nos Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 59Sunk
12 March 1917 Jessamine Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 56Sunk
12 March 1917 Lent Lily Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 23Sunk
12 March 1917 Nellie Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 61Sunk
12 March 1917 Proverb Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 37Sunk
12 March 1917 Rivina Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 22Sunk
14 March 1917 Brika Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 3,549Sunk
15 March 1917 Solferino Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 1,155Sunk
15 March 1917 Wilfred Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 1,121Sunk
16 March 1917 Medusa Flag of Italy (1861-1946) crowned.svg  Kingdom of Italy 1,274Sunk
16 March 1917 Sully Flag of France.svg  France 2,649Sunk
17 April 1917 Dantzic Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 108Sunk
17 April 1917 William Shephard Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 143Sunk
19 April 1917 Old Head Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 105Damaged
19 April 1917 Gold Coast Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 4,255Sunk
19 April 1917 Jewel Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 195Sunk
19 April 1917 HMT Star of Freedom Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy 258Sunk
22 April 1917 HMS Gaelic Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy 224Damaged
23 April 1917 Tommi Government Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 138Damaged
23 April 1917 Imataka Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 1,776Sunk
24 April 1917 Heather Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 58Sunk
24 April 1917 Plutus Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 1,189Sunk
26 April 1917 Aigle Flag of France.svg  France 172Sunk
26 April 1917 John Lockett Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 842Sunk
18 May 1917 Mary Baird Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 1,830Sunk
3 June 1917 Portofino Flag of Italy (1861-1946) crowned.svg  Kingdom of Italy 1,754Sunk
12 June 1917 HMT Carew Castle Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy 256Sunk
14 June 1917 Dart Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 3,207Sunk
19 June 1917 Great City Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 5,525Damaged
18 July 1917 Ruth Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 549Damaged
20 July 1917 Beatrice Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 712Sunk
20 July 1917 Bramham Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 1,978Sunk
31 July 1917 Fremona Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 3,028Sunk
31 July 1917 Motano Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg  United States 2,730Sunk
22 August 1917 Gro Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 2,667Sunk
23 August 1917 Peer Gynt Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 1,144Sunk
23 August 1917 Veghtstroom Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 1,353Sunk
26 August 1917 Eirini Flag of Greece (1822-1978).svg  Greece 2,452Sunk
26 August 1917 Seresia Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium 2,342Damaged
23 September 1917 Perseverance Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 118Sunk
24 September 1917 Mimosa Flag of France.svg  France 296Damaged
25 September 1917 Boynton Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 2,578Sunk
3 October 1917 Annie F. Conlon Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg  United States 591Sunk
18 October 1917 Cadmus Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 1,879Sunk
18 October 1917 Togston Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 1,057Sunk
9 November 1917 Ballogie Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 1,207Sunk
9 November 1917 Isabelle Flag of France.svg  France 2,466Sunk
11 November 1917 Dana Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden 1,620Sunk
12 November 1917 Huibertje Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands 68Sunk
14 March 1918 Jeanne Marie Flag of France.svg  France 2,971Sunk

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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 7 Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boats: UC 47". 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: Paul Hundius (Pour le Mérite)". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
  5. Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Günther Wigankow". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
  6. "Revealing a WWI drama: How modern technology is shedding new light on the horrors of submarine warfare". MSN News. Retrieved 5 Aug 2020.
  7. Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by UC 47". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 25 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.

54°3′N0°23′E / 54.050°N 0.383°E / 54.050; 0.383