SM UC-57

Last updated
Hamnskar monument.jpg
UC-57's memorial; Major Nordström lay the Jäger association's wreath in 1934
History
War Ensign of Germany 1903-1918.svg German Empire
NameUC-57
Ordered12 January 1916 [1]
Builder Kaiserliche Werft, Danzig [2]
Yard number39 [1]
Laid down14 March 1916 [1]
Launched7 September 1916 [1]
Commissioned22 January 1917 [1]
FateDisappeared after 18 November 1917; probably sunk by mine in Gulf of Finland [1]
General characteristics [3]
Class and type German Type UC II submarine
Displacement
  • 415 t (408 long tons), surfaced
  • 498 t (490 long tons), submerged
Length
Beam
  • 5.22 m (17 ft 2 in) o/a
  • 3.65 m (12 ft) pressure hull
Draught3.61 m (11 ft 10 in)
Propulsion
Speed
  • 11.6 knots (21.5 km/h; 13.3 mph), surfaced
  • 7.3 knots (13.5 km/h; 8.4 mph), submerged
Range
  • 8,660–9,450  nmi (16,040–17,500 km; 9,970–10,870 mi) at 7 knots (13 km/h; 8.1 mph) surfaced
  • 52 nmi (96 km; 60 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:
  • Baltic Flotilla
  • 6 May – 18 November 1917
Commanders:
  • Kptlt. Friedrich Wißmann [4]
  • 22 January – 18 November 1917
Operations: 7 patrols
Victories:
  • 5 merchant ships sunk
    (271  GRT)
  • 2 merchant ships taken as prize
    (3,863  GRT)

SM UC-57 [Note 1] 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 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.

Contents

UC-57 disappeared in 1917 after landing a party of Finnish Jägers and 4 tons of munitions on the island of Hamnskär, circa 30 kilometres (19 mi) from Loviisa, on 18 November. UC-57 was going to remain on the seabed overnight and then return to Germany but never arrived. She was probably sunk by a Russian mine. [1]

Design

A German Type UC II submarine, UC-57 had a displacement of 415 tonnes (408 long tons) when at the surface and 498 tonnes (490 long tons) while submerged. She had a length overall of 50.52 m (165 ft 9 in), a beam of 5.22 m (17 ft 2 in), and a draught of 3.61 m (11 ft 10 in). The submarine was powered by two six-cylinder four-stroke diesel engines each producing 290–300 metric horsepower (210–220 kW; 290–300 shp) (a total of 580–600 metric horsepower (430–440 kW; 570–590 shp)), two electric motors producing 620 metric horsepower (460 kW; 610 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).

The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 11.6 knots (21.5 km/h; 13.3 mph) and a submerged speed of 7.3 knots (13.5 km/h; 8.4 mph). When submerged, she could operate for 52 nautical miles (96 km; 60 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph); when surfaced, she could travel 8,660 to 9,450 nautical miles (16,040 to 17,500 km; 9,970 to 10,870 mi) at 7 knots (13 km/h; 8.1 mph). UC-57 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.

Summary of raiding history

DateNameNationalityTonnage [Note 2] Fate [5]
9 June 1917 Ludvig Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden 78Sunk
20 June 1917 Penpol Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 2,061Captured as prize
24 June 1917 Meggie Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 1,802Captured as prize
26 June 1917 Marie Flag of Russia.svg  Russian Empire 87Sunk
26 June 1917 Tervo Flag of Russia.svg  Russian Empire 58Sunk
26 June 1917 Georg Flag of Russia.svg  Russian Empire 18Sunk
26 June 1917 Martinniemi Flag of Russia.svg  Russian Empire 30Sunk

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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. ↑ Tonnages are in gross register tons

Citations

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boats: UC 57". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 23 February 2009.
  2. ↑ Tarrant, p. 173.
  3. ↑ Gröner 1991, pp. 31–32.
  4. ↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Friedrich Wißmann". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 2 March 2015.
  5. ↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by UC 57". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 2 March 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.

59°00′N23°00′E / 59.000°N 23.000°E / 59.000; 23.000

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