SM UC-6

Last updated
History
War Ensign of Germany 1903-1918.svg German Empire
NameUC-6
OrderedNovember 1914 [1]
Builder AG Vulcan, Hamburg [2]
Yard number50 [1]
Launched20 June 1915 [1]
Commissioned24 June 1915 [1]
FateSunk by mine, 27 September 1917 [1]
General characteristics [3]
Class and type German Type UC I submarine
Displacement
  • 168 t (165 long tons), surfaced
  • 183 t (180 long tons), submerged
Length
Beam3.15 m (10 ft 4 in)
Draft3.04 m (10 ft)
Propulsion
Speed
  • 6.20 knots (11.48 km/h; 7.13 mph), surfaced
  • 5.22 knots (9.67 km/h; 6.01 mph), submerged
Range
  • 780  nmi (1,440 km; 900 mi) at 5 knots (9.3 km/h; 5.8 mph) surfaced
  • 50 nmi (93 km; 58 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph) submerged
Test depth50 m (160 ft)
Complement14
Armament
  • 6 × 100 cm (39 in) mine tubes
  • 12 × UC 120 mines
  • 1 × 8 mm (0.31 in) machine gun
Service record
Part of:
  • Flandern Flotilla
  • 31 July 1915 – 27 September 1917
Commanders:
  • Oblt.z.S. Matthias Graf von Schmettow [4]
  • 24 June 1915 – 4 May 1916
  • Oblt.z.S. Otto Ehrentraut [5]
  • 5 May – 5 September 1916
  • Oblt.z.S. Paul Günther [6]
  • 6 September – 4 November 1916
  • Oblt.z.S. Werner von Zerboni di Sposetti [7]
  • 5 November 1916 – 30 April 1917
  • Oblt.z.S. Werner Löwe [8]
  • 1 May – 1 September 1917
  • Oblt.z.S. Gottfried Reichenbach [9]
  • 2 – 27 September 1917
Operations: 89 patrols
Victories:
  • 35 merchant ships sunk
    (59,125  GRT + Unknown GRT)
  • 1 warship sunk
    (810 tons)
  • 19 auxiliary warships sunk
    (4,194  GRT)
  • 7 merchant ships damaged
    (32,726  GRT)
  • 1 warship damaged
    (810 tons)
  • 1 auxiliary warship damaged
    (378  GRT)

SM UC-6 was a German Type UC I minelayer submarine or U-boat in the German Imperial Navy (German : Kaiserliche Marine) during World War I. The U-boat had been ordered by November 1914 and was launched on 20 June 1915. She was commissioned into the German Imperial Navy on 24 June 1915 as SM UC-6. [Note 1] Mines laid by UC-6 in her 89 patrols were credited with sinking 55 ships.

Contents

Design

A German Type UC I submarine, UC-6 had a displacement of 168 tonnes (165 long tons) when at the surface and 183 tonnes (180 long tons) while submerged. She had a length overall of 33.99 m (111 ft 6 in), a beam of 3.15 m (10 ft 4 in), and a draught of 3.04 m (10 ft). The submarine was powered by one Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft six-cylinder, four-stroke diesel engine producing 90 metric horsepower (66 kW; 89 shp), an electric motor producing 175 metric horsepower (129 kW; 173 shp), and one propeller shaft. She was capable of operating at a depth of 50 metres (160 ft). [3]

The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 6.20 knots (11.48 km/h; 7.13 mph) and a maximum submerged speed of 5.22 knots (9.67 km/h; 6.01 mph). When submerged, she could operate for 50 nautical miles (93 km; 58 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph); when surfaced, she could travel 780 nautical miles (1,440 km; 900 mi) at 5 knots (9.3 km/h; 5.8 mph). UC-6 was fitted with six 100 centimetres (39 in) mine tubes, twelve UC 120 mines, and one 8 millimetres (0.31 in) machine gun. She was built by AG Vulcan Stettin and her complement was fourteen crew members. [3]

Fate

UC-6 sailed from Zeebrugge on 27 September 1917 to lay mines off the Kentish Knock and did not return. She was later reported by British patrols that strong explosions had occurred in explosive nets laid in the area that same day. Other sources, however, state that UC-6 was destroyed by a British seaplane on 28 September 1917. [10]

Summary of raiding history

DateNameNationalityTonnage [Note 2] Fate [11]
14 August 1915 HMT Worsley Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy 309Sunk
16 August 1915 HMT Japan Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy 205Sunk
25 August 1915 Disa Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden 788Sunk
28 August 1915 HMT Dane Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy 265Sunk
29 August 1915 Sir William Stephenson Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 1,540Sunk
16 September 1915 Africa Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 1,038Sunk
18 September 1915 HMT Lydian Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy 244Sunk
18 September 1915 San Zeferino Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 6,430Damaged
20 September 1915 Horden Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 1,434Sunk
23 September 1915 Groningen Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 988Sunk
24 September 1915 HMD Great Heart Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy 78Sunk
27 September 1915 Nigretia Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 3,187Damaged
5 October 1915 Alose Civil and Naval Ensign of France.svg  French Navy 214Sunk
18 October 1915 Aleppo Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 3,870Damaged
18 October 1915 Salerno Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 2,431Sunk
21 October 1915 Monitoria Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 1,904Sunk
31 October 1915 HMY Aries Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy 268Sunk
31 October 1915 Eidsiva Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 1,092Sunk
31 October 1915 HMT Othello II Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy 206Sunk
31 October 1915 Toward Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 1,218Sunk
3 November 1915 Friargate Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 264Sunk
12 November 1915 Moorside Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 311Sunk
12 November 1915 Nigel Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 1,400Sunk
12 January 1916 Traquair Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 1,067Sunk
12 February 1916 Leicester Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 1,001Sunk
21 February 1916 HMT Carlton Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy 267Sunk
24 February 1916 Trignac Flag of France.svg  France 2,375Sunk
27 February 1916 Empress of Fort William Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 2,181Sunk
27 February 1916 Maloja Government Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 12,431Sunk
28 February 1916 HMT Angelus Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy 304Sunk
28 February 1916 HMT Weigelia Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy 262Sunk
4 March 1916 HMT Flicker Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy 192Sunk
23 March 1916 HMT Corona Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy 212Sunk
23 March 1916 Sea Serpent Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 902Sunk
24 March 1916 Christianssund Flag of Denmark.svg  Denmark 1,017Sunk
26 March 1916 Saint Cecilia Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 4,411Sunk
7 April 1916 Halcyon Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 1,319Sunk
14 April 1916 Shenandoah Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 3,886Sunk
21 April 1916 Estafette Civil and Naval Ensign of France.svg  French Navy 267Sunk
29 April 1916 Saint Corentin Civil and Naval Ensign of France.svg  French Navy 216Sunk
16 May 1916 Batavier V Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands 1,569Sunk
26 May 1916 Volharding Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium 1,000Sunk
1 June 1916 Excellenz Mehnert Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 646Sunk
8 June 1916 HMT Kaphreda Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy 245Sunk
19 June 1916 Corton Light Vessel Government Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom unknownSunk
19 June 1916 Saint Jacques Flag of France.svg  France 72Sunk
21 June 1916 Otis Tarda Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands 759Sunk
23 June 1916 Burma Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 706Sunk
27 June 1916 Waalstroom Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands 1,441Sunk
29 June 1916 HMT Hirose Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy 275Sunk
7 July 1916 Gannet Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 1,127Sunk
10 July 1916 Kara Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 2,338Sunk
3 September 1916 Mascotte Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 1,097Sunk
2 October 1916 HMD Girl Eva Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy 76Sunk
29 December 1916 Lonada Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 1,286Sunk
29 December 1916 HMS Ludlow Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy 810Sunk
29 December 1916 HMS Totnes Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy 810Damaged
22 February 1917 Ashtabula Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 7,025Damaged
31 March 1917 HMD Forward III Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy 89Sunk
19 April 1917 Lumina Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 5,856Damaged
12 May 1917 Waterville Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 1,968Damaged
7 June 1917 HMS Mercury Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy 378Damaged
16 June 1917 Roald Amundsen Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 4,390Damaged
18 June 1917 Dorte Jensen Flag of Denmark.svg  Denmark 2,086Sunk

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.

Related Research Articles

SM <i>UC-1</i>

SM UC-1 was a German Type UC I minelayer submarine or U-boat in the German Imperial Navy during World War I. The U-boat had been ordered by November 1914 and was launched on 26 April 1915. She was commissioned into the German Imperial Navy on 5 July 1915 as SM UC-1. Mines laid by UC-1 in her 80 patrols were credited with sinking 41 ships. UC-1 disappeared after 18 July 1917. UC-1 was sunk on 24 July 1917 by F2B Felixstowe flying boat. Standard practice was to fly along the U boat and drop 2 250lb bombs astride it, hoping to cause leaks and give time for a destroyer to collect the submariners and sink it. On this occasion, by fluke, one bomb went through the conning tower and blew the base out of UC1. MFG Mill was awarded the DFC for this but he refused to wear it because of the total loss of life <london Gazette> <MFG Mill Diaries>

SM UC-3 was a German Type UC I minelayer submarine or U-boat in the German Imperial Navy during World War I. The U-boat had been ordered by November 1914 and was launched on 28 May 1915. She was commissioned into the German Imperial Navy on 1 June 1915 as UC-3. Mines laid by UC-3 in her 29 patrols were credited with sinking 22 ships and damaging 2 others. UC-3 was caught in a net, detected by hydrophone, and sunk on 23 April 1916 or mined and sunk on 27 May 1916.

SM UC-4 was a German Type UC I minelayer submarine or U-boat in the German Imperial Navy during World War I. The U-boat had been ordered by November 1914 and was launched on 6 June 1915. She was commissioned into the German Imperial Navy on 10 June 1915 as SM UC-4. Mines laid by UC-4 in her 73 patrols were credited with sinking 36 ships. UC-4 was scuttled off the coast of Flanders during the German evacuation on 5 October 1918.

SM UC-11 was a German Type UC I minelayer submarine or U-boat in the German Imperial Navy during World War I. The U-boat was ordered on 23 November 1914, laid down on 26 January 1915, and was launched on 11 April 1915. She was commissioned into the German Imperial Navy on 23 April 1915 as SM UC-11. Mines laid by UC-11 in her 83 patrols were credited with sinking 27 ships. UC-11 was mined and sunk on 26 June 1918. A crew member was Rudolf Finkler from Oberlinxweiler, Kreis St. Wendel, Germany. According to his death record the boat went down in the North Sea near Harwich, abt. 2.5 nautical miles north east of Funk Feuerschiff on position 51°55′N1°41′E.

SM UC-12 was a German Type UC I minelayer submarine or U-boat in the German Imperial Navy during World War I.

SM UC-14 was a German Type UC I minelayer submarine or U-boat in the German Imperial Navy during World War I. The U-boat was ordered on 23 November 1914, laid down on 28 January 1915, and was launched on 13 May 1915. She was commissioned into the German Imperial Navy on 5 June 1915 as SM UC-14. Mines laid by UC-14 in her 38 patrols were credited with sinking 16 ships, one of which was the Italian pre-dreadnought battleship Regina Margherita, which at 13,427 tonnes displacement was one of the largest ships sunk by U-boats during the war. UC-14 was mined and sunk on 3 October 1917.

SM UC-17 was a German Type UC II minelaying submarine or U-boat in the Imperial German Navy in World War I. She was ordered on 29 August 1915 and launched on 29 February 1916. She was commissioned into the Imperial German Navy on 21 July 1916 as SM UC-17.

SM UC-20 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 1 April 1916. She was commissioned into the German Imperial Navy on 7 September 1916 as SM UC-20. In 13 patrols UC-20 was credited with sinking 21 ships, either by torpedo or by mines laid. UC-20 was surrendered on 16 January 1919 and broken up at Preston in 1919–20.

SM UC-22 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 1 February 1916. She was commissioned into the German Imperial Navy on 30 June 1916 as SM UC-22. In 15 patrols UC-22 was credited with sinking 23 ships, either by torpedo or by mines laid. UC-22 was surrendered to France on 3 February 1919 and was broken up at Landerneau in July 1921.

SM UC-23 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 29 February 1916. She was commissioned into the German Imperial Navy on 17 July 1916 as SM UC-23. In 17 patrols UC-23 was credited with sinking 46 ships, either by torpedo or by mines laid. UC-23 was surrendered at Sevastopol on 25 November 1918 and broken up at Bizerta in August 1921.

SM UC-25 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 10 June 1916. She was commissioned into the German Imperial Navy on 28 June 1916 as SM UC-25. In 13 patrols UC-25 was credited with sinking 21 ships, either by torpedo or by mines laid. From March to September 1918, she was commanded by Karl Dönitz, later grand admiral in charge of all U-boats in World War II. UC-25 was scuttled at Pola on 28 October 1918 on the surrender of Austria-Hungary.

SM UC-37 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 5 June 1916. She was commissioned into the German Imperial Navy on 17 October 1916 as SM UC-37. In 13 patrols UC-37 was credited with sinking 66 ships, either by torpedo or by mines laid. UC-37 was surrendered at Sevastopol on 25 November 1918 and broken up at Bizerta in August 1921.

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.

SM UC-52 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 23 January 1917. She was commissioned into the German Imperial Navy on 15 March 1917 as SM UC-52. In seven patrols UC-52 was credited with sinking 18 ships, either by torpedo or by mines laid. She notably sank the Italian troopship Verona, killing 880 soldiers. UC-52 was surrendered on 16 January 1919 and broken up at Morecambe.

SM UC-53 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 27 February 1917. She was commissioned into the German Imperial Navy on 5 April 1917 as SM UC-53. In eight patrols UC-53 was credited with sinking 47 ships, either by torpedo or by mines laid. UC-53 was scuttled at Pola on 28 October 1918 on the surrender of Austria-Hungary.

SM UC-65 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 8 July 1916. She was commissioned into the German Imperial Navy on 7 November 1916 as SM UC-65. In eleven patrols UC-65 was credited with sinking 106 ships, either by torpedo or by mines laid. UC-65 was torpedoed and sunk by HMS C15 on 3 November 1917.

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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.

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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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boats: UC 6". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 20 February 2009.
  2. Tarrant, p. 173.
  3. 1 2 3 Gröner 1991, pp. 30–31.
  4. Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Matthias Graf von Schmettow (Royal House Order of Hohenzollern)". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 2 January 2015.
  5. Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Otto Ehrentraut". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 2 January 2015.
  6. Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Paul Günther". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 2 January 2015.
  7. Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Werner von Zerboni di Sposetti". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 2 January 2015.
  8. Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Werner Löwe". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 2 January 2015.
  9. Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Gottfried Reichenbach". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 2 January 2015.
  10. Messimer, Dwight R. (2002). Verschollen : World War I U-boat losses. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. p. 243. ISBN   978-1-55750-475-3. OCLC   231973419.
  11. Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by UC 6". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 31 December 2014.

Bibliography

51°30′42″N01°34′40″E / 51.51167°N 1.57778°E / 51.51167; 1.57778