SM UC-73

Last updated
History
War Ensign of Germany 1903-1918.svg German Empire
NameUC-73
Ordered12 January 1916 [1]
Builder Blohm & Voss, Hamburg [2]
Yard number289 [1]
Launched26 August 1916 [1]
Commissioned24 December 1916 [1]
FateSurrendered, 6 January 1919; broken up, 1919 – 20 [1]
General characteristics [3]
Class and type German Type UC II submarine
Displacement
  • 427 t (420 long tons), surfaced
  • 508 t (500 long tons), submerged
Length
Beam
  • 5.22 m (17 ft 2 in) o/a
  • 3.65 m (12 ft) pressure hull
Draught3.64 m (11 ft 11 in)
Propulsion
Speed
  • 12.0 knots (22.2 km/h; 13.8 mph), surfaced
  • 7.4 knots (13.7 km/h; 8.5 mph), submerged
Range
  • 10,420  nmi (19,300 km; 11,990 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
Notes35-second diving time
Service record
Part of:
  • Mittelmeer / Mittelmeer I Flotilla
  • 6 June 1917 – 11 November 1918
Commanders:
  • Kptlt. Kurt Schapler [4]
  • 24 December 1916 – 26 November 1917
  • Oblt.z.S. Walter Wiedemann [5]
  • 27 November 1917 – 29 May 1918
  • Oblt.z.S. Otto Gerke [6]
  • 30 May – 14 July 1918
  • Oblt.z.S. Franz Hagen [7]
  • 15 July – 2 December 1918
Operations: 10 patrols
Victories:
  • 16 merchant ships sunk
    (16,565  GRT)
  • 1 merchant ship damaged
    (5,796  GRT)

SM UC-73 [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 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. [1]

Contents

Design

A German Type UC II submarine, UC-73 had a displacement of 427 tonnes (420 long tons) when at the surface and 508 tonnes (500 long tons) while submerged. She had a length overall of 50.35 m (165 ft 2 in), a beam of 5.22 m (17 ft 2 in), and a draught of 3.64 m (11 ft 11 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 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). [3]

The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph) and a submerged speed of 7.4 knots (13.7 km/h; 8.5 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 10,420 nautical miles (19,300 km; 11,990 mi) at 7 knots (13 km/h; 8.1 mph). UC-73 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 [8]
1 May 1917 Imberhorne Flag of Finland.svg  Finland 2,042Sunk
3 May 1917 Mezly Flag of France.svg  France 1,568Sunk
3 May 1917 Misurata Flag of Italy (1861-1946) crowned.svg  Kingdom of Italy 2,691Sunk
26 May 1917 Agragas Flag of Italy (1861-1946) crowned.svg  Kingdom of Italy 850Sunk
31 May 1917 Rosebank Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 3,837Sunk
28 August 1917 Saint Joseph Flag of France.svg  France 5,796Damaged
7 October 1917 Georgios Flag of Greece (1822-1978).svg  Greece 560Sunk
14 October 1917 Lido G. Flag of Italy (1861-1946) crowned.svg  Kingdom of Italy 1,003Sunk
28 December 1917 Dauno Flag of Italy (1861-1946) crowned.svg  Kingdom of Italy 455Sunk
29 March 1918 Unidentified sailing vessel (1 of 7) Flag of Greece (1822-1978).svg  Greece 18Sunk
29 March 1918 Unidentified sailing vessel (2 of 7) Flag of Greece (1822-1978).svg  Greece 18Sunk
29 March 1918 Unidentified sailing vessel (3 of 7) Flag of Greece (1822-1978).svg  Greece 18Sunk
29 March 1918 Unidentified sailing vessel (4 of 7) Flag of Greece (1822-1978).svg  Greece 18Sunk
29 March 1918 Unidentified sailing vessel (5 of 7) Flag of Greece (1822-1978).svg  Greece 5Sunk
29 March 1918 Unidentified sailing vessel (6 of 7) Flag of Greece (1822-1978).svg  Greece 5Sunk
29 March 1918 Unidentified sailing vessel (7 of 7) Flag of Greece (1822-1978).svg  Greece 5Sunk
8 July 1918 Horta Flag of Portugal.svg  Portugal 3,472Sunk

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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.

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-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. ↑ Tonnages are in gross register tons

Citations

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boats: UC 73". 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 Schapler". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 4 March 2015.
  5. ↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Walter Wiedemann". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 4 March 2015.
  6. ↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Otto Gerke". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 4 March 2015.
  7. ↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Franz Hagen". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 4 March 2015.
  8. ↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by UC 73". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 4 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.
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