SM UC-25

Last updated
History
War Ensign of Germany 1903-1918.svg German Empire
NameUC-25
Ordered29 August 1915 [1]
Builder AG Vulcan, Hamburg [2]
Yard number64 [1]
Launched10 June 1916 [1]
Commissioned28 June 1916 [1]
Fate Scuttled at Pola, 28 October 1918 [1]
General characteristics [3]
Class and type German 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
  • 11.6 knots (21.5 km/h; 13.3 mph), surfaced
  • 6.6 knots (12.2 km/h; 7.6 mph), submerged
Range
  • 9,260 nmi (17,150 km; 10,660 mi) at 7 knots (13 km/h; 8.1 mph), surfaced
  • 53 nmi (98 km; 61 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:
  • Baltic Flotilla
  • 12 September 1916 – 15 April 1917
  • Pola / Mittelmeer / Mittelmeer II Flotilla
  • 15 April 1917 – 11 November 1918
Commanders:
  • Kptlt. Johannes Feldkirchner [4]
  • 28 June 1916 – 17 July 1917
  • Oblt.z.S. Walter Lippold [5]
  • 18 July – 13 December 1917
  • Oblt.z.S. Freiherr Ernst von Wangenheim [6]
  • 14 December 1917 – 15 February 1918
  • Oblt.z.S. Karl Dönitz [7]
  • 16 February – 7 August 1918
Operations: 13 patrols
Victories:
  • 17 merchant ships sunk
    (16,872  GRT)
  • 3 warships sunk
    (2,201 tons)
  • 1 auxiliary warship sunk
    (255  GRT)
  • 4 merchant ships damaged
    (22,035  GRT)
  • 2 warships damaged
    (6,500 tons)
  • 1 auxiliary warship damaged
    (6,335  GRT)

SM UC-25 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 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. [Note 1] 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. [1]

Contents

Design

A German Type UC II submarine, UC-25 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 250 metric horsepower (180 kW; 250 shp) (a total of 500 metric horsepower (370 kW; 490 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 11.6 knots (21.5 km/h; 13.3 mph) and a submerged speed of 6.6 knots (12.2 km/h; 7.6 mph). When submerged, she could operate for 53 nautical miles (98 km; 61 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph); when surfaced, she could travel 9,260 nautical miles (17,150 km; 10,660 mi) at 7 knots (13 km/h; 8.1 mph). UC-25 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]
19 October 1916 Jug Flag of Russia.svg  Russian Empire 75Sunk
6 December 1916 Shchit Naval Ensign of Russia.svg  Imperial Russian Navy 248Sunk
6 April 1917 Cybele Flag of France.svg  France 148Sunk
7 April 1917 Edwin R. Hunt Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg  United States 1,132Sunk
28 April 1917 Juliette Flag of France.svg  France 50Sunk
15 May 1917 Boutefeu Civil and Naval Ensign of France.svg  French Navy 703Sunk
16 May 1917 HMS Dartmouth Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy 5,250Damaged
24 May 1917 Domenico Barone Flag of Italy (1861-1946) crowned.svg  Kingdom of Italy 171Sunk
28 May 1917 Nuovo S. Giovanni Flag of Italy (1861-1946) crowned.svg  Kingdom of Italy 31Sunk
28 May 1917 San Domenico Flag of Italy (1861-1946) crowned.svg  Kingdom of Italy 27Sunk
31 May 1917 Ninotto Flag of Italy (1861-1946) crowned.svg  Kingdom of Italy 208Sunk
1 June 1917 Domenico Miscuraca Flag of Italy (1861-1946) crowned.svg  Kingdom of Italy 194Sunk
1 June 1917 Vittoria Flag of Italy (1861-1946) crowned.svg  Kingdom of Italy 248Sunk
6 June 1917 Mitra Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 5,592Damaged
4 July 1917 HMS Aster Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy 1,250Sunk
4 July 1917 HMS Azalea Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy 1,250Damaged
5 July 1917 Eburna Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 4,735Damaged
17 October 1917 HMHS Goorkha Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy 6,335Damaged
18 October 1917 Anna Scotto Flag of Italy (1861-1946) crowned.svg  Kingdom of Italy 594Sunk
20 October 1917 Virginia Gentile Flag of Italy (1861-1946) crowned.svg  Kingdom of Italy 164Sunk
3 December 1917 Melo Flag of Italy (1861-1946) crowned.svg  Kingdom of Italy 1,115Sunk
8 December 1917 Chyebassa Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 6,249Damaged
23 February 1918 HMT Marion Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy 255Sunk
18 March 1918 Massilia Flag of Italy (1861-1946) crowned.svg  Kingdom of Italy 5,026Sunk
4 April 1918 Agatina Flag of Italy (1861-1946) crowned.svg  Kingdom of Italy 201Sunk
28 July 1918 Vesuvio Flag of Italy (1861-1946) crowned.svg  Kingdom of Italy 5,459Damaged
29 July 1918 Rio Pallaresa Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 4,043Sunk
5 August 1918 Freshfield Canadian Red Ensign (1868-1921).svg  Canada 3,445Sunk

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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 Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boats: UC 25". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 22 February 2009.
  2. Tarrant, p. 173.
  3. 1 2 3 Gröner 1991, pp. 31–32.
  4. Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Johannes Feldkirchner". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 15 February 2015.
  5. Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Walter Lippold". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 15 February 2015.
  6. Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Freiherr Ernst von Wangenheim". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 15 February 2015.
  7. Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Karl Dönitz (Royal House Order of Hohenzollern)". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 15 February 2015.
  8. Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by UC 25". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 15 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). German Warships 1815–1945, U-boats and Mine Warfare Vessels. 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.