SM UC-25

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]

For other ships with the same name, see German submarine U-25.
History
German Empire
NameUC-25
Ordered29 August 1915[1]
BuilderAG Vulcan, Hamburg[2]
Yard number64[1]
Launched10 June 1916[1]
Commissioned28 June 1916[1]
FateScuttled at Pola, 28 October 1918[1]
General characteristics [3]
Class and typeGerman 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)

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
Date Name Nationality Tonnage[Note 2] Fate[8]
19 October 1916 Jug  Russian Empire 75 Sunk
6 December 1916 Shchit  Imperial Russian Navy 248 Sunk
6 April 1917 Cybele  France 148 Sunk
7 April 1917 Edwin R. Hunt  United States 1,132 Sunk
28 April 1917 Juliette  France 50 Sunk
15 May 1917 Boutefeu  French Navy 703 Sunk
16 May 1917 HMS Dartmouth  Royal Navy 5,250 Damaged
24 May 1917 Domenico Barone  Kingdom of Italy 171 Sunk
28 May 1917 Nuovo S. Giovanni  Kingdom of Italy 31 Sunk
28 May 1917 San Domenico  Kingdom of Italy 27 Sunk
31 May 1917 Ninotto  Kingdom of Italy 208 Sunk
1 June 1917 Domenico Miscuraca  Kingdom of Italy 194 Sunk
1 June 1917 Vittoria  Kingdom of Italy 248 Sunk
6 June 1917 Mitra  United Kingdom 5,592 Damaged
4 July 1917 HMS Aster  Royal Navy 1,250 Sunk
4 July 1917 HMS Azalea  Royal Navy 1,250 Damaged
5 July 1917 Eburna  United Kingdom 4,735 Damaged
17 October 1917 HMHS Goorkha  Royal Navy 6,335 Damaged
18 October 1917 Anna Scotto  Kingdom of Italy 594 Sunk
20 October 1917 Virginia Gentile  Kingdom of Italy 164 Sunk
3 December 1917 Melo  Kingdom of Italy 1,115 Sunk
8 December 1917 Chyebassa  United Kingdom 6,249 Damaged
23 February 1918 HMT Marion  Royal Navy 255 Sunk
18 March 1918 Massilia  Kingdom of Italy 5,026 Sunk
4 April 1918 Agatina  Kingdom of Italy 201 Sunk
28 July 1918 Vesuvio  Kingdom of Italy 5,459 Damaged
29 July 1918 Rio Pallaresa  United Kingdom 4,043 Sunk
5 August 1918 Freshfield  Canada 3,445 Sunk

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. 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. 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.
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