SM UC-27

SM UC-27 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 28 June 1916. She was commissioned into the German Imperial Navy on 25 July 1916 as SM UC-27.[Note 1] In 14 patrols, UC-27 was credited with sinking 58 ships, either by torpedo or by mines laid.

For other ships with the same name, see German submarine U-27.
History
German Empire
NameUC-27
Ordered29 August 1915[1]
BuilderAG Vulcan, Hamburg[2]
Yard number66[1]
Launched28 June 1916[1]
Commissioned25 July 1916[1]
FateSurrendered, 3 February 1919; broken up, July 1921[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[1]
Part of:
  • Baltic Flotilla
  • 15 September 1916 – 30 April 1917
  • Pola / Mittelmeer / Mittelmeer II Flotilla
  • 30 April 1917 - 11 November 1918
Commanders:
  • Oblt.z.S. Karl Vesper
  • 25 July 1916 – 7 February 1917
  • Kptlt. Gerhard Schulz
  • 8 February – 27 November 1917
  • Kptlt. Wilhelm Canaris
  • 28 November 1917 – 14 January 1918
  • Oblt.z.S. Otto Gerke
  • 15 January – 29 November 1918
Operations: 14 patrols
Victories:
  • 55 merchant ships sunk
    (75,451 GRT)
  • 3 warships sunk
    (830 tons)
  • 2 warships damaged
    (16,804 tons)

SS Skifted left from Mariehamn at 8:30 o'clock 14 December 1916, carrying 56 military persons, 7 workers, 15 members of the crew, and 13 civilians, a total of 91 persons. One hour later it was hit by the sea mines laid by the UC-27 and sank soon near Ledsun on the territory of the Lemland municipality of Åland. 86 persons died.[4]

UC-27 was surrendered to France on 3 February 1919 and was broken up at Landerneau in July 1921.[1]

Design

A German Type UC II submarine, UC-27 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-27 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[5]
28 October 1916 Kazanetz  Imperial Russian Navy 580 Sunk
7 November 1916 Letun  Imperial Russian Navy 1,260 Damaged
19 November 1916 Rurik  Imperial Russian Navy 15,544 Damaged
22 November 1916 Fugas  Imperial Russian Navy 150 Sunk
18 December 1916 Buki  Imperial Russian Navy 4,499 Sunk
21 December 1916 Skiftet  Russian Empire 336 Sunk
6 April 1917 Narberth Castle  United Kingdom 168 Sunk
6 April 1917 Nestor  United Kingdom 176 Sunk
12 April 1917 Ernst Sophie  Russian Empire 222 Sunk
13 April 1917 Kariba  United Kingdom 3,697 Sunk
15 April 1917 Gretaston  United Kingdom 3,395 Sunk
18 April 1917 Thomas  United Kingdom 132 Sunk
26 April 1917 Augusta  Kingdom of Italy 686 Sunk
26 April 1917 Gennarino  Kingdom of Italy 248 Sunk
16 June 1917 Emsli  Tunisia 31 Sunk
16 June 1917 Kamouma  Tunisia 18 Sunk
16 June 1917 Kibira  Tunisia 8 Sunk
16 June 1917 Liberte  Tunisia 12 Sunk
16 June 1917 Metlaoni  Tunisia 30 Sunk
17 June 1917 Argentina  Kingdom of Italy 41 Sunk
17 June 1917 Bell Angelina  Kingdom of Italy 14 Sunk
17 June 1917 Giuseppe S.  Kingdom of Italy 20 Sunk
17 June 1917 Luigina  Kingdom of Italy 19 Sunk
17 June 1917 San Antonio V  Kingdom of Italy 23 Sunk
18 June 1917 Bettina  Kingdom of Italy 140 Sunk
18 June 1917 Bianca B.  Kingdom of Italy 329 Sunk
18 June 1917 Letizia C.  Kingdom of Italy 136 Sunk
18 June 1917 Marietta B.  Kingdom of Italy 53 Sunk
18 June 1917 Paolina Aida  Kingdom of Italy 250 Sunk
19 June 1917 Amalia  Kingdom of Italy 22 Sunk
19 June 1917 Antonio Balbi  Kingdom of Italy 25 Sunk
19 June 1917 Domenica Madre  Kingdom of Italy 51 Sunk
19 June 1917 La Michelina  Kingdom of Italy 34 Sunk
19 June 1917 Mistica Rosa  Kingdom of Italy 31 Sunk
19 June 1917 Raffaelo  Kingdom of Italy 24 Sunk
19 June 1917 Rosinella  Kingdom of Italy 27 Sunk
19 June 1917 S. Vincenzo Ferrari P.  Kingdom of Italy 52 Sunk
19 June 1917 San Antonio  Kingdom of Italy 28 Sunk
19 June 1917 San Giovanni Battista  Kingdom of Italy 32 Sunk
20 June 1917 Ruperra  United Kingdom 4,232 Sunk
23 June 1917 Jules  France 49 Sunk
26 July 1917 Mooltan  United Kingdom 9,621 Sunk
6 August 1917 El Kaddra Nr. 53  Tunisia 20 Sunk
7 August 1917 Esemplare  Kingdom of Italy 999 Sunk
12 September 1917 Gibraltar  United Kingdom 3,803 Sunk
16 September 1917 Annina Capano  Kingdom of Italy 250 Sunk
17 September 1917 Eugenio D.  Kingdom of Italy 99 Sunk
17 September 1917 Muccio  Kingdom of Italy 137 Sunk
23 September 1917 Joaquina  Spain 69 Sunk
23 September 1917 Medie  France 4,770 Sunk
26 February 1918 Maltby  United Kingdom 3,977 Sunk
27 February 1918 Machaon  United Kingdom 6,738 Sunk
28 February 1918 Savoyarde  France 30 Sunk
4 March 1918 Clan Macpherson  United Kingdom 4,779 Sunk
8 March 1918 Ayr  United Kingdom 3,050 Sunk
1 May 1918 Matiana  United Kingdom 5,313 Sunk
13 August 1918 La Chaussade  France 4,494 Sunk
23 August 1918 Australian Transport  United Kingdom 4,784 Sunk
25 August 1918 Willingtonia  United Kingdom 3,228 Sunk
22 January 1919 Torpilleur 325  French Navy 100 Sunk

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.

References
  1. Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boats: UC 27". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 8 July 2015.
  2. Tarrant, p. 173.
  3. Gröner 1991, pp. 31–32.
  4. laiva
  5. Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by UC 27". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 7 December 2014.

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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