SM UC-36

SM UC-36 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 20 November 1915 and was launched on 5 June 1916. She was commissioned into the German Imperial Navy on 10 October 1916 as SM UC-36.[Note 1] In five patrols UC-36 was credited with sinking 24 ships, either by torpedo or by mines laid. UC-36 was rammed and sunk by the French steamer Molière off Ushant on 21 May 1917.[1]

For other ships with the same name, see German submarine U-36.

History
German Empire
NameUC-36
Ordered20 November 1915[1]
BuilderBlohm & Voss, Hamburg[2]
Yard number277[1]
Launched5 June 1916[1]
Commissioned10 October 1916[1]
FateRammed and sunk by French ship, 21 May 1917[1]
General characteristics [3]
Class and typeGerman Type UC II submarine
Displacement
  • 427 t (420 long tons), surfaced
  • 509 t (501 long tons), submerged
Length
Beam
  • 5.22 m (17 ft 2 in) o/a
  • 3.65 m (12 ft) pressure hull
Draught3.65 m (12 ft)
Propulsion
Speed
  • 11.6 knots (21.5 km/h; 13.3 mph), surfaced
  • 6.8 knots (12.6 km/h; 7.8 mph), submerged
Range
  • 10,180 nmi (18,850 km; 11,710 mi) at 7 knots (13 km/h; 8.1 mph) surfaced
  • 54 nmi (100 km; 62 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:
  • Flandern Flotilla
  • 3 February – 21 May 1917
Commanders:
  • Oblt.z.S. / Kptlt. Gustav Buch[4]
  • 3 November 1916 – 21 May 1917
Operations: 5 patrols
Victories:
  • 22 merchant ships sunk
    (36,707 GRT)
  • 2 auxiliary warships sunk
    (660 GRT)

Design

A German Type UC II submarine, UC-36 had a displacement of 427 tonnes (420 long tons) when at the surface and 509 tonnes (501 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 3.65 m (12 ft). 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 460 metric horsepower (340 kW; 450 shp), and two propeller shafts. She had a dive time of 35 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 6.8 knots (12.6 km/h; 7.8 mph). When submerged, she could operate for 54 nautical miles (100 km; 62 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph); when surfaced, she could travel 10,180 nautical miles (18,850 km; 11,710 mi) at 7 knots (13 km/h; 8.1 mph). UC-36 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]
12 February 1917 West  Norway 378 Sunk
17 March 1917 Russia  Denmark 1,617 Sunk
19 March 1917 Kong Inge  Norway 867 Sunk
19 March 1917 Brode  Norway 2,363 Sunk
22 March 1917 Hugin  Norway 1,395 Sunk
24 March 1917 L’amerique  French Navy 489 Sunk
25 March 1917 Baynaen  United Kingdom 3,227 Sunk
25 March 1917 Etoile Polaire  France 33 Sunk
25 March 1917 Leontine  France 201 Sunk
23 April 1917 Savio  Kingdom of Italy 1,922 Sunk
24 April 1917 Kenilworth  United Kingdom 2,735 Sunk
24 April 1917 La Providence  France 272 Sunk
25 April 1917 Hirondelle  United Kingdom 1,648 Sunk
27 April 1917 Verjø  Norway 1,002 Sunk
28 April 1917 Condor  Russian Empire 3,565 Sunk
18 May 1917 Camberwell  United Kingdom 4,078 Sunk
18 May 1917 Elford  United Kingdom 1,739 Sunk
18 May 1917 HMT Lucknow  Royal Navy 171 Sunk
20 May 1917 Dana  United Kingdom 182 Sunk
20 May 1917 Mientje  United Kingdom 120 Sunk
20 May 1917 Tijuca  Brazil 2,304 Sunk
21 May 1917 Ferdinand A.  France 2,062 Sunk
30 May 1917 Corbet Woodall  United Kingdom 917 Sunk
14 June 1917 Nirefs  Greece 4,080 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 36". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 23 February 2009.
  2. Tarrant, p. 173.
  3. Gröner 1991, pp. 31–32.
  4. Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Gustav Buch". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 16 February 2015.
  5. Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by UC 36". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 16 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). 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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