SM UC-54

SM UC-54 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 20 March 1917. She was commissioned into the German Imperial Navy on 10 May 1917 as SM UC-54.[Note 1] In eight patrols UC-54 was credited with sinking 18 ships, either by torpedo or by mines laid. UC-54 was scuttled at Trieste on 28 October 1918 on the surrender of Austria-Hungary.[1]

For other ships with the same name, see German submarine U-54.
History
German Empire
NameUC-54
Ordered12 January 1916[1]
BuilderGermaniawerft, Kiel[2]
Yard number270[1]
Launched20 March 1917[1]
Commissioned10 May 1917[1]
FateScuttled at Trieste, 28 October 1918[1]
General characteristics [3]
Class and typeGerman Type UC II submarine
Displacement
  • 434 t (427 long tons), surfaced
  • 511 t (503 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
  • 11.8 knots (21.9 km/h; 13.6 mph), surfaced
  • 7.2 knots (13.3 km/h; 8.3 mph), submerged
Range
  • 8,820–9,450 nmi (16,330–17,500 km; 10,150–10,870 mi) at 7 knots (13 km/h; 8.1 mph) surfaced
  • 56 nmi (104 km; 64 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph) submerged
Test depth50 m (160 ft)
Complement26
Armament
Notes30-second diving time
Service record
Part of:
  • Mittelmeer / Mittelmeer II Flotilla
  • 28 July 1917 – 28 October 1918
Commanders:
  • Kptlt. Heinrich XXXVII Prinz Reuß zu Köstritz[4]
  • 10 May 1917 – 21 May 1918
  • Oblt.z.S. Otto Loycke[5]
  • 22 May – 28 October 1918
Operations: 8 patrols
Victories:
  • 16 merchant ships sunk
    (52,039 GRT)
  • 2 auxiliary warships sunk
    (526 GRT)
  • 3 merchant ships damaged
    (12,766 GRT)

Design

A German Type UC II submarine, UC-54 had a displacement of 434 tonnes (427 long tons) when at the surface and 511 tonnes (503 long tons) while submerged. She had a length overall of 52.69 m (172 ft 10 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 290–300 metric horsepower (210–220 kW; 290–300 shp) (a total of 580–600 metric horsepower (430–440 kW; 570–590 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 11.8 knots (21.9 km/h; 13.6 mph) and a submerged speed of 7.2 knots (13.3 km/h; 8.3 mph). When submerged, she could operate for 56 nautical miles (104 km; 64 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph); when surfaced, she could travel 8,820 to 9,450 nautical miles (16,330 to 17,500 km; 10,150 to 10,870 mi) at 7 knots (13 km/h; 8.1 mph). UC-54 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[6]
4 July 1917 Hurstside  United Kingdom 3,149 Sunk
12 July 1917 Maija  Russian Empire 164 Sunk
13 July 1917 Loanda  Portugal 141 Sunk
26 July 1917 Roberto Ivens  Portuguese Navy 281 Sunk
7 September 1917 Myrmidon  United Kingdom 4,965 Damaged
29 January 1918 Tosho Maru  Japan 3,038 Sunk
2 February 1918 Esterel  Kingdom of Italy 238 Sunk
2 February 1918 Ida  Kingdom of Italy 63 Sunk
6 February 1918 Glenartney  United Kingdom 7,263 Sunk
14 March 1918 Ardandearg  United Kingdom 3,237 Sunk
27 March 1918 Carlo P.  Kingdom of Italy 61 Sunk
3 April 1918 Sylvie  France 2,148 Sunk
3 May 1918 Pancras  United Kingdom 4,436 Damaged
11 May 1918 Sant Anna  French Navy 9,350 Sunk
12 May 1918 Vimeira  United Kingdom 5,884 Sunk
16 May 1918 Marie Frederique  French Navy 245 Sunk
13 July 1918 Ponta Delgada  Portugal 3,381 Sunk
19 July 1918 Australien  France 6,377 Sunk
19 July 1918 Polperro  United Kingdom 3,365 Damaged
4 September 1918 Arum  United Kingdom 3,681 Sunk
23 September 1918 Edlington  United Kingdom 3,864 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 54". 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: Heinrich XXXVII Prinz Reuß zu Köstritz". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 1 March 2015.
  5. Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Otto Loycke". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 1 March 2015.
  6. Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by UC 54". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 1 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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