SM UC-75

SM UC-75 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 6 November 1916. She was commissioned into the German Imperial Navy on 6 December 1916 as SM UC-75.[Note 1] In 13 patrols UC-75 was credited with sinking 59 ships, either by torpedo or by mines laid. UC-75 rammed and sunk by HMS Fairy on 31 May 1918[1] with 17 dead and 14 survivors. HMS Fairy had sustained heavy damage and sank a short time later.

For other ships with the same name, see German submarine U-75.
History
German Empire
NameUC-75
Ordered12 January 1916[1]
BuilderAG Vulcan, Hamburg[2]
Yard number80[1]
Launched6 November 1916[1]
Commissioned6 December 1916[1]
FateRammed and sunk by HMS Fairy, 31 May 1918[1]
General characteristics [3]
Class and typeGerman Type UC II submarine
Displacement
  • 410 t (400 long tons), surfaced
  • 493 t (485 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
  • 11.8 knots (21.9 km/h; 13.6 mph), surfaced
  • 7.3 knots (13.5 km/h; 8.4 mph), submerged
Range
  • 8,660–10,230 nmi (16,040–18,950 km; 9,970–11,770 mi) at 7 knots (13 km/h; 8.1 mph) surfaced
  • 52 nmi (96 km; 60 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[1]
Part of:
  • I Flotilla
  • 10 February – 5 August 1917
  • Flandern / Flandern II Flotilla
  • 5 August 1917 – 31 May 1918
Commanders:
  • Kptlt. Georg Paech
  • 6 December 1916 – 16 March 1917
  • Oblt.z.S. Johannes Lohs
  • 17 March 1917 – 30 January 1918
  • Oblt.z.S. Walter Schmitz[4]
  • 31 January – 31 May 1918
Operations: 13 patrol
Victories:
  • 55 merchant ships sunk
    (82,683 GRT)
  • 2 warships sunk
    (1,555 tons)
  • 2 auxiliary warship sunk
    (260 GRT)
  • 8 merchant ships damaged
    (40,021 GRT)
  • 2 auxiliary warship damaged
    (426 GRT)

Design

A German Type UC II submarine, UC-75 had a displacement of 410 tonnes (400 long tons) when at the surface and 493 tonnes (485 long tons) while submerged. She had a length overall of 50.45 m (165 ft 6 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 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 30 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 7.3 knots (13.5 km/h; 8.4 mph). When submerged, she could operate for 52 nautical miles (96 km; 60 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph); when surfaced, she could travel 8,660 to 10,230 nautical miles (16,040 to 18,950 km; 9,970 to 11,770 mi) at 7 knots (13 km/h; 8.1 mph). UC-75 was fitted with six 100-centimetre (39 in) mine tubes, eighteen UC 200 mines, three 50-centimetre (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]
25 March 1917 Industria  United Kingdom 133 Sunk
25 March 1917 Marshall  Norway 1,123 Sunk
25 March 1917 Median  United Kingdom 214 Sunk
25 March 1917 Rosslyn  United Kingdom 113 Sunk
28 March 1917 Expedient  United Kingdom 145 Sunk
29 March 1917 Schaldis  Belgium 1,241 Sunk
1 May 1917 Alide  Russian Empire 175 Sunk
3 May 1917 Carberry King  United Kingdom 31 Sunk
3 May 1917 Eleanor  United Kingdom 31 Sunk
3 May 1917 Fastnet  United Kingdom 31 Sunk
3 May 1917 Hibernia  United Kingdom 21 Sunk
3 May 1917 Lucky Lass  United Kingdom 10 Sunk
3 May 1917 North Star  United Kingdom 15 Sunk
3 May 1917 Sir Edward Birkbeck  United Kingdom 23 Sunk
4 May 1917 Marie  France 133 Sunk
5 May 1917 HMS Lavender  Royal Navy 1,200 Sunk
6 May 1917 President  France 354 Sunk
15 May 1917 Polymnia  United Kingdom 2,426 Sunk
7 June 1917 Wilhelm  United Kingdom 187 Sunk
11 June 1917 Anglian  United Kingdom 5,532 Sunk
12 June 1917 HMS Prize  Royal Navy 199 Damaged
18 June 1917 Kathlamba  United Kingdom 6,382 Damaged
19 June 1917 Kelso  United Kingdom 1,292 Sunk
20 June 1917 Benita  United Kingdom 130 Sunk
20 June 1917 Bidartaise  France 123 Sunk
29 July 1917 Saint Marcouf  France 1,117 Sunk
1 August 1917 Karina  United Kingdom 4,222 Sunk
3 August 1917 Beechpark  United Kingdom 4,763 Sunk
3 August 1917 HMS Mary B. Mitchell  Royal Navy 227 Damaged
25 August 1917 Cymrian  United Kingdom 1,014 Sunk
29 August 1917 Cooroy  United Kingdom 2,470 Sunk
29 August 1917 Lynburn  United Kingdom 587 Sunk
28 September 1917 William Middleton  United Kingdom 2,543 Damaged
9 October 1917 Main  United Kingdom 715 Sunk
12 October 1917 W. M. Barkley  United Kingdom 569 Sunk
13 October 1917 Eskmere  United Kingdom 2,293 Sunk
19 October 1917 Hazelwood  United Kingdom 3,120 Sunk
3 November 1917 HMD Deliverer  Royal Navy 79 Sunk
3 November 1917 Atlantian  United Kingdom 9,399 Damaged
4 November 1917 Longwy  France 2,315 Sunk
8 November 1917 The Marquis  United Kingdom 373 Sunk
1 December 1917 Euphorbia  United Kingdom 3,109 Sunk
1 December 1917 Rydal Hall  United Kingdom 3,314 Sunk
4 December 1917 Milton  United Kingdom 3,267 Damaged
7 December 1917 Earl Of Elgin  United Kingdom 4,448 Sunk
28 December 1917 Alfred H. Read  United Kingdom 457 Sunk
28 December 1917 Chirripo  United Kingdom 4,050 Sunk
3 January 1918 Asborg  Norway 2,750 Sunk
4 January 1918 Day Spring  United Kingdom 39 Sunk
4 January 1918 Gratitude  United Kingdom 40 Sunk
4 January 1918 Varuna  United Kingdom 40 Sunk
5 January 1918 Iolanthe  United Kingdom 3,081 Sunk
6 January 1918 Arca  United Kingdom 4,839 Damaged
7 January 1918 Gascony  United Kingdom 3,133 Sunk
7 January 1918 Leon  France 2,401 Sunk
5 March 1918 Edouard Marie  Belgium 32 Sunk
9 March 1918 Marguerite  United Kingdom 10 Sunk
10 March 1918 Sunrise  United Kingdom 56 Sunk
10 March 1918 Wave  United Kingdom 47 Sunk
13 March 1918 Arno Mendi  Spain 2,827 Sunk
14 March 1918 Tweed  United Kingdom 1,777 Sunk
17 March 1918 Eliza Anne  United Kingdom 36 Sunk
18 March 1918 Navigator  United Kingdom 3,803 Damaged
28 March 1918 Dryden  United Kingdom 5,839 Damaged
16 April 1918 Hungerford  United Kingdom 5,811 Sunk
19 April 1918 War Helmet  United Kingdom 8,184 Sunk
12 May 1918 Benlawers  United Kingdom 3,949 Damaged
29 May 1918 HMT Dirk  Royal Navy 181 Sunk
31 May 1918 HMS Fairy  Royal Navy 355 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 75". 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. Oberleutnant zur See Walter Eduard Alexander Schmitz died March 1919 as a POW in Skipton (GB) and was buried at Cannock Chase German Military Cemetery (Plot 14, Row 9, Grave 259).
  5. Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by UC 75". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 8 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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