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]
History | |
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Name | UC-25 |
Ordered | 29 August 1915[1] |
Builder | AG Vulcan, Hamburg[2] |
Yard number | 64[1] |
Launched | 10 June 1916[1] |
Commissioned | 28 June 1916[1] |
Fate | Scuttled at Pola, 28 October 1918[1] |
General characteristics [3] | |
Class and type | German Type UC II submarine |
Displacement |
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Length |
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Beam |
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Draught | 3.68 m (12 ft 1 in) |
Propulsion |
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Speed |
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Range |
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Test depth | 50 m (160 ft) |
Complement | 26 |
Armament |
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Notes | 48-second diving time |
Service record | |
Part of: |
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Commanders: |
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Operations: | 13 patrols |
Victories: |
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] |
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19 October 1916 | Jug | ![]() |
75 | Sunk |
6 December 1916 | Shchit | ![]() |
248 | Sunk |
6 April 1917 | Cybele | ![]() |
148 | Sunk |
7 April 1917 | Edwin R. Hunt | ![]() |
1,132 | Sunk |
28 April 1917 | Juliette | ![]() |
50 | Sunk |
15 May 1917 | Boutefeu | ![]() |
703 | Sunk |
16 May 1917 | HMS Dartmouth | ![]() |
5,250 | Damaged |
24 May 1917 | Domenico Barone | ![]() |
171 | Sunk |
28 May 1917 | Nuovo S. Giovanni | ![]() |
31 | Sunk |
28 May 1917 | San Domenico | ![]() |
27 | Sunk |
31 May 1917 | Ninotto | ![]() |
208 | Sunk |
1 June 1917 | Domenico Miscuraca | ![]() |
194 | Sunk |
1 June 1917 | Vittoria | ![]() |
248 | Sunk |
6 June 1917 | Mitra | ![]() |
5,592 | Damaged |
4 July 1917 | HMS Aster | ![]() |
1,250 | Sunk |
4 July 1917 | HMS Azalea | ![]() |
1,250 | Damaged |
5 July 1917 | Eburna | ![]() |
4,735 | Damaged |
17 October 1917 | HMHS Goorkha | ![]() |
6,335 | Damaged |
18 October 1917 | Anna Scotto | ![]() |
594 | Sunk |
20 October 1917 | Virginia Gentile | ![]() |
164 | Sunk |
3 December 1917 | Melo | ![]() |
1,115 | Sunk |
8 December 1917 | Chyebassa | ![]() |
6,249 | Damaged |
23 February 1918 | HMT Marion | ![]() |
255 | Sunk |
18 March 1918 | Massilia | ![]() |
5,026 | Sunk |
4 April 1918 | Agatina | ![]() |
201 | Sunk |
28 July 1918 | Vesuvio | ![]() |
5,459 | Damaged |
29 July 1918 | Rio Pallaresa | ![]() |
4,043 | Sunk |
5 August 1918 | Freshfield | ![]() |
3,445 | Sunk |
References
Notes
- "SM" stands for "Seiner Majestät" (English: His Majesty's) and combined with the U for Unterseeboot would be translated as His Majesty's Submarine.
- Merchant ship tonnages are in gross register tons. Military vessels are listed by tons displacement.
Citations
- Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boats: UC 25". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 22 February 2009.
- Tarrant, p. 173.
- Gröner 1991, pp. 31–32.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.