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]
| History | |
|---|---|
 German Empire | |
| Name | UC-36 |
| Ordered | 20 November 1915[1] |
| Builder | Blohm & Voss, Hamburg[2] |
| Yard number | 277[1] |
| Launched | 5 June 1916[1] |
| Commissioned | 10 October 1916[1] |
| Fate | Rammed and sunk by French ship, 21 May 1917[1] |
| General characteristics [3] | |
| Class and type | Type UC II submarine |
| Displacement | |
| Length |
|
| Beam |
|
| Draught | 3.65 m (12 ft) |
| Propulsion |
|
| Speed |
|
| Range |
|
| Test depth | 50 m (160 ft) |
| Complement | 26 |
| Armament |
|
| Notes | 35-second diving time |
| Service record | |
| Part of: |
|
| Commanders: |
|
| Operations: | 5 patrols |
| Victories: | |
Design
editA 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
edit| 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
editNotes
edit- ^ "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
edit- ^ a b c d e f Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boats: UC 36". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 23 February 2009.
- ^ Tarrant, p. 173.
- ^ a b c Gröner 1991, pp. 31–32.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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
edit- 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.