SM U-74 was a Type UE 1 submarine and one of the 329 submarines serving in the Imperial German Navy in World War I.U-74 was engaged in the naval warfare and took part in the First Battle of the Atlantic.
Type UE I submarines were preceded by the longer Type U 66 submarines. U-74 had a displacement of 755t when at the surface and 829t while submerged. She had a total length of 56.8m (186.4feet), a pressure hull length of 46.66m (153.08feet), a beam of 5.9m (19.4feet), a height of 8.25m (27.07feet), and a draught of 4.84m (15.88feet). The submarine was powered by two 800PS engines for use while surfaced, and two 800PS engines for use while submerged. She had two propeller shafts. She was capable of operating at depths of up to .
The submarine had a maximum surface speed of and a maximum submerged speed of . When submerged, she could operate for at ; when surfaced, she could travel at . U-74 was fitted with two torpedo tubes (one at the port bow and one starboard stern), four torpedoes, and one 8.8sp=usNaNsp=us SK L/30 deck gun. She had a complement of thirty-two (twenty-eight crew members and four officers).