SM UB-30 was a German Type UB II submarine or U-boat in the German Imperial Navy (German: Kaiserliche Marine) during World War I. The U-boat was ordered on 22 July 1915 and launched on 16 November 1915. She was commissioned into the German Imperial Navy on 18 March 1916 as SM UB-30.
The submarine sank 18 ships in 19 patrols. They included the William Cory & Son collier SS Vernon in the North Sea off Spurn on 31 August 1917[1] and the Witherington and Everett Steam Ship Company collier SS Lightfoot in the English Channel off Selsey Bill on 16 March 1918.[2]
UB-30 was sunk by two depth charges from HMS Landrail south of Goodwin Sands at 51.15°N 47°W on 13 August 1918.
A Type UB II submarine, UB-30 had a displacement of 274t when at the surface and 303t while submerged. She had a total length of 36.9m (121.1feet), a beam of 4.37m (14.34feet), and a draught of 3.69m (12.11feet). The submarine was powered by two Benz six-cylinder diesel engines producing a total 270PS, two Siemens-Schuckert electric motors producing 280PS, and one propeller shaft. 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 . UB-30 was fitted with two torpedo tubes, four torpedoes, and one 8.8sp=usNaNsp=us Uk L/30 deck gun. She had a complement of twenty-one crew members and two officers and a 42-second dive time.
| Date | Name | Nationality | Tonnage[3] | Fate[4] | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21 October 1916 | August |  Sweden | 346 | Sunk | |
| 23 October 1916 | Elly | Sweden | 88 | Sunk | |
| 24 October 1916 | Elin | 127 | Sunk | ||
| 24 October 1916 | Ingersoll | 239 | Sunk | ||
| 24 October 1916 | Jenny Lind | 53 | Sunk | ||
| 24 October 1916 | Urpo | 111 | Sunk | ||
| 31 August 1917 | Vernon |  United Kingdom | 982 | Sunk | |
| 3 September 1917 | Ragnhild | United Kingdom | 1,495 | Sunk | |
| 26 September 1917 | S.N.A. 3 |  France | 1,709 | Sunk | |
| 12 November 1917 | Morning Star | United Kingdom | 129 | Sunk | |
| 3 January 1918 | Gartland | United Kingdom | 2,613 | Sunk | |
| 5 January 1918 | Glenarm Head | United Kingdom | 3,908 | Sunk | |
| 12 January 1918 | Whorlton | United Kingdom | 1,469 | Sunk | |
| 2 February 1918 | Jaffa | United Kingdom | 1,383 | Sunk | |
| 9 February 1918 | Armenia |  United States | 5,463 | Damaged | |
| 5 March 1918 | Clan Mackenzie | United Kingdom | 6,544 | Damaged | |
| 7 March 1918 | Braatt II |  Norway | 1,834 | Sunk | |
| 16 March 1918 | Lightfoot | United Kingdom | 1,873 | Sunk | |
| 18 June 1918 | Norfolk Coast | United Kingdom | 782 | Sunk | |
| 10 August 1918 | Madame Renee | United Kingdom | 509 | Sunk |