SM UB-72 was a German Type UB III submarine or U-boat in the German Imperial Navy (German: Kaiserliche Marine) during World War I. She was commissioned into the German Imperial Navy on 9 September 1917 as SM UB-72.
UB-72 was serving in the English Channel when she was sunk by a torpedo from at 50.1333°N -43°W on 12 May 1918.
See main article: Type UB III submarine. She was built by AG Vulcan of Hamburg and following just under a year of construction, launched at Hamburg on 30 July 1917. UB-72 was commissioned later that same year . Like all Type UB III submarines, UB-72 carried 10 torpedoes and was armed with a 8.82NaN2 deck gun. UB-72 would carry a crew of up to 3 officer and 31 men and had a cruising range of . UB-72 had a displacement of 508lk=inNaNlk=in while surfaced and 639t when submerged. Her engines enabled her to travel at when surfaced and when submerged.
| Date | Name | Nationality | Tonnage[1] | Fate[2] | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 February 1918 | Svanfos |  Norway | 896 | Sunk | |
| 28 March 1918 | HMS Tithonus | 3,463 | Sunk | ||
| 30 March 1918 | Vafos | Norway | 1,322 | Sunk | |
| 6 May 1918 | Sandhurst |  United Kingdom | 3,034 | Sunk | |
| 8 May 1918 | Quito | United Kingdom | 3,358 | Damaged | |
| 9 May 1918 | Baron Ailsa | United Kingdom | 1,836 | Sunk |