SM UC-13 was a German Type UC I minelayer submarine or U-boat in the German Imperial Navy (German: Kaiserliche Marine) during World War I. The U-boat was ordered for production on 23 November 1914, laid down on 28 January 1915, and was launched on 11 May 1915. She was commissioned into the German Imperial Navy on 15 May 1915 as SM UC-13.[1] Mines laid by UC-13 in her three patrols were credited with sinking 3 ships.
A Type UC I submarine, UC-13 had a displacement of 168t when at the surface and 182t while submerged. She had a length overall of 33.99m (111.52feet), a beam of 3.15m (10.33feet), and a draught of 3.06m (10.04feet). The submarine was powered by one Benz six-cylinder, four-stroke diesel engine producing 80PS, an electric motor producing 175PS, 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 . UC-13 was fitted with six mine tubes, twelve UC 120 mines, and one 8mm machine gun. She was built by AG Weser Bremen and her complement was fourteen crew members.
UC-13 departed Constantinople on 12 November 1915 to operate in the Black Sea. On 29 November, while navigating using dead reckoning due to the adverse weather, she ran aground 55nmi east of the Bosphorous, near to the Melen River. The crew subsequently scuttled UC-13 using demolition charges before being picked up by Turkish vessels.[2]
| Date | Name | Nationality | Tonnage[3] | Fate[4] | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26 August 1915 | Sahina Noria | 37 | Sunk | ||
| 22 November 1915 | Ukraina | 150 | Sunk | ||
| 22 November 1915 | Rostov | 1,280 | Damaged | ||
| 23 November 1915 | Marusja Raja | 157 | Sunk |