SM UC-27 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 29 August 1915 and was launched on 28 June 1916. She was commissioned into the German Imperial Navy on 25 July 1916 as SM UC-27.[1] In 14 patrols, UC-27 was credited with sinking 58 ships, either by torpedo or by mines laid.
SS Skifted left from Mariehamn at 8:30 o'clock 14 December 1916, carrying 56 military persons, 7 workers, 15 members of the crew, and 13 civilians, a total of 91 persons. One hour later it was hit by the sea mines laid by the UC-27 and sank soon near Ledsun on the territory of the Lemland municipality of Åland. 86 persons died.[2]
UC-27 was surrendered to France on 3 February 1919 and was broken up at Landerneau in July 1921.
A Type UC II submarine, UC-27 had a displacement of 400t when at the surface and 480t while submerged. She had a length overall of 49.45m (162.24feet), a beam of 5.22m (17.13feet), and a draught of 3.68m (12.07feet). The submarine was powered by two six-cylinder four-stroke diesel engines each producing 250PS (a total of 500PS), two electric motors producing 460PS, and two propeller shafts. She had a dive time of 48 seconds and was capable of operating at a depth of .
The submarine had a maximum surface speed of and a submerged speed of . When submerged, she could operate for at ; when surfaced, she could travel at . UC-27 was fitted with six mine tubes, eighteen UC 200 mines, three torpedo tubes (one on the stern and two on the bow), seven torpedoes, and one 8.8sp=usNaNsp=us Uk L/30 deck gun. Her complement was twenty-six crew members.
| Date | Name | Nationality | Tonnage[3] | Fate[4] | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28 October 1916 | Kazanetz | 580 | Sunk | ||
| 7 November 1916 | Letun | 1,260 | Damaged | ||
| 19 November 1916 | 15,544 | Damaged | |||
| 22 November 1916 | Fugas | 150 | Sunk | ||
| 18 December 1916 | Buki | 4,499 | Sunk | ||
| 21 December 1916 | Skiftet | 336 | Sunk | ||
| 6 April 1917 | Narberth Castle |  United Kingdom | 168 | Sunk | |
| 6 April 1917 | Nestor | United Kingdom | 176 | Sunk | |
| 12 April 1917 | Ernst Sophie | 222 | Sunk | ||
| 13 April 1917 | Kariba | United Kingdom | 3,697 | Sunk | |
| 15 April 1917 | Gretaston | United Kingdom | 3,395 | Sunk | |
| 18 April 1917 | Thomas | United Kingdom | 132 | Sunk | |
| 26 April 1917 | Augusta | 686 | Sunk | ||
| 26 April 1917 | Gennarino | 248 | Sunk | ||
| 16 June 1917 | Emsli |  Tunisia | 31 | Sunk | |
| 16 June 1917 | Kamouma | Tunisia | 18 | Sunk | |
| 16 June 1917 | Kibira | Tunisia | 8 | Sunk | |
| 16 June 1917 | Liberte | Tunisia | 12 | Sunk | |
| 16 June 1917 | Metlaoni | Tunisia | 30 | Sunk | |
| 17 June 1917 | Argentina | 41 | Sunk | ||
| 17 June 1917 | Bell Angelina | 14 | Sunk | ||
| 17 June 1917 | Giuseppe S. | 20 | Sunk | ||
| 17 June 1917 | Luigina | 19 | Sunk | ||
| 17 June 1917 | San Antonio V | 23 | Sunk | ||
| 18 June 1917 | Bettina | 140 | Sunk | ||
| 18 June 1917 | Bianca B. | 329 | Sunk | ||
| 18 June 1917 | Letizia C. | 136 | Sunk | ||
| 18 June 1917 | Marietta B. | 53 | Sunk | ||
| 18 June 1917 | Paolina Aida | 250 | Sunk | ||
| 19 June 1917 | Amalia | 22 | Sunk | ||
| 19 June 1917 | Antonio Balbi | 25 | Sunk | ||
| 19 June 1917 | Domenica Madre | 51 | Sunk | ||
| 19 June 1917 | La Michelina | 34 | Sunk | ||
| 19 June 1917 | Mistica Rosa | 31 | Sunk | ||
| 19 June 1917 | Raffaelo | 24 | Sunk | ||
| 19 June 1917 | Rosinella | 27 | Sunk | ||
| 19 June 1917 | S. Vincenzo Ferrari P. | 52 | Sunk | ||
| 19 June 1917 | San Antonio | 28 | Sunk | ||
| 19 June 1917 | San Giovanni Battista | 32 | Sunk | ||
| 20 June 1917 | Ruperra | United Kingdom | 4,232 | Sunk | |
| 23 June 1917 | Jules |  France | 49 | Sunk | |
| 26 July 1917 | Mooltan | United Kingdom | 9,621 | Sunk | |
| 6 August 1917 | El Kaddra Nr. 53 | Tunisia | 20 | Sunk | |
| 7 August 1917 | Esemplare | 999 | Sunk | ||
| 12 September 1917 | Gibraltar | United Kingdom | 3,803 | Sunk | |
| 16 September 1917 | Annina Capano | 250 | Sunk | ||
| 17 September 1917 | Eugenio D. | 99 | Sunk | ||
| 17 September 1917 | Muccio | 137 | Sunk | ||
| 23 September 1917 | Joaquina |  Spain | 69 | Sunk | |
| 23 September 1917 | Medie | France | 4,770 | Sunk | |
| 26 February 1918 | Maltby | United Kingdom | 3,977 | Sunk | |
| 27 February 1918 | Machaon | United Kingdom | 6,738 | Sunk | |
| 28 February 1918 | Savoyarde | France | 30 | Sunk | |
| 4 March 1918 | Clan Macpherson | United Kingdom | 4,779 | Sunk | |
| 8 March 1918 | Ayr | United Kingdom | 3,050 | Sunk | |
| 1 May 1918 | Matiana | United Kingdom | 5,313 | Sunk | |
| 13 August 1918 | La Chaussade | France | 4,494 | Sunk | |
| 23 August 1918 | Australian Transport | United Kingdom | 4,784 | Sunk | |
| 25 August 1918 | Willingtonia | United Kingdom | 3,228 | Sunk | |
| 22 January 1919 | Torpilleur 325 | 100 | Sunk |