SM UC-29 explained

SM UC-29 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 15 July 1916. She was commissioned into the German Imperial Navy on 15 August 1916 as SM UC-29.[1] In an eight-month career, the UC-29 performed seven combat patrols into the Atlantic Ocean during the German war on Allied trade (Handelskrieg). In these patrols she was very successful, sinking 18 allied ships, totalling 21,909 GRT. She also damaged 4 ships of 17,154 GRT. On 7 June 1917 she torpedoed the British Q-ship off the Irish coast, but was ambushed by her hidden armaments when she approached too close and was sunk with 23 hands. Pargust was commanded by British submarine hunter Gordon Campbell and had on board Ronald Niel Stuart and William Williams, who were awarded the Victoria Cross for their actions in the engagement.

Her wreck lies in Cork Harbour, Ireland.[2]

Design

A Type UC II submarine, UC-29 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 260PS (a total of 520PS), 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-29 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.

Summary of raiding history

DateNameNationalityTonnage[3] Fate[4]
17 November 1916Canganian United Kingdom1,143Sunk
23 January 1917Clan Shaw United Kingdom3,943Sunk
24 January 1917Sunniva Norway589Sunk
5 February 1917Primrose United Kingdom136Sunk
9 February 1917HMT Yesso229Sunk
10 February 1917San Fraterno United Kingdom9,587Damaged
11 February 1917Norwood United Kingdom798Sunk
11 February 1917Roanoke United Kingdom3,455Damaged
1 March 1917Herbert Ingram United Kingdom142Sunk
1 March 1917Redcap United Kingdom199Sunk
3 March 1917HMT Northumbria211Sunk
14 March 1917Storaas Norway3,041Sunk
24 April 1917Upton Castle United Kingdom145Sunk
27 April 1917Nidelven Norway1,262Sunk
27 April 1917Ragnhild Norway1,117Sunk
29 April 1917Carbo I Denmark1,385Sunk
1 May 1917Firelight United Kingdom1,143Sunk
3 June 1917Elisabeth France2,061Sunk
3 June 1917HMS Mavis1,295Damaged
4 June 1917Songvand Norway2,206Sunk
7 June 19172,817Damaged
3 August 1917Hornchurch United Kingdom2,159Sunk

References

Bibliography

Notes and References

  1. "SM" stands for "Seiner Majestät" (English: His Majesty's) and combined with the U for Unterseeboot would be translated as His Majesty's Submarine.
  2. Irish Wrecks Online http://www.irishwrecksonline.net/Lists/CorkListC.htm
  3. Merchant ship tonnages are in gross register tons. Military vessels are listed by tons displacement.
  4. uc29. UC 29. 1boat. 16 February 2015.