SM UC-31 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 7 August 1916. She was commissioned into the German Imperial Navy on 2 September 1916 as SM UC-31.[1] In 13 patrols UC-31 was credited with sinking 38 ships, either by torpedo or by mines laid. UC-31 was surrendered on 26 November 1918 and broken up at Canning Town in 1922.
A Type UC II submarine, UC-31 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-31 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[2] | Fate[3] | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
31 December 1916 | Protector | United Kingdom | 200 | Sunk | |
4 January 1917 | Lonclara | United Kingdom | 1,294 | Sunk | |
25 January 1917 | O. B. Suhr | Denmark | 1,482 | Sunk | |
28 January 1917 | Alexandra | United Kingdom | 179 | Sunk | |
29 January 1917 | Shamrock | United Kingdom | 173 | Sunk | |
29 January 1917 | Thistle | United Kingdom | 167 | Sunk | |
31 January 1917 | Ravensbourne | United Kingdom | 1,226 | Sunk | |
24 February 1917 | Beneficent | United Kingdom | 1,963 | Sunk | |
29 March 1917 | Kathleen Lily | United Kingdom | 521 | Sunk | |
30 March 1917 | Harberton | United Kingdom | 1,443 | Sunk | |
4 April 1917 | Helga | Denmark | 839 | Sunk | |
5 April 1917 | N. J. Fjord | Denmark | 1,425 | Sunk | |
6 April 1917 | HMT Strathrannoch | 215 | Sunk | ||
11 April 1917 | Quaggy | United Kingdom | 993 | Sunk | |
12 April 1917 | Dina Hinderika | Netherlands | 200 | Sunk | |
12 April 1917 | Neptunus | Netherlands | 209 | Sunk | |
12 April 1917 | Union | Denmark | 152 | Sunk | |
12 April 1917 | Voorwaarts | Netherlands | 147 | Sunk | |
14 April 1917 | Spray | United Kingdom | 1,072 | Sunk | |
15 April 1917 | Brothertoft | United Kingdom | 155 | Sunk | |
6 May 1917 | Poseidon I | Netherlands | 98 | Sunk | |
8 May 1917 | HMY Zarefah | 279 | Sunk | ||
17 May 1917 | Aspen | Sweden | 3,103 | Damaged | |
17 May 1917 | Viken | Sweden | 1,825 | Sunk | |
30 June 1917 | Lady of the Lake | United Kingdom | 51 | Sunk | |
1 July 1917 | Amstelland | Netherlands | 5,404 | Sunk | |
2 July 1917 | Thirlby | United Kingdom | 2,009 | Sunk | |
3 July 1917 | Matador | United Kingdom | 3,642 | Sunk | |
7 August 1917 | Othalia | Sweden | 1,205 | Damaged | |
11 August 1917 | Holar | Denmark | 548 | Sunk | |
12 August 1917 | Bogatyr | Denmark | 1,360 | Sunk | |
8 September 1917 | Newholm | United Kingdom | 3,399 | Sunk | |
11 September 1917 | Cento | United Kingdom | 3,708 | Damaged | |
16 September 1917 | Quatre Freres | France | 53 | Sunk | |
13 November 1917 | Amelie | Belgium | 1,135 | Sunk | |
13 November 1917 | Australbush | Australia | 4,398 | Sunk | |
19 November 1917 | HMT Morococala | 265 | Sunk | ||
21 January 1918 | Teelin Head | United Kingdom | 1,718 | Sunk | |
29 January 1918 | Ethelinda | United Kingdom | 3,257 | Sunk | |
1 April 1918 | Ardglass | United Kingdom | 4,617 | Sunk | |
5 April 1918 | Cyrene | United Kingdom | 2,904 | Sunk | |
10 April 1918 | HMS Magic | 1,025 | Damaged |