SM UC-40 explained

SM UC-40 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 20 November 1915 and was launched on 5 September 1916. She was commissioned into the German Imperial Navy on 1 October 1916 as SM UC-40.[1] In 17 patrols UC-40 was credited with sinking 30 ships, either by torpedo or by mines laid. UC-40 was being taken to surrender but foundered in the North Sea en route on 21 January 1919.

Design

A Type UC II submarine, UC-40 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-40 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[2] Fate[3]
22 January 1917Kamma Sweden1,516Sunk
28 March 1917Hero United Kingdom66Sunk
1 April 1917Bergenhus Denmark1,017Sunk
6 April 1917Presto United Kingdom1,143Sunk
10 May 1917HMT Lord Ridley215Sunk
23 May 1917Gran Norway1,153Sunk
25 June 1917HMT Gelsina227Sunk
30 July 1917Amor Denmark196Sunk
6 August 1917Polanna United Kingdom2,345Sunk
8 September 1917Family’s Pride United Kingdom39Sunk
9 September 1917Swiftsure United Kingdom823Sunk
10 September 1917Margarita United Kingdom2,788Damaged
10 September 1917Parkmill United Kingdom1,316Sunk
12 September 1917HMT Asia309Sunk
12 September 1917Glenelg United Kingdom4,160Damaged
11 October 1917Voronezh5,331Damaged
19 October 1917Slavonic3,604Sunk
21 October 1917Anglo Dane Denmark808Sunk
21 October 1917Flynderborg Denmark1,400Sunk
24 October 1917Novington United Kingdom3,442Damaged
24 October 1917Woron3,342Sunk
8 December 1917HMS Grive2,037Sunk
12 December 1917Leonatus United Kingdom2,099Sunk
8 March 1918Corsham United Kingdom2,760Sunk
8 March 1918Intent United Kingdom1,564Sunk
10 March 1918HMT Columba138Sunk
14 March 1918Castleford United Kingdom1,741Sunk
28 April 1918HMT Emley223Sunk
28 April 1918Upcerne United Kingdom2,984Sunk
8 June 1918Eros United Kingdom181Sunk
12 June 1918Afrique France2,457Sunk
15 June 1918Cairnmona United Kingdom4,666Damaged
16 June 1918Melanie United Kingdom2,996Sunk
23 July 19181,300Damaged
26 July 1918Blairhall United Kingdom2,549Sunk
27 July 1918Crimdon Sweden1,599Sunk
30 July 1918War Deer United Kingdom5,323Damaged
3 August 1918Skjold Denmark166Damaged

References

Bibliography

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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. Merchant ship tonnages are in gross register tons. Military vessels are listed by tons displacement.
  3. uc40. UC 40. 1boat. 23 February 2015.

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