SM UC-57 explained

SM UC-57 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 12 January 1916, laid down on 14 March 1916, and was launched on 7 September 1916. She was commissioned into the German Imperial Navy on 22 January 1917 as SM UC-57. In seven patrols UC-57 was credited with sinking 5 ships, either by torpedo or by mines laid.

UC-57 disappeared in 1917 after landing a party of Finnish Jägers and 4 tons of munitions on the island of Hamnskär, circa 30km (20miles) from Loviisa, on 18 November. UC-57 was going to remain on the seabed overnight and then return to Germany but never arrived. She was probably sunk by a Russian mine.

Design

A Type UC II submarine, UC-57 had a displacement of 415t when at the surface and 498t while submerged. She had a length overall of 50.52m (165.75feet), a beam of 5.22m (17.13feet), and a draught of 3.61m (11.84feet). The submarine was powered by two six-cylinder four-stroke diesel engines each producing 290PS300PS (a total of 580PS600PS), two electric motors producing 620PS, 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-57 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[1] Fate[2]
9 June 1917Ludvig Sweden78Sunk
20 June 1917Penpol United Kingdom2,061Captured as prize
24 June 1917Meggie United Kingdom1,802Captured as prize
26 June 1917Marie87Sunk
26 June 1917Tervo58Sunk
26 June 1917Georg18Sunk
26 June 1917Martinniemi30Sunk

References

Bibliography

59°N 23°W

Notes and References

  1. Tonnages are in gross register tons
  2. uc57. UC 57. 1boat. 2 March 2015.