SM UC-58 explained

SM UC-58 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 18 March 1916, and was launched on 21 October 1916. She was commissioned into the German Imperial Navy on 12 March 1917 as SM UC-58.[1] In twelve patrols UC-58 was credited with sinking 25 ships, either by torpedo or by mines laid. UC-58 was surrendered on 24 November 1918[2] and broken up at Cherbourg in 1921.

Design

A Type UC II submarine, UC-58 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-58 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]
19 May 1917Erik Sweden785Sunk
19 May 1917Göta Sweden1,128Captured as a prize
19 May 1917Kjell Sweden235Sunk
19 May 1917Kyros Sweden221Sunk
19 May 1917Lizzie Sweden1,095Captured as a prize
19 May 1917Märta Sweden493Captured as a prize
19 May 1917Olga Sweden83Sunk
19 May 1917Pauline Sweden168Sunk
19 May 1917Therese Sweden208Sunk
3 June 1917Sten II227Sunk
6 June 1917Edvard Sweden98Sunk
6 June 1917Elianna Sweden75Sunk
11 June 1917August Sweden120Sunk
15 June 1917Cleo Sweden92Sunk
7 July 1917MT 1129Sunk
7 July 1917MT 1429Sunk
14 July 1917Bonus Grand Duchy of Finland111Sunk
10 September 1917SimsUnknownSunk
27 November 1917Bditelnyi380Sunk
30 November 1917MT 125Sunk
29 December 1917Ennismore United Kingdom1,499Sunk
1 January 1918Eriksholm Sweden2,632Sunk
12 January 1918Adolph Meyer Sweden807Sunk
11 February 1918Baku Standard United Kingdom3,708Sunk
12 February 1918St. Magnus United Kingdom809Sunk
13 February 1918Lackawanna United Kingdom4,125Damaged
18 May 19187,175Sunk
28 June 1918Pochard United Kingdom146Sunk
17 September 1918Muriel United Kingdom1,831Sunk

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. https://forum.pages14-18.com/viewtopic.php?f=29&t=44148&start=0 French site, arrival in Cherbourg November 1918
  3. Merchant ship tonnages are in gross register tons. Military vessels are listed by tons displacement.
  4. uc58. UC 58. 1boat. 2 March 2015.