SM UC-22 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 1 February 1916. She was commissioned into the German Imperial Navy on 30 June 1916 as SM UC-22.[Note 1] In 15 patrols UC-22 was credited with sinking 23 ships, either by torpedo or by mines laid. UC-22 was surrendered to France on 3 February 1919 and was broken up at Landerneau in July 1921.[1]
| History | |
|---|---|
 German Empire | |
| Name | UC-22 |
| Ordered | 29 August 1915[1] |
| Builder | Blohm & Voss, Hamburg[2] |
| Yard number | 272[1] |
| Launched | 1 February 1916[1] |
| Commissioned | 30 June 1916[1] |
| Fate | Surrendered, 3 February 1919; broken up, July 1921[1] |
| General characteristics [3] | |
| Class and type | German Type UC II submarine |
| Displacement |
|
| Length |
|
| Beam |
|
| Draught | 3.68 m (12 ft 1 in) |
| Propulsion |
|
| Speed |
|
| Range |
|
| Test depth | 50 m (160 ft) |
| Complement | 26 |
| Armament |
|
| Notes | 35-second diving time |
| Service record | |
| Part of: |
|
| Commanders: |
|
| Operations: | 15 patrols |
| Victories: | |
Design edit
Like all pre-UC-25 German Type UC II submarines, UC-22 had a displacement of 417 tonnes (410 long tons) when at the surface and 493 tonnes (485 long tons) while submerged. She had a length overall of 49.35 m (161 ft 11 in), a beam of 5.22 m (17 ft 2 in), and a draught of 3.65 m (12 ft). The submarine was powered by two six-cylinder four-stroke diesel engines each producing 250 metric horsepower (180 kW; 250 shp) (a total of 500 metric horsepower (370 kW; 490 shp)), two electric motors producing 460 metric horsepower (340 kW; 450 shp), and two propeller shafts. She had a dive time of 35 seconds and was capable of operating at a depth of 50 metres (160 ft).[3]
The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 11.6 knots (21.5 km/h; 13.3 mph) and a submerged speed of 7 knots (13 km/h; 8.1 mph). When submerged, she could operate for 55 nautical miles (102 km; 63 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph); when surfaced, she could travel 9,430 nautical miles (17,460 km; 10,850 mi) at 7 knots (13 km/h; 8.1 mph). UC-22 was fitted with six 100 centimetres (39 in) mine tubes, eighteen UC 200 mines, three 50 centimetres (20 in) torpedo tubes (one on the stern and two on the bow), seven torpedoes, and one 8.8 cm (3.5 in) Uk L/30 deck gun. Her complement was twenty-six crew members.[3]
Summary of raiding history edit
| Date | Name | Nationality | Tonnage[Note 2] | Fate[8] |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28 September 1916 | Emma |  Russian Empire
|
279 | Sunk |
| 29 November 1916 | Luciston |  United Kingdom
|
2,948 | Sunk |
| 1 December 1916 | Burcombe | United Kingdom
|
3,516 | Sunk |
| 4 December 1916 | Algerie |  France
|
4,035 | Sunk |
| 28 December 1916 | Oronsay | United Kingdom
|
3,761 | Sunk |
| 30 December 1916 | Apsleyhall | United Kingdom
|
3,882 | Sunk |
| 1 January 1917 | Baycraig | United Kingdom
|
3,761 | Sunk |
| 27 February 1917 | Bellorado | United Kingdom
|
4,649 | Damaged |
| 3 April 1917 | Cloughton | United Kingdom
|
4,221 | Damaged |
| 3 April 1917 | Oberon | United Kingdom
|
5,142 | Damaged |
| 5 April 1917 | Agia |  Greece
|
20 | Sunk |
| 5 April 1917 | Evangelistria | Greece
|
29 | Sunk |
| 5 April 1917 | Kyriotis | Greece
|
19 | Sunk |
| 17 June 1917 | Aghios Georgios | Greece
|
16 | Sunk |
| 20 June 1917 | Ariane |  French Navy
|
414 | Sunk |
| 31 July 1917 | Regina | Greece
|
70 | Sunk |
| 3 August 1917 | San Nicola |  Kingdom of Italy
|
30 | Sunk |
| 14 August 1917 | Julita |  Spain
|
641 | Sunk |
| 22 August 1917 | Golo II | French Navy
|
1,380 | Sunk |
| 20 January 1918 | HMS Louvain |  Royal Navy
|
1,830 | Sunk, 224 killed |
| 25 January 1918 | Aghios Dimitrios | Greece
|
50 | Sunk |
| 16 April 1918 | Romania | Kingdom of Italy
|
2,562 | Sunk |
| 13 June 1918 | Octo |  Norway
|
1,620 | Sunk |
| 9 August 1918 | Girolamo Ciolino | Kingdom of Italy
|
58 | Sunk |
| 10 August 1918 | Polynesien | France
|
6,373 | Sunk |
| 27 August 1918 | Pampa | France
|
4,471 | Sunk, 117 killed |
References edit
Notes edit
- ^ "SM" stands for "Seiner Majestät" (English: His Majesty's) and combined with the U for Unterseeboot would be translated as His Majesty's Submarine.
- ^ Merchant ship tonnages are in gross register tons. Military vessels are listed by tons displacement.
Citations edit
- ^ a b c d e f Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boats: UC 22". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 22 February 2009.
- ^ Tarrant, p. 173.
- ^ a b c Gröner 1991, pp. 31–32.
- ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Heino von Heimburg (Pour le Mérite)". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 15 February 2015.
- ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Erich Wiesenbach". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 15 February 2015.
- ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Carl Bünte". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 15 February 2015.
- ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Eberhard Weichold". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 15 February 2015.
- ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by UC 22". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 15 February 2015.
Bibliography edit
- Bendert, Harald (2001). Die UC-Boote der Kaiserlichen Marine 1914-1918. Minenkrieg mit U-Booten (in German). Hamburg, Berlin, Bonn: Mittler. ISBN 3-8132-0758-7.
- Gröner, Erich; Jung, Dieter; Maass, Martin (1991). U-boats and Mine Warfare Vessels. German Warships 1815–1945. Vol. 2. Translated by Thomas, Keith; Magowan, Rachel. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-593-4.
- Gardiner, Robert; Gray, Randal, eds. (1985). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1906–1921. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 978-0-87021-907-8. OCLC 12119866.
- Tarrant, V. E. (1989). The U-Boat Offensive: 1914–1945. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 978-0-87021-764-7. OCLC 20338385.