Wikipedia

SM UC-71

For other ships with the same name, see German submarine U-71.

SM UC-71 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 and was launched on 12 August 1916. She was commissioned into the German Imperial Navy on 28 November 1916 as SM UC-71.[Note 1] In 19 patrols UC-71 was credited with sinking 63 ships, either by torpedo or by mines laid. UC-71 sank on 20 February 1919 in the North Sea while on her way to be surrendered.[1] Discovery a century later of her wreck with all hatches open suggested she had been deliberately scuttled by her own crew (all of whom survived).[10]

History
German Empire
NameUC-71
Ordered12 January 1916[1]
BuilderBlohm & Voss, Hamburg[2]
Yard number287[1]
Launched12 August 1916[1]
Commissioned28 November 1916[1]
FateSunk on way to surrender, 20 February 1919[1]
General characteristics [3]
Class and typeGerman Type UC II submarine
Displacement
  • 427 t (420 long tons), surfaced
  • 508 t (500 long tons), submerged
Length
Beam
  • 5.22 m (17 ft 2 in) o/a
  • 3.65 m (12 ft) pressure hull
Draught3.64 m (11 ft 11 in)
Propulsion
Speed
  • 12.0 knots (22.2 km/h; 13.8 mph), surfaced
  • 7.4 knots (13.7 km/h; 8.5 mph), submerged
Range
  • 10,420 nmi (19,300 km; 11,990 mi) at 7 knots (13 km/h; 8.1 mph) surfaced
  • 52 nmi (96 km; 60 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph) submerged
Test depth50 m (160 ft)
Complement26
Armament
Notes35-second diving time
Service record[1]
Part of:
  • Flandern / Flandern II Flotilla
  • 3 March 1917 – 13 October 1918
  • I Flotilla
  • 13 October – 11 November 1918
Commanders:
  • Oblt.z.S. Hans Valentiner[4]
  • 28 November 1916 – 25 April 1917
  • Oblt.z.S. Hugo Thielmann[5]
  • 26 April – 9 June 1917
  • Oblt.z.S. Reinhold Saltzwedel[6]
  • 10 June – 13 September 1917
  • Oblt.z.S. Ernst Steindorff[7]
  • 14 September 1917 – 28 January 1918
  • Oblt.z.S. Walter Warzecha[8]
  • 29 January – 13 August 1918
  • Oblt.z.S. Eberhard Schmidt[9]
  • 14 August – 11 November 1918
Operations: 19 patrols
Victories:
  • 53 merchant ships sunk
    (105,217 GRT)
  • 10 auxiliary warships sunk
    (5,533 GRT)
  • 16 merchant ships damaged
    (73,546 GRT)
  • 1 warship damaged
    (1,250 tons)
  • 1 auxiliary warship damaged
    (543 GRT)

Design edit

A German Type UC II submarine, UC-71 had a displacement of 427 tonnes (420 long tons) when at the surface and 508 tonnes (500 long tons) while submerged. She had a length overall of 50.35 m (165 ft 2 in), a beam of 5.22 m (17 ft 2 in), and a draught of 3.64 m (11 ft 11 in). The submarine was powered by two six-cylinder four-stroke diesel engines each producing 300 metric horsepower (220 kW; 300 shp) (a total of 600 metric horsepower (440 kW; 590 shp)), two electric motors producing 620 metric horsepower (460 kW; 610 shp), and two propeller shafts. She had a dive time of 48 seconds and was capable of operating at a depth of 50 metres (160 ft).[3]

The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph) and a submerged speed of 7.4 knots (13.7 km/h; 8.5 mph). When submerged, she could operate for 52 nautical miles (96 km; 60 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph); when surfaced, she could travel 10,420 nautical miles (19,300 km; 11,990 mi) at 7 knots (13 km/h; 8.1 mph). UC-71 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[11]
30 March 1917 Edernian   United Kingdom 3,588 Damaged
30 March 1917 Saint Louis III   French Navy 97 Sunk
30 March 1917 Sarcelle   France 49 Sunk
31 March 1917 Primrose   United Kingdom 113 Sunk
3 April 1917 Ellen James   United Kingdom 165 Sunk
4 April 1917 Pensiero   Kingdom of Italy 2,632 Sunk
5 April 1917 Gower Coast   United Kingdom 804 Sunk
5 April 1917 San Fulgencio   Spain 1,558 Sunk
7 April 1917 Caminha   Portugal 2,763 Sunk
9 April 1917 Themistoclis   Greece 1,895 Sunk
9 April 1917 Valhall   Norway 750 Sunk
10 April 1917 Ranvik   Norway 5,848 Sunk
12 April 1917 Edelweiss   France 192 Sunk
18 April 1917 Heim   Norway 1,669 Sunk
23 April 1917 Cenobic   Belgium 16 Sunk
2 May 1917 Westland   Netherlands 108 Sunk
5 May 1917 Simon   Netherlands 150 Sunk
15 May 1917 Boreas   Netherlands 192 Sunk
16 May 1917 Hendrika Johana   Netherlands 134 Sunk
17 May 1917 Jakoba   Netherlands 107 Sunk
17 May 1917 Mercurius   Netherlands 80 Sunk
18 May 1917 Annetta   Netherlands 177 Sunk
14 June 1917 Wega   United Kingdom 839 Sunk
15 June 1917 Wapello   United Kingdom 5,576 Sunk
26 June 1917 Normandy   French Navy 543 Damaged
28 June 1917 Marne   France 4,019 Sunk
29 June 1917 Driskos   Greece 2,833 Sunk
3 July 1917 Orleans   United States 2,853 Sunk
4 July 1917 Snetoppen   Norway 2,349 Sunk
6 July 1917 Løvstakken   Norway 3,105 Sunk
6 July 1917 Victoria 2   Norway 2,798 Sunk
8 July 1917 Vendee   United Kingdom 1,295 Sunk
3 August 1917 Aube   United Kingdom 1,837 Sunk
4 August 1917 Afrique   France 2,457 Damaged
4 August 1917 Cairnstrath   United Kingdom 2,128 Sunk
7 August 1917 Port Curtis   United Kingdom 4,710 Sunk
8 August 1917 HMS Dunraven   Royal Navy 3,117 Sunk
6 September 1917 Elisabethville   Belgium 7,017 Sunk
7 September 1917 Mont de Piete   France 38 Sunk
7 September 1917 Kleber   France 277 Damaged
8 September 1917 Setubal   Norway 1,201 Sunk
9 September 1917 HMS Myosotis   Royal Navy 1,250 Damaged
10 September 1917 Vikholmen   Norway 494 Sunk
22 September 1917 Matti   Norway 2,139 Damaged
22 September 1917 Trongate   United Kingdom 2,553 Sunk
23 September 1917 Hornsund   United Kingdom 3,646 Sunk
24 September 1917 Leka   Norway 1,845 Sunk
31 October 1917 Estrellano   United Kingdom 1,161 Sunk
5 November 1917 USS Alcedo   United States Navy 983 Sunk
16 November 1917 Naalso   French Navy 135 Sunk
6 December 1917 HMT Apley   Royal Navy 222 Sunk
6 December 1917 Wyndhurst   United Kingdom 570 Sunk
6 December 1917 Braeside   United Kingdom 569 Sunk
24 December 1917 Luciston   United Kingdom 2,877 Sunk
25 December 1917 Espagne   Belgium 1,463 Sunk
25 December 1917 Hyacinthus   United Kingdom 5,756 Damaged
27 December 1917 P. L. M. 4   France 2,640 Sunk
28 December 1917 Fallodon   United Kingdom 3,012 Sunk
28 December 1917 HMD Piscatorial II   Royal Navy 93 Sunk
29 December 1917 HMT Sapper   Royal Navy 276 Sunk
18 January 1918 HMT Gambri   Royal Navy 274 Sunk
20 January 1918 Harmonides   United Kingdom 3,521 Damaged
23 January 1918 Aalesund   Norway 414 Sunk
14 February 1918 Atlas   United Kingdom 3,090 Sunk
19 February 1918 Athenic   United Kingdom 4,078 Damaged
19 February 1918 Commonwealth   United Kingdom 3,353 Sunk
8 March 1918 Saba   United Kingdom 4,257 Damaged
12 March 1918 Clarissa Radcliffe   United Kingdom 5,754 Damaged
12 March 1918 Savan   United Kingdom 4,264 Damaged
13 March 1918 Londonier   Belgium 1,870 Sunk
14 March 1918 HMT Agate   Royal Navy 248 Sunk
14 March 1918 Comrie Castle   United Kingdom 5,173 Damaged
7 April 1918 Highland Brigade   United Kingdom 5,669 Sunk
12 April 1918 Luis   United Kingdom 4,284 Sunk
10 May 1918 Amplegarth   United Kingdom 3,707 Sunk
15 May 1918 Pennyworth   United Kingdom 5,388 Damaged
20 May 1918 Manchester Importer   United Kingdom 4,028 Damaged
26 June 1918 Raranga   United Kingdom 10,040 Damaged
31 July 1918 HMD City of Liverpool   Royal Navy 88 Sunk
4 August 1918 Waipara   United Kingdom 6,994 Damaged
5 August 1918 Polescar   United Kingdom 5,832 Damaged

References edit

Notes edit

  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.

Citations edit

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boats: UC 71". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 23 February 2009.
  2. ^ Tarrant, p. 173.
  3. ^ a b c Gröner 1991, pp. 31–32.
  4. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Hans Valentiner (Royal House Order of Hohenzollern)". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 4 March 2015.
  5. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Hugo Thielmann". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 4 March 2015.
  6. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Reinhold Saltzwedel (Pour le Mérite)". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 4 March 2015.
  7. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Ernst Steindorff (Royal House Order of Hohenzollern)". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 4 March 2015.
  8. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Walter Warzecha (Royal House Order of Hohenzollern)". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 4 March 2015.
  9. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Eberhard Schmidt". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 4 March 2015.
  10. ^ "German crew sank own submarine after First World War to prevent it falling into Allied hands". Daily Telegraph. 7 Dec 2023.
  11. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by UC 71". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 10 December 2014.

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). German Warships 1815–1945, U-boats and Mine Warfare Vessels. 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.

54°10′N 7°54′E / 54.167°N 7.900°E / 54.167; 7.900

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