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. 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 400 tonnes (390 long tons) when at the surface and 480 tonnes (470 long tons) while submerged. She had a length overall of 49.45 m (162 ft 3 in), a beam of 5.22 m (17 ft 2 in), and a draught of 3.68 m (12 ft 1 in). The submarine was powered by two six-cylinder four-stroke diesel engines each producing 260 metric horsepower (190 kW; 260 shp) (a total of 520 metric horsepower (380 kW; 510 shp)), two electric motors producing 460 metric horsepower (340 kW; 450 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).

The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 11.7 knots (21.7 km/h; 13.5 mph) and a submerged speed of 6.7 knots (12.4 km/h; 7.7 mph). When submerged, she could operate for 60 nautical miles (110 km; 69 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph); when surfaced, she could travel 9,410 nautical miles (17,430 km; 10,830 mi) at 7 knots (13 km/h; 8.1 mph). UC-40 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.

Summary of raiding history

DateNameNationalityTonnageFate
22 January 1917KammaSweden1,516Sunk
28 March 1917HeroUnited Kingdom66Sunk
1 April 1917BergenhusDenmark1,017Sunk
6 April 1917PrestoUnited Kingdom1,143Sunk
10 May 1917HMT Lord RidleyRoyal Navy215Sunk
23 May 1917GranNorway1,153Sunk
25 June 1917HMT GelsinaRoyal Navy227Sunk
30 July 1917AmorDenmark196Sunk
6 August 1917PolannaUnited Kingdom2,345Sunk
8 September 1917Family’s PrideUnited Kingdom39Sunk
9 September 1917SwiftsureUnited Kingdom823Sunk
10 September 1917MargaritaUnited Kingdom2,788Damaged
10 September 1917ParkmillUnited Kingdom1,316Sunk
12 September 1917HMT AsiaRoyal Navy309Sunk
12 September 1917GlenelgUnited Kingdom4,160Damaged
11 October 1917VoronezhRussian Empire5,331Damaged
19 October 1917SlavonicRussian Empire3,604Sunk
21 October 1917Anglo DaneDenmark808Sunk
21 October 1917FlynderborgDenmark1,400Sunk
24 October 1917NovingtonUnited Kingdom3,442Damaged
24 October 1917WoronRussian Empire3,342Sunk
8 December 1917HMS GriveRoyal Navy2,037Sunk
12 December 1917LeonatusUnited Kingdom2,099Sunk
8 March 1918CorshamUnited Kingdom2,760Sunk
8 March 1918IntentUnited Kingdom1,564Sunk
10 March 1918HMT ColumbaRoyal Navy138Sunk
14 March 1918CastlefordUnited Kingdom1,741Sunk
28 April 1918HMT EmleyRoyal Navy223Sunk
28 April 1918UpcerneUnited Kingdom2,984Sunk
8 June 1918ErosUnited Kingdom181Sunk
12 June 1918AfriqueFrance2,457Sunk
15 June 1918CairnmonaUnited Kingdom4,666Damaged
16 June 1918MelanieUnited Kingdom2,996Sunk
23 July 1918HMS VanityRoyal Navy1,300Damaged
26 July 1918BlairhallUnited Kingdom2,549Sunk
27 July 1918CrimdonSweden1,599Sunk
30 July 1918War DeerUnited Kingdom5,323Damaged
3 August 1918SkjoldDenmark166Damaged

Notes

Citations

Bibliography

  • 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 .
  • Tarrant, V. E. (1989). The U-Boat Offensive: 1914–1945. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 978-0-87021-764-7. OCLC .

54°55′N 0°6′E/54.917°N 0.100°E/ 54.917; 0.100