SM UC-18
History | |
---|---|
German Empire | |
Name | UC-18 |
Ordered | 29 August 1915[1] |
Builder | |
Yard number | 268[1] |
Launched | 4 March 1916[1] |
Commissioned | 15 August 1916[1] |
Fate | Sunk by British Q ship, 19 February 1917[1] |
General characteristics [3] | |
Class and type | German Type UC II submarine |
Displacement |
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Length |
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Beam |
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Draught | 3.68 m (12 ft 1 in) |
Propulsion |
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Speed |
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Range |
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Test depth | 50 m (160 ft) |
Complement | 26 |
Armament |
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Notes | 35-second diving time |
Service record | |
Part of: |
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Commanders: |
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Operations: | 6 patrols |
Victories: |
SM UC-18 was a German
Design
Like all pre-UC-25
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-18 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]
Discovery
In March 2024, it was announced that the wreck of UC-18 had been discovered by a team of divers off the island of Guernsey at a depth of 70 m (230 ft), some 64 km (40 mi) further west than the historical accounts of the battle described which was originally believed to have been 13 km (8 mi) west of the coast of Jersey.[5]
Summary of raiding history
Date | Name | Nationality | Tonnage[Note 2] | Fate[6] |
---|---|---|---|---|
3 November 1916 | HMT Glenprosen | Royal Navy | 224 | Sunk |
5 November 1916 | HMT Cantatrice | Royal Navy | 302 | Sunk |
9 November 1916 | HMS Fair Maid | Royal Navy | 432 | Sunk |
9 November 1916 | Marga | United Kingdom | 674 | Sunk |
10 November 1916 | H.m.w. | United Kingdom | 93 | Sunk |
13 November 1916 | Lilloise | France | 165 | Sunk |
15 November 1916 | Lake Michigan | United Kingdom | 9,288 | Damaged |
16 November 1916 | Trevarrack | United Kingdom | 4,199 | Sunk |
11 December 1916 | Inger | Denmark | 786 | Sunk |
14 December 1916 | Glencoe | United Kingdom | 2,560 | Sunk |
14 December 1916 | Leca | Portugal | 1,911 | Sunk |
15 December 1916 | Rogn | Norway | 1,028 | Sunk |
17 December 1916 | Cascais | Portugal | 835 | Sunk |
17 December 1916 | Immaculee Conception | France | 246 | Sunk |
17 December 1916 | Prima | Norway | 1,233 | Sunk |
17 December 1916 | Prosper Leon | France | 42 | Sunk |
17 December 1916 | Saint Yves | France | 325 | Sunk |
18 December 1916 | Kansan | United States | 7,913 | Damaged |
22 December 1916 | Amedee | France | 130 | Sunk |
22 December 1916 | Dansborg | Denmark | 2,242 | Sunk |
22 December 1916 | Hroptatyr | Denmark | 1,300 | Sunk |
12 January 1917 | Saint Michel | France | 419 | Sunk |
13 January 1917 | Toftwood | United Kingdom | 3,082 | Sunk |
14 January 1917 | Martin | United Kingdom | 1,904 | Sunk |
15 January 1917 | Bernadette | France | 128 | Sunk |
15 January 1917 | Otto | Norway | 401 | Sunk |
16 January 1917 | City of Tampico | Norway | 1,513 | Sunk |
17 January 1917 | Jeune France | France | 126 | Sunk |
17 January 1917 | Valle | Spain | 2,365 | Sunk |
18 January 1917 | Louis Joseph | France | 197 | Sunk |
18 January 1917 | Louise | France | 101 | Sunk |
19 January 1917 | Klampenborg | Denmark | 1,785 | Sunk |
19 January 1917 | Parahyba | Uruguay | 2,606 | Sunk |
20 January 1917 | Phoebe | France | 3,956 | Damaged |
22 January 1917 | Aurelie | France | 89 | Sunk |
18 February 1917 | Netherton | United Kingdom | 199 | Sunk |
19 February 1917 | HMS Lady Olive | Royal Navy | 701 | Sunk |
References
Notes
- ^ "SM" stands for "Seiner Majestät" (English: His Majesty's) and combined with the U for Unterseeboot would be translated as His Majesty's Submarine.
- gross register tons. Military vessels are listed by tons displacement.
Citations
- ^ a b c d e f Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boats: UC 18". 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: Wilhelm Kiel". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 9 February 2015.
- ^ "Mystery solved after Guernsey divers find missing German U-boat". BBC News. Retrieved 20 March 2024.
- ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by UC-18". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 9 February 2015.
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). 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. OCLC 12119866.
- Tarrant, V. E. (1989). The U-Boat Offensive: 1914–1945. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. OCLC 20338385.