SM UC-25

SM UC-25 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 10 June 1916. She was commissioned into the German Imperial Navy on 28 June 1916 as SM UC-25.[Note 1] In 13 patrols UC-25 was credited with sinking 21 ships, either by torpedo or by mines laid. From March to September 1918, she was commanded by Karl Dönitz, later grand admiral in charge of all U-boats in World War II. UC-25 was scuttled at Pola on 28 October 1918 on the surrender of Austria-Hungary.[1]

History
German Empire
NameUC-25
Ordered29 August 1915[1]
BuilderAG Vulcan, Hamburg[2]
Yard number64[1]
Launched10 June 1916[1]
Commissioned28 June 1916[1]
FateScuttled at Pola, 28 October 1918[1]
General characteristics [3]
Class and typeGerman Type UC II submarine
Displacement
  • 400 t (390 long tons), surfaced
  • 480 t (470 long tons), submerged
Length
Beam
  • 5.22 m (17 ft 2 in) o/a
  • 3.65 m (12 ft) pressure hull
Draught3.68 m (12 ft 1 in)
Propulsion
Speed
  • 11.6 knots (21.5 km/h; 13.3 mph), surfaced
  • 6.6 knots (12.2 km/h; 7.6 mph), submerged
Range
  • 9,260 nmi (17,150 km; 10,660 mi) at 7 knots (13 km/h; 8.1 mph), surfaced
  • 53 nmi (98 km; 61 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph), submerged
Test depth50 m (160 ft)
Complement26
Armament
Notes48-second diving time
Service record
Part of:
  • Baltic Flotilla
  • 12 September 1916 – 15 April 1917
  • Pola / Mittelmeer / Mittelmeer II Flotilla
  • 15 April 1917 – 11 November 1918
Commanders:
  • Kptlt. Johannes Feldkirchner[4]
  • 28 June 1916 – 17 July 1917
  • Oblt.z.S. Walter Lippold[5]
  • 18 July – 13 December 1917
  • Oblt.z.S. Freiherr Ernst von Wangenheim[6]
  • 14 December 1917 – 15 February 1918
  • Oblt.z.S. Karl Dönitz[7]
  • 16 February – 7 August 1918
Operations:13 patrols
Victories:
  • 17 merchant ships sunk
    (16,872 GRT)
  • 3 warships sunk
    (2,201 tons)
  • 1 auxiliary warship sunk
    (255 GRT)
  • 4 merchant ships damaged
    (22,035 GRT)
  • 2 warships damaged
    (6,500 tons)
  • 1 auxiliary warship damaged
    (6,335 GRT)

Design

A German Type UC II submarine, UC-25 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 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 48 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 6.6 knots (12.2 km/h; 7.6 mph). When submerged, she could operate for 53 nautical miles (98 km; 61 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph); when surfaced, she could travel 9,260 nautical miles (17,150 km; 10,660 mi) at 7 knots (13 km/h; 8.1 mph). UC-25 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

DateNameNationalityTonnage[Note 2]Fate[8]
19 October 1916Jug  Russian Empire75Sunk
6 December 1916Shchit  Imperial Russian Navy248Sunk
6 April 1917Cybele  France148Sunk
7 April 1917Edwin R. Hunt  United States1,132Sunk
28 April 1917Juliette  France50Sunk
15 May 1917Boutefeu  French Navy703Sunk
16 May 1917HMS Dartmouth  Royal Navy5,250Damaged
24 May 1917Domenico Barone  Kingdom of Italy171Sunk
28 May 1917Nuovo S. Giovanni  Kingdom of Italy31Sunk
28 May 1917San Domenico  Kingdom of Italy27Sunk
31 May 1917Ninotto  Kingdom of Italy208Sunk
1 June 1917Domenico Miscuraca  Kingdom of Italy194Sunk
1 June 1917Vittoria  Kingdom of Italy248Sunk
6 June 1917Mitra  United Kingdom5,592Damaged
4 July 1917HMS Aster  Royal Navy1,250Sunk
4 July 1917HMS Azalea  Royal Navy1,250Damaged
5 July 1917Eburna  United Kingdom4,735Damaged
17 October 1917HMHS Goorkha  Royal Navy6,335Damaged
18 October 1917Anna Scotto  Kingdom of Italy594Sunk
20 October 1917Virginia Gentile  Kingdom of Italy164Sunk
3 December 1917Melo  Kingdom of Italy1,115Sunk
8 December 1917Chyebassa  United Kingdom6,249Damaged
23 February 1918HMT Marion  Royal Navy255Sunk
18 March 1918Massilia  Kingdom of Italy5,026Sunk
4 April 1918Agatina  Kingdom of Italy201Sunk
28 July 1918Vesuvio  Kingdom of Italy5,459Damaged
29 July 1918Rio Pallaresa  United Kingdom4,043Sunk
5 August 1918Freshfield  Canada3,445Sunk

References

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 12119866.
  • Tarrant, V. E. (1989). The U-Boat Offensive: 1914–1945. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 978-0-87021-764-7. OCLC 20338385.