SM UC-46 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, laid down on 1 February 1916, and was launched on 8 August 1916. She was commissioned into the German Imperial Navy on 15 September 1916 as SM UC-46.[Note 1] In four patrols UC-46 was credited with sinking 10 ships, either by torpedo or by mines laid. UC-46 was rammed and sunk southeast of Goodwin Sands by the British destroyer HMS Liberty on 8 February 1917.[1]
| History | |
|---|---|
 German Empire | |
| Name | UC-46 |
| Ordered | 20 November 1915[1] |
| Builder | AG Weser, Bremen[2] |
| Yard number | 256[1] |
| Laid down | 1 February 1916[1] |
| Launched | 8 August 1916[1] |
| Commissioned | 15 September 1916[1] |
| Fate | Rammed by HMS Liberty southeast of Goodwin Sands, 8 February 1917[1] |
| General characteristics [3] | |
| Class and type | Type UC II submarine |
| Displacement |
|
| Length |
|
| Beam |
|
| Draught | 3.67 m (12 ft 0 in) |
| Propulsion |
|
| Speed |
|
| Range |
|
| Test depth | 50 m (160 ft) |
| Complement | 26 |
| Armament |
|
| Notes | 30-second diving time |
| Service record | |
| Part of: |
|
| Commanders: |
|
| Operations: | 4 patrols |
| Victories: | |
Design
A German Type UC II submarine, UC-46 had a displacement of 420 tonnes (410 long tons) when at the surface and 502 tonnes (494 long tons) while submerged. She had a length overall of 51.85 m (170 ft 1 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 300 metric horsepower (220 kW; 300 shp) (a total of 600 metric horsepower (440 kW; 590 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 11.7 knots (21.7 km/h; 13.5 mph) and a submerged speed of 6.7 to 7.4 knots (12.4 to 13.7 km/h; 7.7 to 8.5 mph). When submerged, she could operate for 54 nautical miles (100 km; 62 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph); when surfaced, she could travel 7,280 nautical miles (13,480 km; 8,380 mi) at 7 knots (13 km/h; 8.1 mph). UC-46 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
| Date | Name | Nationality | Tonnage[Note 2] | Fate[5] |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21 December 1916 | Modig |  Norway | 1,704 | Sunk |
| 23 December 1916 | William Middleton |  United Kingdom | 2,543 | Damaged |
| 24 December 1916 | Paul Paix | United Kingdom | 4,196 | Damaged |
| 26 December 1916 | Agnes | United Kingdom | 99 | Sunk |
| 26 December 1916 | Neptune |  Belgium | 199 | Sunk |
| 26 December 1916 | Saint Louis |  France | 184 | Sunk |
| 30 December 1916 | Sappho |  Greece | 2,087 | Sunk |
| 1 January 1917 | Goosebridge |  Sweden | 1,886 | Sunk |
| 1 February 1917 | Gamma |  Netherlands | 2,115 | Sunk |
| 2 February 1917 | Isle of Arran | United Kingdom | 1,918 | Sunk |
| 4 February 1917 | Marthe | France | 154 | Sunk |
| 5 February 1917 | Argyllshire | United Kingdom | 12,097 | Damaged |
| 6 February 1917 | HMT Longset |  Royal Navy | 275 | Sunk |
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). 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.