SM UC-27 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 28 June 1916. She was commissioned into the German Imperial Navy on 25 July 1916 as SM UC-27.[Note 1] In 14 patrols, UC-27 was credited with sinking 58 ships, either by torpedo or by mines laid.
| History | |
|---|---|
 German Empire | |
| Name | UC-27 |
| Ordered | 29 August 1915[1] |
| Builder | AG Vulcan, Hamburg[2] |
| Yard number | 66[1] |
| Launched | 28 June 1916[1] |
| Commissioned | 25 July 1916[1] |
| Fate | Surrendered, 3 February 1919; broken up, July 1921[1] |
| General characteristics [3] | |
| Class and type | Type UC II submarine |
| Displacement | |
| Length |
|
| Beam |
|
| Draught | 3.68 m (12 ft 1 in) |
| Propulsion |
|
| Speed |
|
| Range |
|
| Test depth | 50 m (160 ft) |
| Complement | 26 |
| Armament |
|
| Notes | 48-second diving time |
| Service record[1] | |
| Part of: |
|
| Commanders: |
|
| Operations: | 14 patrols |
| Victories: |
|
SS Skifted left from Mariehamn at 8:30 o'clock 14 December 1916, carrying 56 military persons, 7 workers, 15 members of the crew, and 13 civilians, a total of 91 persons. One hour later it was hit by the sea mines laid by the UC-27 and sank soon near Ledsun on the territory of the Lemland municipality of Åland. 86 persons died.[4]
UC-27 was surrendered to France on 3 February 1919 and was broken up at Landerneau in July 1921.[1]
Design
editA Type UC II submarine, UC-27 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-27 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[5] |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28 October 1916 | Kazanetz |  Imperial Russian Navy
|
580 | Sunk |
| 7 November 1916 | Letun | Imperial Russian Navy
|
1,260 | Damaged |
| 19 November 1916 | Rurik | Imperial Russian Navy
|
15,544 | Damaged |
| 22 November 1916 | Fugas | Imperial Russian Navy
|
150 | Sunk |
| 18 December 1916 | Buki | Imperial Russian Navy
|
4,499 | Sunk |
| 21 December 1916 | Skiftet |  Russian Empire
|
336 | Sunk |
| 6 April 1917 | Narberth Castle |  United Kingdom
|
168 | Sunk |
| 6 April 1917 | Nestor | United Kingdom
|
176 | Sunk |
| 12 April 1917 | Ernst Sophie | Russian Empire
|
222 | Sunk |
| 13 April 1917 | Kariba | United Kingdom
|
3,697 | Sunk |
| 15 April 1917 | Gretaston | United Kingdom
|
3,395 | Sunk |
| 18 April 1917 | Thomas | United Kingdom
|
132 | Sunk |
| 26 April 1917 | Augusta |  Kingdom of Italy
|
686 | Sunk |
| 26 April 1917 | Gennarino | Kingdom of Italy
|
248 | Sunk |
| 16 June 1917 | Emsli |  Tunisia
|
31 | Sunk |
| 16 June 1917 | Kamouma | Tunisia
|
18 | Sunk |
| 16 June 1917 | Kibira | Tunisia
|
8 | Sunk |
| 16 June 1917 | Liberte | Tunisia
|
12 | Sunk |
| 16 June 1917 | Metlaoni | Tunisia
|
30 | Sunk |
| 17 June 1917 | Argentina | Kingdom of Italy
|
41 | Sunk |
| 17 June 1917 | Bell Angelina | Kingdom of Italy
|
14 | Sunk |
| 17 June 1917 | Giuseppe S. | Kingdom of Italy
|
20 | Sunk |
| 17 June 1917 | Luigina | Kingdom of Italy
|
19 | Sunk |
| 17 June 1917 | San Antonio V | Kingdom of Italy
|
23 | Sunk |
| 18 June 1917 | Bettina | Kingdom of Italy
|
140 | Sunk |
| 18 June 1917 | Bianca B. | Kingdom of Italy
|
329 | Sunk |
| 18 June 1917 | Letizia C. | Kingdom of Italy
|
136 | Sunk |
| 18 June 1917 | Marietta B. | Kingdom of Italy
|
53 | Sunk |
| 18 June 1917 | Paolina Aida | Kingdom of Italy
|
250 | Sunk |
| 19 June 1917 | Amalia | Kingdom of Italy
|
22 | Sunk |
| 19 June 1917 | Antonio Balbi | Kingdom of Italy
|
25 | Sunk |
| 19 June 1917 | Domenica Madre | Kingdom of Italy
|
51 | Sunk |
| 19 June 1917 | La Michelina | Kingdom of Italy
|
34 | Sunk |
| 19 June 1917 | Mistica Rosa | Kingdom of Italy
|
31 | Sunk |
| 19 June 1917 | Raffaelo | Kingdom of Italy
|
24 | Sunk |
| 19 June 1917 | Rosinella | Kingdom of Italy
|
27 | Sunk |
| 19 June 1917 | S. Vincenzo Ferrari P. | Kingdom of Italy
|
52 | Sunk |
| 19 June 1917 | San Antonio | Kingdom of Italy
|
28 | Sunk |
| 19 June 1917 | San Giovanni Battista | Kingdom of Italy
|
32 | Sunk |
| 20 June 1917 | Ruperra | United Kingdom
|
4,232 | Sunk |
| 23 June 1917 | Jules |  France
|
49 | Sunk |
| 26 July 1917 | Mooltan | United Kingdom
|
9,621 | Sunk |
| 6 August 1917 | El Kaddra Nr. 53 | Tunisia
|
20 | Sunk |
| 7 August 1917 | Esemplare | Kingdom of Italy
|
999 | Sunk |
| 12 September 1917 | Gibraltar | United Kingdom
|
3,803 | Sunk |
| 16 September 1917 | Annina Capano | Kingdom of Italy
|
250 | Sunk |
| 17 September 1917 | Eugenio D. | Kingdom of Italy
|
99 | Sunk |
| 17 September 1917 | Muccio | Kingdom of Italy
|
137 | Sunk |
| 23 September 1917 | Joaquina |  Spain
|
69 | Sunk |
| 23 September 1917 | Medie | France
|
4,770 | Sunk |
| 26 February 1918 | Maltby | United Kingdom
|
3,977 | Sunk |
| 27 February 1918 | Machaon | United Kingdom
|
6,738 | Sunk |
| 28 February 1918 | Savoyarde | France
|
30 | Sunk |
| 4 March 1918 | Clan Macpherson | United Kingdom
|
4,779 | Sunk |
| 8 March 1918 | Ayr | United Kingdom
|
3,050 | Sunk |
| 1 May 1918 | Matiana | United Kingdom
|
5,313 | Sunk |
| 13 August 1918 | La Chaussade | France
|
4,494 | Sunk |
| 23 August 1918 | Australian Transport | United Kingdom
|
4,784 | Sunk |
| 25 August 1918 | Willingtonia | United Kingdom
|
3,228 | Sunk |
| 22 January 1919 | Torpilleur 325 |  French Navy
|
100 | Sunk |
Notes
edit- ^ "SM" stands for "Seiner Majestät" (English: His Majesty's) and combined with the U for Unterseeboot would be translated as His Majesty's Submarine.
- ^ Merchant ship tonnages are in gross register tons. Military vessels are listed by tons displacement.
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f g Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boats: UC 27". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 8 July 2015.
- ^ Tarrant, p. 173.
- ^ a b c Gröner 1991, pp. 31–32.
- ^ laiva
- ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by UC 27". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 7 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). 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.