SM UB-40

Summary

SM UB-40[Note 1] was a German Type UB II submarine or U-boat in the German Imperial Navy (German: Kaiserliche Marine) during World War I.

SM UB-45 a U-boat similar to UB-40
History
German Empire
NameUB-40
Ordered22 July 1915[2]
BuilderBlohm & Voss, Hamburg[2]
Cost1,152,000 German Papiermark[3]
Yard number264[1]
Launched25 April 1916[1]
Completed18 August 1916[1]
Commissioned17 August 1916[3]
FateScuttled during the retreat from Belgium, 5 October 1918[3]
General characteristics
Class and typeGerman Type UB II submarine
Displacement
  • 274 t (270 long tons) surfaced
  • 303 t (298 long tons) submerged
Length
Beam
  • 4.37 m (14 ft 4 in) o/a
  • 3.85 m (12 ft 8 in) pressure hull
Draught3.69 m (12 ft 1 in)
Propulsion
Speed
  • 9.15 knots (16.95 km/h; 10.53 mph) surfaced
  • 5.81 knots (10.76 km/h; 6.69 mph) submerged
Range
  • 6,450 nmi (11,950 km; 7,420 mi) at 5 knots (9.3 km/h; 5.8 mph) surfaced
  • 45 nmi (83 km; 52 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph) submerged
Test depth50 m (160 ft)
Complement2 officers, 21 men
Armament
Notes42-second diving time
Service record[4]
Part of:
  • Flandern Flotilla
  • 10 March 1916 – 2 October 1918
Commanders:
  • Oblt.z.S. Karl Neumann
  • 17 August – 2 December 1916
  • Oblt.z.S. Hans Howaldt
  • 3 December 1916 – 14 December 1917
  • Oblt.z.S. Karl Dobberstein
  • 15 December 1917 – 17 May 1918
  • Oblt.z.S. Hans Joachim Emsmann
  • 18 May – 31 July 1918
Operations: 28 patrols
Victories:
  • 99 merchant ships sunk
    (129,330 GRT)
  • 1 auxiliary warship sunk
    (6,287 GRT)
  • 16 merchant ships damaged
    (60,629 GRT)
  • 1 merchant ship taken as prize
    (470 GRT)

Design edit

A German Type UB II submarine, UB-40 had a displacement of 274 tonnes (270 long tons) when at the surface and 303 tonnes (298 long tons) while submerged. She had a total length of 36.90 m (121 ft 1 in), a beam of 4.37 m (14 ft 4 in), and a draught of 3.69 m (12 ft 1 in). The submarine was powered by two Körting six-cylinder diesel engines producing a total 284 metric horsepower (280 shp; 209 kW), two Siemens-Schuckert electric motors producing 280 metric horsepower (210 kW; 280 shp), and one propeller shaft. She was capable of operating at depths of up to 50 metres (160 ft).[3]

The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 9.15 knots (16.95 km/h; 10.53 mph) and a maximum submerged speed of 5.81 knots (10.76 km/h; 6.69 mph). When submerged, she could operate for 45 nautical miles (83 km; 52 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph); when surfaced, she could travel 6,450 nautical miles (11,950 km; 7,420 mi) at 5 knots (9.3 km/h; 5.8 mph). UB-40 was fitted with two 50 centimetres (20 in) torpedo tubes, four torpedoes, and one 8.8 cm (3.5 in) Uk L/30 deck gun. She had a complement of twenty-one crew members and two officers and a 42-second dive time.[3]

Construction and career edit

The U-boat was ordered on 22 July 1915 and launched on 25 April 1916. She was commissioned into the German Imperial Navy on 17 August 1916 as SM UB-40.[Note 2]

The submarine sank 100 ships in 28 patrols. UB-40 was scuttled in Ostend when the German army retreated from Belgium on 5 October 1918.[3]

The wreck of UB-40 has been located & identified by divers in the recent years.[5]

Summary of raiding history edit

Date Name Nationality Tonnage[Note 3] Fate[6]
20 October 1916 Barbara   United Kingdom 3,740 Sunk
21 October 1916 Cock O’ the Walk   United Kingdom 111 Sunk
22 October 1916 Maris Stella   France 106 Sunk
22 October 1916 Risøy   Norway 1,129 Sunk
7 November 1916 Reime   Norway 1,913 Sunk
8 November 1916 Killellan   United Kingdom 1,971 Sunk
16 November 1916 Alphonse Marceline   Belgium 60 Sunk
16 November 1916 Vanguard   United Kingdom 142 Sunk
17 November 1916 Saint Rogatien   France 1,581 Sunk
21 November 1916 Alice   France 822 Sunk
21 November 1916 Palm Beach   United Kingdom 3,891 Damaged
22 November 1916 Houlgate   France 1,550 Sunk
22 November 1916 City of Mexico   Norway 1,511 Sunk
22 November 1916 Grenada   United Kingdom 2,268 Sunk
28 December 1916 Oldambt   Netherlands 470 Captured as prize
5 February 1917 Anna Prosper   Belgium 70 Sunk
5 February 1917 Emerald   United Kingdom 57 Sunk
21 February 1917 Alice   Norway 709 Sunk
25 February 1917 Maria Adriana   Netherlands 88 Sunk
26 February 1917 Tammerfors   Russian Empire 994 Sunk
28 February 1917 Immaculee Conception   France 36 Sunk
25 March 1917 Etoile De La Mer   France 43 Sunk
25 March 1917 Felix Faure   France 37 Sunk
25 March 1917 Louise   France 45 Sunk
25 March 1917 Marie Louise   France 34 Sunk
25 March 1917 Saint Joseph   France 35 Sunk
29 March 1917 Conoid   United Kingdom 165 Sunk
29 March 1917 Irma   France 32 Sunk
30 March 1917 Somme   United Kingdom 1,828 Sunk
15 April 1917 Möhlenpris   Norway 638 Sunk
16 April 1917 Cairndhu   United Kingdom 4,109 Sunk
16 April 1917 Victoria   United Kingdom 165 Sunk
17 April 1917 HMHS Lanfranc   Royal Navy 6,287 Sunk
19 April 1917 Limeleaf   United Kingdom 7,339 Damaged
3 May 1917 Clodmoor   United Kingdom 3,753 Sunk
15 May 1917 Cuba   United Kingdom 271 Sunk
16 May 1917 Highland Corrie   United Kingdom 7,583 Sunk
16 May 1917 Pagenturm   United Kingdom 5,000 Sunk
17 May 1917 Florence Louisa   United Kingdom 115 Sunk
20 May 1917 Porthkerry   United Kingdom 1,920 Sunk
20 May 1917 Tycho   United Kingdom 3,216 Sunk
21 May 1917 Jupiter   United Kingdom 2,124 Sunk
7 June 1917 Mahopac   United Kingdom 3,216 Damaged
7 June 1917 Oldfield Grange   United Kingdom 4,653 Damaged
8 June 1917 Phantom   United Kingdom 251 Sunk
9 June 1917 Eugene Mathilde   France 15 Sunk
9 June 1917 Francois Georgette   France 7 Sunk
10 June 1917 Henri Jeanne   France 9 Sunk
10 June 1917 Madeleine   France 7 Sunk
11 June 1917 Eustace   United Kingdom 3,995 Damaged
11 June 1917 Huntsholm   United Kingdom 2,073 Sunk
11 June 1917 Margarita   United Kingdom 2,788 Damaged
12 June 1917 Alfred   United Kingdom 130 Sunk
27 June 1917 Solway Prince   United Kingdom 317 Sunk
28 June 1917 Marguerite   France 1,544 Sunk
28 June 1917 Northfield   United Kingdom 2,099 Damaged
30 June 1917 Borgund I   Norway 764 Sunk
30 June 1917 Chateau Yquem   France 1,913 Sunk
15 July 1917 Dinorwic   United Kingdom 124 Sunk
15 July 1917 Ebenezer   United Kingdom 177 Sunk
20 July 1917 L. H. Carl   United Kingdom 1,916 Sunk
20 July 1917 Salsette   United Kingdom 5,842 Sunk
22 July 1917 Rota   United Kingdom 2,171 Sunk
12 August 1917 Marie Alfred   France 159 Sunk
12 August 1917 Pauline Louisa   France 172 Sunk
14 August 1917 Tuddal   Norway 3,511 Sunk
15 August 1917 Brodstone   United Kingdom 4,927 Sunk
16 August 1917 Eastgate   United Kingdom 4,277 Damaged
19 August 1917 Glocliffe   United Kingdom 2,211 Sunk
21 September 1917 Radaas   Denmark 2,524 Sunk
22 September 1917 Greleen   United Kingdom 2,286 Sunk
23 September 1917 Rosehill   United Kingdom 2,788 Sunk
25 September 1917 City of Swansea   United Kingdom 1,375 Sunk
19 October 1917 Wellington   United Kingdom 5,600 Damaged
24 October 1917 Gallia   Kingdom of Italy 2,728 Sunk
25 October 1917 Gefion   United Kingdom 1,123 Sunk
28 October 1917 Redesmere   United Kingdom 2,123 Sunk
17 November 1917 Abaris   United Kingdom 2,892 Damaged
17 November 1917 Western Coast   United Kingdom 1,394 Sunk
19 November 1917 Aparima   United Kingdom 5,704 Sunk
9 December 1917 Sedbergh   United Kingdom 4,275 Damaged
27 January 1918 Carolus   Norway 1,041 Sunk
29 January 1918 Butetown   United Kingdom 1,829 Sunk
20 February 1918 Huntsmoor   United Kingdom 4,957 Sunk
25 February 1918 Nyanza   United Kingdom 6,695 Damaged
16 March 1918 Author   United Kingdom 5,586 Damaged
21 March 1918 Ikeda   United Kingdom 6,311 Sunk
18 April 1918 Pentyrch   United Kingdom 3,312 Sunk
26 May 1918 Dayspring   United Kingdom 57 Sunk
26 May 1918 Eclipse   United Kingdom 47 Sunk
26 May 1918 Fortuna   United Kingdom 61 Sunk
31 May 1918 Alert   United Kingdom 59 Sunk
3 June 1918 Antiope   United Kingdom 3,004 Damaged
6 June 1918 Active   United Kingdom 57 Sunk
6 June 1918 Beryl   United Kingdom 57 Sunk
6 June 1918 Dianthus   United Kingdom 51 Sunk
29 June 1918 Grekland   Sweden 2,751 Sunk
29 June 1918 Florentia   United Kingdom 3,688 Sunk
1 July 1918 Charing Cross   United Kingdom 2,534 Sunk
2 July 1918 Admiral   United Kingdom 102 Sunk
2 July 1918 Madeleine   France 158 Damaged
2 July 1918 Nord   France 409 Sunk
7 July 1918 Aby   United Kingdom 15 Sunk
7 July 1918 Albion   United Kingdom 22 Sunk
7 July 1918 Leeds   United Kingdom 161 Damaged
26 July 1918 Boy Jack   United Kingdom 57 Sunk
26 July 1918 Godesgenage   Belgium 40 Sunk
27 July 1918 Counsellor   United Kingdom 56 Sunk
27 July 1918 Fear Not   United Kingdom 59 Sunk
27 July 1918 I’ll Try   United Kingdom 51 Sunk
27 July 1918 Kirkham Abbey   United Kingdom 1,166 Sunk
27 July 1918 Le Bijou   United Kingdom 46 Sunk
27 July 1918 Paragon   United Kingdom 56 Sunk
27 July 1918 Passion Flower   United Kingdom 46 Sunk
27 July 1918 Success   United Kingdom 54 Sunk
27 July 1918 Valour   United Kingdom 39 Sunk
28 July 1918 Francis Robert   United Kingdom 44 Sunk

References edit

Notes edit

  1. ^ "SM" stands for "Seiner Majestät" (English: His Majesty's) and combined with the U for Unterseeboot would be translated as His Majesty's Submarine.
  2. ^ "SM" stands for "Seiner Majestät" (English: His Majesty's) and combined with the U for Unterseeboot would be translated as His Majesty's Submarine.
  3. ^ Tonnages are in gross register tons

Citations edit

  1. ^ a b c Rössler 1979, p. 65.
  2. ^ a b Rössler 1979, p. 64.
  3. ^ a b c d e f Gröner 1991, pp. 23–25.
  4. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: UB 40". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 8 December 2014.
  5. ^ UB-40 (+1918) WreckSite
  6. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by UB 40". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 8 December 2014.

Bibliography edit

  • Bendert, Harald (2000). Die UB-Boote der Kaiserlichen Marine, 1914-1918. Einsätze, Erfolge, Schicksal (in German). Hamburg: Verlag E.S. Mittler & Sohn GmbH. ISBN 3-8132-0713-7.
  • 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.
  • Rössler, Eberhard (1979). Die deutschen U-Boote und ihre Werften: eine Bilddokumentation über den deutschen U-Bootbau; in zwei Bänden (in German). Vol. I. Munich: Bernard & Graefe. ISBN 3-7637-5213-7.

51°13.5′N 2°56′E / 51.2250°N 2.933°E / 51.2250; 2.933