SM UB-58

Summary

SM UB-58 was a German Type UB III submarine or U-boat in the German Imperial Navy (German: Kaiserliche Marine) during World War I. She was commissioned into the Flanders Flotilla of the German Imperial Navy on 10 August 1917 as SM UB-58.[Note 1]

UB-148 at sea, a U-boat similar to UB-58.
History
German Empire
NameUB-58
Ordered20 May 1916[2]
BuilderAG Weser, Bremen
Yard number270
Laid down13 September 1916[3]
Launched5 July 1917[1]
Commissioned10 August 1917[1]
FateSunk 10 March 1918 at 50°58′N 01°14′E / 50.967°N 1.233°E / 50.967; 1.233 by a mine, 35 dead[1]
General characteristics [1]
Class and typeGerman Type UB III submarine
Displacement
  • 516 t (508 long tons) surfaced
  • 646 t (636 long tons; 712 short tons) submerged
Length55.85 m (183 ft 3 in) (o/a)
Beam5.80 m (19 ft)
Draught3.72 m (12 ft 2 in)
Propulsion
Speed
  • 13.4 knots (24.8 km/h; 15.4 mph) surfaced
  • 7.8 knots (14.4 km/h; 9.0 mph) submerged
Range
  • 9,020 nmi (16,710 km; 10,380 mi) at 6 knots (11 km/h; 6.9 mph) surfaced
  • 55 nmi (102 km; 63 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph) submerged
Test depth50 m (160 ft)
Complement3 officers, 31 men[1]
Armament
Service record
Part of:
  • Flandern I Flotilla
  • 15 October 1917 – 10 March 1918
Commanders:
  • Oblt.z.S. / Kptlt. Werner Fürbringer[4]
  • 10 August 1917 – 7 February 1918
  • Oblt.z.S. Werner Löwe[5]
  • 8 February – 10 March 1918
Operations: 6 patrols
Victories: 8 merchant ships sunk
(8,198 GRT)

She operated as part of the Flanders Flotilla based in Zeebrugge. UB-58 was sunk at 04:15 on 10 March 1918 at 50°58′N 01°14′E / 50.967°N 1.233°E / 50.967; 1.233 after striking a mine, with 35 crew members losing their lives.[1]

Construction edit

She was built by AG Weser, Bremen and following just under a year of construction, launched at Bremen on 10 July 1917. UB-58 was commissioned later that same year . Like all Type UB III submarines, UB-58 carried 10 torpedoes and was armed with a 8.8 cm (3.46 in) deck gun. UB-58 would carry a crew of up to three officers and 31 men and had a cruising range of 9,020 nautical miles (16,710 km; 10,380 mi). UB-58 had a displacement of 516 t (508 long tons) while surfaced and 646 t (636 long tons; 712 short tons) when submerged. Her engines enabled her to travel at 13.4 knots (24.8 km/h; 15.4 mph) when surfaced and 7.8 knots (14.4 km/h; 9.0 mph) when submerged.


Summary of raiding history edit

Date Name Nationality Tonnage[Note 2] Fate[6]
13 October 1917 Bethel   Norway 257 Sunk
13 October 1917 Esmeralda   Sweden 830 Sunk
19 November 1917 Minnie Coles   United Kingdom 116 Sunk
19 December 1917 Saint Andre   France 2,457 Sunk
22 December 1917 Clan Cameron   United Kingdom 3,595 Sunk
22 December 1917 Start   Norway 728 Sunk
26 January 1918 Louie Bell   United Kingdom 118 Sunk
28 January 1918 W. H. L.   United Kingdom 97 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. ^ Tonnages are in gross register tons

Citations edit

  1. ^ a b c d e f Gröner 1991, pp. 25–30.
  2. ^ Rössler 1979, p. 55.
  3. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boats: UB 58". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 26 July 2014.
  4. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Werner Fürbringer (Royal House Order of Hohenzollern)". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 3 February 2015.
  5. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Werner Löwe". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 3 February 2015.
  6. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by UB 58". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 3 February 2015.

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.