Summary
SM UC-29 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 15 July 1916. She was commissioned into the German Imperial Navy on 15 August 1916 as SM UC-29.[1][Note 1] In an eight-month career, the UC-29 performed seven combat patrols into the Atlantic Ocean during the German war on Allied trade (Handelskrieg). In these patrols she was very successful, sinking 18 allied ships, totalling 21,909 GRT. She also damaged 4 ships of 17,154 GRT. On 7 June 1917 she torpedoed the British Q-ship HMS Pargust off the Irish coast, but was ambushed by her hidden armaments when she approached too close and was sunk with 23 hands. Pargust was commanded by British submarine hunter Gordon Campbell and had on board Ronald Niel Stuart and William Williams, who were awarded the Victoria Cross for their actions in the engagement.
 The U-boat (SM UC-29) never recovered from the surprise (attack by HMS Pargust)
| |
| History | |
|---|---|
 German Empire | |
| Name | UC-29 |
| Ordered | 29 August 1915[1] |
| Builder | AG Vulcan, Hamburg[2] |
| Yard number | 68[1] |
| Launched | 15 July 1916[1] |
| Commissioned | 15 August 1916[1] |
| Fate | Sunk by British Q ship, 7 June 1917[1] |
| General characteristics [3] | |
| Class and type | German 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 | |
| Part of: |
|
| Commanders: |
|
| Operations: | 7 patrols |
| Victories: | |
Her wreck lies in Cork Harbour, Ireland.[5]
Design edit
A German Type UC II submarine, UC-29 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 260 metric horsepower (190 kW; 260 shp) (a total of 520 metric horsepower (380 kW; 510 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 6.7 knots (12.4 km/h; 7.7 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 9,410 nautical miles (17,430 km; 10,830 mi) at 7 knots (13 km/h; 8.1 mph). UC-29 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[6] |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17 November 1916 | Canganian |  United Kingdom
|
1,143 | Sunk |
| 23 January 1917 | Clan Shaw | United Kingdom
|
3,943 | Sunk |
| 24 January 1917 | Sunniva |  Norway
|
589 | Sunk |
| 5 February 1917 | Primrose | United Kingdom
|
136 | Sunk |
| 9 February 1917 | HMT Yesso |  Royal Navy
|
229 | Sunk |
| 10 February 1917 | San Fraterno | United Kingdom
|
9,587 | Damaged |
| 11 February 1917 | Norwood | United Kingdom
|
798 | Sunk |
| 11 February 1917 | Roanoke | United Kingdom
|
3,455 | Damaged |
| 1 March 1917 | Herbert Ingram | United Kingdom
|
142 | Sunk |
| 1 March 1917 | Redcap | United Kingdom
|
199 | Sunk |
| 3 March 1917 | HMT Northumbria | Royal Navy
|
211 | Sunk |
| 14 March 1917 | Storaas | Norway
|
3,041 | Sunk |
| 24 April 1917 | Upton Castle | United Kingdom
|
145 | Sunk |
| 27 April 1917 | Nidelven | Norway
|
1,262 | Sunk |
| 27 April 1917 | Ragnhild | Norway
|
1,117 | Sunk |
| 29 April 1917 | Carbo I |  Denmark
|
1,385 | Sunk |
| 1 May 1917 | Firelight | United Kingdom
|
1,143 | Sunk |
| 3 June 1917 | Elisabeth |  France
|
2,061 | Sunk |
| 3 June 1917 | HMS Mavis | Royal Navy
|
1,295 | Damaged |
| 4 June 1917 | Songvand | Norway
|
2,206 | Sunk |
| 7 June 1917 | HMS Pargust | Royal Navy
|
2,817 | Damaged |
| 3 August 1917 | Hornchurch | United Kingdom
|
2,159 | Sunk |
References edit
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.
Citations edit
- ^ a b c d e f Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boats: UC 29". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 22 February 2009.
- ^ Tarrant, p. 173.
- ^ a b c Gröner 1991, pp. 31–32.
- ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Ernst Rosenow". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 16 February 2015.
- ^ [Irish Wrecks Online http://www.irishwrecksonline.net/Lists/CorkListC.htm]
- ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by UC 29". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 16 February 2015.
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.