SM UC-56

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For other ships with the same name, see German submarine U-56.
German UC-56 U-boat (27858471034).jpg
The damaged UC-56 at Santander, Spain, on 24 May 1918.
History
German Empire
NameUC-56
Ordered12 January 1916[1]
BuilderKaiserliche Werft, Danzig[2]
Yard number38[1]
Laid down4 March 1916[1]
Launched26 August 1916[1]
Commissioned18 December 1916[1]
Fateinterned at Santander, Spain, 24 May 1918[1]
General characteristics [3]
Class and typeGerman Type UC II submarine
Displacement
  • 415 t (408 long tons), surfaced
  • 498 t (490 long tons), submerged
Length
  • 52.69 m (172 ft 10 in) o/a
  • 40.96 m (134 ft 5 in) pressure hull
Beam
  • 5.22 m (17 ft 2 in) o/a
  • 3.65 m (12 ft) pressure hull
Draught3.61 m (11 ft 10 in)
Propulsion
  • 2 × propeller shafts
  • 2 × 6-cylinder, 4-stroke diesel engines, 580–600 PS (430–440 kW; 570–590 shp)
  • 2 × electric motors, 620 PS (460 kW; 610 shp)
Speed
  • 11.6 knots (21.5 km/h; 13.3 mph), surfaced
  • 7.3 knots (13.5 km/h; 8.4 mph), submerged
Range
  • 8,660–9,450 nmi (16,040–17,500 km; 9,970–10,870 mi) at 7 knots (13 km/h; 8.1 mph) surfaced
  • 52 nmi (96 km; 60 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph) submerged
Test depth50 meters (160 ft)
Complement26
Armament
Notes30-second diving time
Service record
Part of:
  • Baltic Flotilla
  • 20 August – 10 December 1917
  • Flandern Flotilla
  • 10 December 1917 – 24 May 1918
Commanders:
  • Kptlt. Johannes Remy[4]
  • 18 December 1916 – 31 January 1917
  • Oblt.z.S. Wilhelm Kiesewetter[5]
  • 1 February 1917 – 24 May 1918
Operations: 6 patrols
Victories: 1 hospital ship sunk (6,824 GRT)

SM UC-56 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 12 January 1916, laid down on 4 March 1916, and was launched on 26 August 1916. She was commissioned into the German Imperial Navy on 18 December 1916 as SM UC-56.[Note 1] In six patrols UC-56 was credited with sinking one ship by torpedo: the British hospital ship Glenart Castle. UC-56 suffered from mechanical breakdowns that prevented her from submerging. She put in at Santander, Spain, on 24 May 1918 and was interned there for the duration of the war.[1]

Design[]

A German Type UC II submarine, UC-56 had a displacement of 415 tonnes (408 long tons) when at the surface and 498 tonnes (490 long tons) while submerged. She had a length overall of 50.52 m (165 ft 9 in), a beam of 5.22 m (17 ft 2 in), and a draught of 3.61 m (11 ft 10 in). The submarine was powered by two six-cylinder four-stroke diesel engines each producing 290–300 metric horsepower (210–220 kW; 290–300 shp) (a total of 580–600 metric horsepower (430–440 kW; 570–590 shp)), two electric motors producing 620 metric horsepower (460 kW; 610 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 7.3 knots (13.5 km/h; 8.4 mph). When submerged, she could operate for 52 nautical miles (96 km; 60 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph); when surfaced, she could travel 8,660 to 9,450 nautical miles (16,040 to 17,500 km; 9,970 to 10,870 mi) at 7 knots (13 km/h; 8.1 mph). UC-56 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[6]
26 February 1918 HMHS Glenart Castle  Royal Navy 6,824 Sunk
Surrendered U-boats U-108 and UC-56, in Brest docks in 1918, turned over to the French under armistice terms, UC-56 in the foreground.)

References[]

Notes[]

  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. ^ Merchant ship tonnages are in gross register tons. Military vessels are listed by tons displacement.

Citations[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boats: UC 56". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 23 February 2009.
  2. ^ Tarrant, p. 173.
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b c Gröner 1991, pp. 31–32.
  4. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Johannes Remy". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 1 March 2015.
  5. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Wilhelm Kiesewetter". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 1 March 2015.
  6. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by UC 56". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 1 March 2015.

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. 2. Translated by Thomas, Keith; Magowan, Rachel. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-593-4.
  • Gardiner, Robert, ed. (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.
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