SM UC-47
History | |
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Name | UC-47 |
Ordered | 20 November 1915[1] |
Builder | AG Weser, Bremen[2] |
Yard number | 257[1] |
Laid down | 1 February 1916[1] |
Launched | 30 August 1916[1] |
Commissioned | 13 October 1916[1] |
Fate | Rammed, depth charged and sunk by patrol boat off Flamborough Head, 18 November 1917[1] |
General characteristics [3] | |
Class and type | Type UC II submarine |
Displacement | |
Length |
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Beam |
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Draught | 3.67 m (12 ft 0 in) |
Propulsion |
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Speed |
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Range |
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Test depth | 50 m (160 ft) |
Complement | 26 |
Armament |
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Notes | 30-second diving time |
Service record | |
Part of: |
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Commanders: | |
Operations: | 13 patrols |
Victories: |
SM UC-47 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 20 November 1915, laid down on 1 February 1916, and was launched on 30 August 1916. She was commissioned into the German Imperial Navy on 13 October 1916 as SM UC-47.[Note 1] In 13 patrols UC-47 was credited with sinking 58 ships, either by torpedo or by mines laid. UC-47 was rammed and depth charged by British patrol boat P-57, under the command of H.C. Birnie, off Flamborough Head on 18 November 1917. UC-47 went down with all hands.[1][6]
Design
A Type UC II submarine, UC-47 had a displacement of 420 tonnes (410 long tons) when at the surface and 502 tonnes (494 long tons) while submerged. She had a length overall of 51.85 m (170 ft 1 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 300 metric horsepower (220 kW; 300 shp) (a total of 600 metric horsepower (440 kW; 590 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 11.7 knots (21.7 km/h; 13.5 mph) and a submerged speed of 6.7 knots (12.4 km/h; 7.7 mph). When submerged, she could operate for 54 nautical miles (100 km; 62 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph); when surfaced, she could travel 7,280 nautical miles (13,480 km; 8,380 mi) at 7 knots (13 km/h; 8.1 mph). UC-47 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[7] |
---|---|---|---|---|
31 January 1917 | Modiva | ![]() |
1,276 | Sunk |
1 February 1917 | Portia | ![]() |
1,127 | Sunk |
8 February 1917 | HMS Ghurka | ![]() |
880 | Sunk |
8 February 1917 | Lullington | ![]() |
2,816 | Sunk |
10 February 1917 | Japanese Prince | ![]() |
4,876 | Sunk |
12 February 1917 | Aghios Spyridon | ![]() |
1,618 | Sunk |
12 February 1917 | Brissons | ![]() |
60 | Sunk |
13 February 1917 | Sequoya | ![]() |
5,263 | Damaged |
13 February 1917 | F. D. Lambert | ![]() |
2,195 | Sunk |
13 February 1917 | Fleurette | ![]() |
60 | Sunk |
11 March 1917 | Charles Le Cour | ![]() |
2,352 | Sunk |
11 March 1917 | G. A. Savage | ![]() |
357 | Sunk |
12 March 1917 | C.A.S. | ![]() |
60 | Sunk |
12 March 1917 | Ena | ![]() |
56 | Sunk |
12 March 1917 | Gratia | ![]() |
37 | Sunk |
12 March 1917 | Hyacinth | ![]() |
56 | Sunk |
12 March 1917 | Inter-nos | ![]() |
59 | Sunk |
12 March 1917 | Jessamine | ![]() |
56 | Sunk |
12 March 1917 | Lent Lily | ![]() |
23 | Sunk |
12 March 1917 | Nellie | ![]() |
61 | Sunk |
12 March 1917 | Proverb | ![]() |
37 | Sunk |
12 March 1917 | Rivina | ![]() |
22 | Sunk |
14 March 1917 | Brika | ![]() |
3,549 | Sunk |
15 March 1917 | Solferino | ![]() |
1,155 | Sunk |
15 March 1917 | Wilfred | ![]() |
1,121 | Sunk |
16 March 1917 | Medusa | ![]() |
1,274 | Sunk |
16 March 1917 | Sully | ![]() |
2,649 | Sunk |
17 April 1917 | Dantzic | ![]() |
108 | Sunk |
17 April 1917 | William Shephard | ![]() |
143 | Sunk |
19 April 1917 | Old Head | ![]() |
105 | Damaged |
19 April 1917 | Gold Coast | ![]() |
4,255 | Sunk |
19 April 1917 | Jewel | ![]() |
195 | Sunk |
19 April 1917 | HMT Star of Freedom | ![]() |
258 | Sunk |
22 April 1917 | HMS Gaelic | ![]() |
224 | Damaged |
23 April 1917 | Tommi | ![]() |
138 | Damaged |
23 April 1917 | Imataka | ![]() |
1,776 | Sunk |
24 April 1917 | Heather | ![]() |
58 | Sunk |
24 April 1917 | Plutus | ![]() |
1,189 | Sunk |
26 April 1917 | Aigle | ![]() |
172 | Sunk |
26 April 1917 | John Lockett | ![]() |
842 | Sunk |
18 May 1917 | Mary Baird | ![]() |
1,830 | Sunk |
3 June 1917 | Portofino | ![]() |
1,754 | Sunk |
12 June 1917 | HMT Carew Castle | ![]() |
256 | Sunk |
14 June 1917 | Dart | ![]() |
3,207 | Sunk |
19 June 1917 | Great City | ![]() |
5,525 | Damaged |
18 July 1917 | Ruth | ![]() |
549 | Damaged |
20 July 1917 | Beatrice | ![]() |
712 | Sunk |
20 July 1917 | Bramham | ![]() |
1,978 | Sunk |
31 July 1917 | Fremona | ![]() |
3,028 | Sunk |
31 July 1917 | Motano | ![]() |
2,730 | Sunk |
22 August 1917 | Gro | ![]() |
2,667 | Sunk |
23 August 1917 | Peer Gynt | ![]() |
1,144 | Sunk |
23 August 1917 | Veghtstroom | ![]() |
1,353 | Sunk |
26 August 1917 | Eirini | ![]() |
2,452 | Sunk |
26 August 1917 | Seresia | ![]() |
2,342 | Damaged |
23 September 1917 | Perseverance | ![]() |
118 | Sunk |
24 September 1917 | Mimosa | ![]() |
296 | Damaged |
25 September 1917 | Boynton | ![]() |
2,578 | Sunk |
3 October 1917 | Annie F. Conlon | ![]() |
591 | Sunk |
18 October 1917 | Cadmus | ![]() |
1,879 | Sunk |
18 October 1917 | Togston | ![]() |
1,057 | Sunk |
9 November 1917 | Ballogie | ![]() |
1,207 | Sunk |
9 November 1917 | Isabelle | ![]() |
2,466 | Sunk |
11 November 1917 | Dana | ![]() |
1,620 | Sunk |
12 November 1917 | Huibertje | ![]() |
68 | Sunk |
14 March 1918 | Jeanne Marie | ![]() |
2,971 | Sunk |
References
Notes
- ^ "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
- ^ a b c d e f g Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boats: UC 47". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 23 February 2009.
- ^ Tarrant, p. 173.
- ^ a b c Gröner 1991, pp. 31–32.
- ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Paul Hundius (Pour le Mérite)". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
- ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Günther Wigankow". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
- ^ "Revealing a WWI drama: How modern technology is shedding new light on the horrors of submarine warfare". MSN News. Retrieved 5 Aug 2020.
- ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by UC 47". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 25 February 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. 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.