SM UC-59

SM UC-59 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 25 March 1916, and was launched on 28 September 1916. She was commissioned into the German Imperial Navy on 12 May 1917 as SM UC-59.[Note 1] In nine patrols UC-59 was credited with sinking eight ships, either by torpedo or by mines laid. UC-59 was surrendered on 21 November 1918 and broken up at Bo'ness in 1919–20.[1]

For other ships with the same name, see German submarine U-59.
History
German Empire
Name: UC-59
Ordered: 12 January 1916[1]
Builder: Kaiserliche Werft, Danzig[2]
Yard number: 41[1]
Laid down: 25 March 1916[1]
Launched: 28 September 1916[1]
Commissioned: 12 May 1917[1]
Fate: surrendered, January 1919; broken up, 1919–20[1]
General characteristics [3]
Class and type: German Type UC II submarine
Displacement:
  • 415 t (408 long tons), surfaced
  • 498 t (490 long tons), submerged
Length:
Beam:
  • 5.22 m (17 ft 2 in) o/a
  • 3.65 m (12 ft) pressure hull
Draught: 3.61 m (11 ft 10 in)
Propulsion:
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 depth: 50 m (160 ft)
Complement: 26
Armament:
Notes: 30-second diving time
Service record
Part of:
  • Baltic Flotilla
  • 21 July – 11 December 1917
  • I Flotilla
  • 11 December 1917 – 11 November 1918
Commanders:
  • Kptlt. Herbert Lefholz[4]
  • 12 May 1917 – 26 April 1918
  • Oblt.z.S. Walter Strasser[5]
  • 27 April – 11 November 1918
Operations: 9 patrol
Victories:
  • 7 merchant ships sunk (4,891 GRT)
  • 1 merchant ship captured as a prize (1,277 GRT)
  • 1 warship sunk (330 tons)

Design

A German Type UC II submarine, UC-59 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-59 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]
20 August 1917 Ilja Muromets  Imperial Russian Navy 330 Sunk
23 February 1918 Remus  United Kingdom 1,079 Sunk
28 June 1918 Elbjorg  Norway 523 Sunk
29 June 1918 Drowning Thyra  Denmark 430 Sunk
29 June 1918 Ariadne  Norway 496 Sunk
12 July 1918 Margrete  Denmark 1,277 Captured as a prize
21 August 1918 Hecla  Norway 860 Sunk
21 August 1918 Loeke  Norway 319 Sunk
24 August 1918 Auckland Castle  United Kingdom 1,084 Sunk

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. Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boats: UC 59". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 23 February 2009.
  2. Tarrant, p. 173.
  3. Gröner 1991, pp. 31-32.
  4. Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Herbert Lefholz". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 2 March 2015.
  5. Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Walter Strasser". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 2 March 2015.
  6. Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by UC 59". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 2 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.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • 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.CS1 maint: extra text: authors list (link)
  • 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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