For other ships named German submarine U-78, see German submarine U-78 (disambiguation).
UC-78
CountryGerman Empire
Ordered12 January 1916[1]
BuilderAG Vulcan, Hamburg[2]
Yard number83[1]
Launched8 December 1916[1]
Commissioned10 January 1917[1]
FateRammed and sunk, 9 May 1918[1]
SM UC-78
ClassType UC II submarine
Displacement
  • 410 t (400 long tons), surfaced
  • 493 t (485 long tons), submerged
Length
Beam
  • 5.22 m (17 ft 2 in) o/a
  • 3.65 m (12 ft) pressure hull
Draught3.65 m (12 ft)
Propulsion
Speed
  • 11.8 knots (21.9 km/h; 13.6 mph), surfaced
  • 7.3 knots (13.5 km/h; 8.4 mph), submerged
Range
  • 8,660–10,230 nmi (16,040–18,950 km; 9,970–11,770 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 m (160 ft)
Complement26
Armament
Notes30-second diving time
SM UC-78
Partof
  • Baltic Flotilla
  • 10 January 1917 – 18 January 1918
  • Flandern I Flotilla
  • 18 January – 9 May 1918
Commanders
  • Oblt.z.S. / Kptlt. Hans Kukat[3]
  • 10 January 1917 – 15 January 1918
  • Oblt.z.S. Werner Löwe[4]
  • 16 – 18 January 1918
  • Kptlt. Hans Kukat[3]
  • 19 January – 9 May 1918
Operations12 patrols
Victories
  • 1 warship sunk
    (350 tons)
  • 1 merchant ship damaged
    ()

SM UC-78 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 and was launched on 8 December 1916. She was commissioned into the German Imperial Navy on 10 January 1917 as SM UC-78.[Note 1] In twelve patrols UC-78 was credited with sinking 1 warship, either by torpedo or by mines laid. UC-78 was rammed and sunk by the British steamer Queen Alexandra west of Cherbourg on 9 May 1918.[1]

Design

A Type UC II submarine, UC-78 had a displacement of 410 tonnes (400 long tons) when at the surface and 493 tonnes (485 long tons) while submerged. She had a length overall of 50.45 m (165 ft 6 in), a beam of 5.22 m (17 ft 2 in), and a draught of 3.65 m (12 ft). The submarine was powered by two six-cylinder four-stroke diesel engines each producing 290–300 metric horsepower (210–220 kW; 290–300 hp) (a total of 580–600 metric horsepower (430–440 kW; 570–590 hp)), two electric motors producing 620 metric horsepower (460 kW; 610 hp), and two propeller shafts. She had a dive time of 30 seconds and was capable of operating at a depth of 50 metres (160 ft).[5]

The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 11.8 knots (21.9 km/h; 13.6 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 8660 to 10230 nmi at 7 knots (13 km/h; 8.1 mph). UC-78 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.[5]

Summary of raiding history

DateNameNationalityTonnage[Note 2]Fate[6]
12 August 1917Russian destroyer Leytenant Burakov350Sunk
4 April 1918EustratiosGreece1,481Damaged

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. ^ UC+78. Retrieved 23 February 2009.
  2. ^ Tarrant, p. 173.
  3. ^ 164. Retrieved 4 March 2015.
  4. ^ 185. Retrieved 4 March 2015.
  5. ^ Gröner 1991, pp. 31–32.
  6. ^ uc78. 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.
  • Gröner, Erich; Jung, Dieter; Maass, Martin (1991). U-boats and Mine Warfare Vessels. Vol. 2. German Warships 1815–1945. Translated by Thomas, Keith & Magowan, Rachel. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-593-4.
  • Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1906–1921. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. 1985. 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