SM UC-22

SM UC-22 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 1 February 1916. She was commissioned into the German Imperial Navy on 30 June 1916 as SM UC-22.[Note 1] In 15 patrols UC-22 was credited with sinking 23 ships, either by torpedo or by mines laid. UC-22 was surrendered to France on 3 February 1919 and was broken up at Landerneau in July 1921.[1]

For other ships with the same name, see German submarine U-22.
History
German Empire
NameUC-22
Ordered29 August 1915[1]
BuilderBlohm & Voss, Hamburg[2]
Yard number272[1]
Launched1 February 1916[1]
Commissioned30 June 1916[1]
FateSurrendered, 3 February 1919; broken up, July 1921[1]
General characteristics [3]
Class and typeGerman Type UC II submarine
Displacement
  • 417 t (410 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
Draught3.68 m (12 ft 1 in)
Propulsion
Speed
  • 11.6 knots (21.5 km/h; 13.3 mph), surfaced
  • 7.0 knots (13.0 km/h; 8.1 mph), submerged
Range
  • 9,430 nmi (17,460 km; 10,850 mi) at 7 knots (13 km/h; 8.1 mph) surfaced
  • 55 nmi (102 km; 63 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph) submerged
Test depth50 m (160 ft)
Complement26
Armament
Notes35-second diving time
Service record
Part of:
  • Pola / Mittelmeer / Mittelmeer II Flotilla
  • 12 October 1916 – 11 November 1918
Commanders:
  • Oblt.z.S. Heino von Heimburg[4]
  • 1 July 1916 – 13 July 1917
  • Oblt.z.S. Erich Wiesenbach[5]
  • 14 July – 16 October 1917
  • Oblt.z.S. Carl Bünte[6]
  • 1 January – 16 May 1918
  • Oblt.z.S. Eberhard Weichold[7]
  • 17 May – 29 November 1918
Operations: 15 patrols
Victories:
  • 20 merchant ships sunk
    (38,141 GRT)
  • 1 warship sunk
    (414 tons)
  • 2 auxiliary warships sunk
    (3,210 GRT)
  • 3 merchant ships damaged
    (14,012 GRT)

Design

Like all pre-UC-25 German Type UC II submarines, UC-22 had a displacement of 417 tonnes (410 long tons) when at the surface and 493 tonnes (485 long tons) while submerged. She had a length overall of 49.35 m (161 ft 11 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 250 metric horsepower (180 kW; 250 shp) (a total of 500 metric horsepower (370 kW; 490 shp)), two electric motors producing 460 metric horsepower (340 kW; 450 shp), and two propeller shafts. She had a dive time of 35 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 knots (13 km/h; 8.1 mph). When submerged, she could operate for 55 nautical miles (102 km; 63 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph); when surfaced, she could travel 9,430 nautical miles (17,460 km; 10,850 mi) at 7 knots (13 km/h; 8.1 mph). UC-22 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[8]
28 September 1916 Emma  Russian Empire 279 Sunk
29 November 1916 Luciston  United Kingdom 2,948 Sunk
1 December 1916 Burcombe  United Kingdom 3,516 Sunk
4 December 1916 Algerie  France 4,035 Sunk
28 December 1916 Oronsay  United Kingdom 3,761 Sunk
30 December 1916 Apsleyhall  United Kingdom 3,882 Sunk
1 January 1917 Baycraig  United Kingdom 3,761 Sunk
27 February 1917 Bellorado  United Kingdom 4,649 Damaged
3 April 1917 Cloughton  United Kingdom 4,221 Damaged
3 April 1917 Oberon  United Kingdom 5,142 Damaged
5 April 1917 Agia  Greece 20 Sunk
5 April 1917 Evangelistria  Greece 29 Sunk
5 April 1917 Kyriotis  Greece 19 Sunk
17 June 1917 Aghios Georgios  Greece 16 Sunk
20 June 1917 Ariane  French Navy 414 Sunk
31 July 1917 Regina  Greece 70 Sunk
3 August 1917 San Nicola  Kingdom of Italy 30 Sunk
14 August 1917 Julita  Spain 641 Sunk
22 August 1917 Golo II  French Navy 1,380 Sunk
20 January 1918 HMS Louvain  Royal Navy 1,830 Sunk, 224 killed
25 January 1918 Aghios Dimitrios  Greece 50 Sunk
16 April 1918 Romania  Kingdom of Italy 2,562 Sunk
13 June 1918 Octo  Norway 1,620 Sunk
9 August 1918 Girolamo Ciolino  Kingdom of Italy 58 Sunk
10 August 1918 Polynesien  France 6,373 Sunk
27 August 1918 Pampa  France 4,471 Sunk, 117 killed

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 22". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 22 February 2009.
  2. Tarrant, p. 173.
  3. Gröner 1991, pp. 31–32.
  4. Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Heino von Heimburg (Pour le Mérite)". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 15 February 2015.
  5. Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Erich Wiesenbach". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 15 February 2015.
  6. Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Carl Bünte". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 15 February 2015.
  7. Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Eberhard Weichold". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 15 February 2015.
  8. Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by UC 22". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 15 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.
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