SM UC-29

SM UC-29 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 15 July 1916. She was commissioned into the German Imperial Navy on 15 August 1916 as SM UC-29.[1][Note 1] In an eight-month career, the UC-29 performed seven combat patrols into the Atlantic Ocean during the German war on Allied trade (Handelskrieg). In these patrols she was very successful, sinking 18 allied ships, totalling 21,909 GRT. She also damaged 4 ships of 17,154 GRT. On 7 June 1917 she torpedoed the British Q-ship HMS Pargust off the Irish coast, but was ambushed by her hidden armaments when she approached too close and was sunk with 23 hands. Pargust was commanded by British submarine hunter Gordon Campbell and had on board Ronald Niel Stuart and William Williams, who were awarded the Victoria Cross for their actions in the engagement.

For other ships with the same name, see German submarine U-29.
The U-boat (SM UC-29) never recovered from the surprise (attack by HMS Pargust)
History
German Empire
NameUC-29
Ordered29 August 1915[1]
BuilderAG Vulcan, Hamburg[2]
Yard number68[1]
Launched15 July 1916[1]
Commissioned15 August 1916[1]
FateSunk by British Q ship, 7 June 1917[1]
General characteristics [3]
Class and typeGerman Type UC II submarine
Displacement
  • 400 t (390 long tons), surfaced
  • 480 t (470 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
  • 6.7 knots (12.4 km/h; 7.7 mph), submerged
Range
  • 9,410 nmi (17,430 km; 10,830 mi) at 7 knots (13 km/h; 8.1 mph), surfaced
  • 53 nmi (98 km; 61 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph), submerged
Test depth50 m (160 ft)
Complement26
Armament
Notes48-second diving time
Service record
Part of:
  • I Flotilla
  • 19 October 1916 – 7 June 1917
Commanders:
  • Oblt.z.S. Ernst Rosenow[4]
  • 15 August 1916 – 7 June 1917
Operations: 7 patrols
Victories:
  • 16 merchant ships sunk
    (21,469 GRT)
  • 2 auxiliary warships sunk
    (440 GRT)
  • 2 merchant ships damaged
    (13,042 GRT)
  • 2 auxiliary warships damaged
    (4,112 GRT)

Her wreck lies in Cork Harbour, Ireland.[5]

Design

A German Type UC II submarine, UC-29 had a displacement of 400 tonnes (390 long tons) when at the surface and 480 tonnes (470 long tons) while submerged. She had a length overall of 49.45 m (162 ft 3 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 260 metric horsepower (190 kW; 260 shp) (a total of 520 metric horsepower (380 kW; 510 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 11.6 knots (21.5 km/h; 13.3 mph) and a submerged speed of 6.7 knots (12.4 km/h; 7.7 mph). When submerged, she could operate for 53 nautical miles (98 km; 61 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph); when surfaced, she could travel 9,410 nautical miles (17,430 km; 10,830 mi) at 7 knots (13 km/h; 8.1 mph). UC-29 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]
17 November 1916 Canganian  United Kingdom 1,143 Sunk
23 January 1917 Clan Shaw  United Kingdom 3,943 Sunk
24 January 1917 Sunniva  Norway 589 Sunk
5 February 1917 Primrose  United Kingdom 136 Sunk
9 February 1917 HMT Yesso  Royal Navy 229 Sunk
10 February 1917 San Fraterno  United Kingdom 9,587 Damaged
11 February 1917 Norwood  United Kingdom 798 Sunk
11 February 1917 Roanoke  United Kingdom 3,455 Damaged
1 March 1917 Herbert Ingram  United Kingdom 142 Sunk
1 March 1917 Redcap  United Kingdom 199 Sunk
3 March 1917 HMT Northumbria  Royal Navy 211 Sunk
14 March 1917 Storaas  Norway 3,041 Sunk
24 April 1917 Upton Castle  United Kingdom 145 Sunk
27 April 1917 Nidelven  Norway 1,262 Sunk
27 April 1917 Ragnhild  Norway 1,117 Sunk
29 April 1917 Carbo I  Denmark 1,385 Sunk
1 May 1917 Firelight  United Kingdom 1,143 Sunk
3 June 1917 Elisabeth  France 2,061 Sunk
3 June 1917 HMS Mavis  Royal Navy 1,295 Damaged
4 June 1917 Songvand  Norway 2,206 Sunk
7 June 1917 HMS Pargust  Royal Navy 2,817 Damaged
3 August 1917 Hornchurch  United Kingdom 2,159 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 29". 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: Ernst Rosenow". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 16 February 2015.
  5. [Irish Wrecks Online http://www.irishwrecksonline.net/Lists/CorkListC.htm]
  6. Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by UC 29". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 16 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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