SM UC-23
History | |
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Name | UC-23 |
Ordered | 29 August 1915[1] |
Builder | Blohm & Voss, Hamburg[2] |
Yard number | 273[1] |
Launched | 29 February 1916[1] |
Commissioned | 17 July 1916[1] |
Fate | Surrendered, 25 November 1918; broken up, August 1921[1] |
General characteristics [3] | |
Class and type | Type UC II submarine |
Displacement | |
Length |
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Beam |
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Draught | 3.68 m (12 ft 1 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 | 35-second diving time |
Service record | |
Part of: |
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Commanders: | |
Operations: | 17 patrols |
Victories: |
SM UC-23 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 29 February 1916. She was commissioned into the German Imperial Navy on 17 July 1916 as SM UC-23.[Note 1] In 17 patrols UC-23 was credited with sinking 46 ships, either by torpedo or by mines laid. UC-23 was surrendered at Sevastopol on 25 November 1918 and broken up at Bizerta in August 1921.[1]
Design
[edit]Like all pre-UC-25 Type UC II submarines, UC-23 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-23 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
[edit]Date | Name | Nationality | Tonnage[Note 2] | Fate[7] |
---|---|---|---|---|
29 November 1916 | Minnewaska | ![]() | 14,317 | Sunk |
31 December 1916 | Venus | ![]() | 281 | Sunk |
21 February 1917 | HMS Princess Alberta | ![]() | 1,586 | Sunk |
10 June 1917 | Kleopatra | ![]() | 160 | Sunk |
13 June 1917 | Aghios Nicolaos | ![]() | 120 | Sunk |
14 June 1917 | New Zealand Transport | ![]() | 4,481 | Sunk |
18 June 1917 | Pannomitis | ![]() | 11 | Sunk |
18 June 1917 | Xiphias | ![]() | 483 | Sunk |
19 June 1917 | Jakobus | ![]() | 304 | Sunk |
19 June 1917 | Maria | ![]() | 35 | Sunk |
19 June 1917 | Raxiarchos | ![]() | 30 | Sunk |
2 August 1917 | HMS Ermine | ![]() | 1,777 | Sunk |
6 September 1917 | HMT Helgian | ![]() | 220 | Sunk |
7 September 1917 | HMT By George | ![]() | 225 | Sunk |
21 September 1917 | Santo Nicola | ![]() | 159 | Sunk |
21 September 1917 | Spiridon | ![]() | 128 | Sunk |
23 September 1917 | Nicolaos | ![]() | 104 | Sunk |
19 January 1918 | Trocas | ![]() | 4,129 | Sunk |
22 January 1918 | Evangelistria | ![]() | 21 | Sunk |
23 January 1918 | Birkhall | ![]() | 4,541 | Sunk |
24 January 1918 | Aghia Arene | ![]() | 16 | Sunk |
24 January 1918 | Aghios Johannes | ![]() | 14 | Sunk |
20 February 1918 | Hagios Nicolaos | ![]() | 18 | Sunk |
20 February 1918 | Maria Archis | ![]() | 13 | Sunk |
20 February 1918 | Taxi Arches | ![]() | 3 | Sunk |
23 February 1918 | Aspasia | ![]() | 105 | Sunk |
28 February 1918 | Hagios Triast | ![]() | 22 | Sunk |
11 April 1918 | Trud | ![]() | 610 | Captured as prize |
14 April 1918 | Unidentified lighter | ![]() | 100 | Sunk |
14 April 1918 | Kazak | ![]() | 622 | Captured as prize |
14 April 1918 | Olga | ![]() | 327 | Captured as prize |
15 April 1918 | Rostov | ![]() | 1,280 | Sunk |
3 October 1918 | Blasios | ![]() | 181 | Sunk |
3 October 1918 | Evangelistria | ![]() | 35 | Damaged |
5 October 1918 | Hagios Marcos | ![]() | 45 | Sunk |
5 October 1918 | Maria | ![]() | 2,159 | Sunk |
5 October 1918 | Marigo | ![]() | 48 | Sunk |
5 October 1918 | Reventazon | ![]() | 4,050 | Sunk |
13 October 1918 | Aghion Spiridon | ![]() | 21 | Sunk |
13 October 1918 | Aghios Georgios | ![]() | 130 | Sunk |
13 October 1918 | Biolleta | ![]() | 99 | Sunk |
13 October 1918 | Evangelistria | ![]() | 41 | Sunk |
13 October 1918 | Evangelistrios | ![]() | 121 | Sunk |
13 October 1918 | Glaros | ![]() | 43 | Sunk |
13 October 1918 | Iphigenia | ![]() | 75 | Sunk |
13 October 1918 | Panaghia | ![]() | 26 | Sunk |
13 October 1918 | Urania | ![]() | 23 | Sunk |
15 October 1918 | Evangelistria | ![]() | 24 | Sunk |
15 October 1918 | Georgios | ![]() | 29 | Sunk |
15 October 1918 | Maria | ![]() | 43 | Sunk |
References
[edit]Notes
[edit]- ^ "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
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boats: UC 23". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 22 February 2009.
- ^ Tarrant, p. 173.
- ^ a b c Gröner 1991, pp. 31–32.
- ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Johannes Kirchner". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 15 February 2015.
- ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Freiherr Volkhard von Bothmer". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 15 February 2015.
- ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Hans Georg Lübbe". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 15 February 2015.
- ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by UC 23". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 15 February 2015.
Bibliography
[edit]- 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.