SM UB-41[Note 1] was a German Type UB II submarine or U-boat in the German Imperial Navy (German: Kaiserliche Marine) during World War I.
 SM UB-45 a U-boat similar to UB-41
| |
| History | |
|---|---|
 German Empire | |
| Name | UB-41 |
| Ordered | 22 July 1915[1] |
| Builder | Blohm & Voss, Hamburg[1] |
| Cost | 1,152,000 German Papiermark[2] |
| Yard number | 265[3] |
| Launched | 6 May 1916[3] |
| Completed | 25 August 1916[3] |
| Commissioned | 25 August 1916[2] |
| Fate | Sunk by mine 5 October 1917[2] |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Type UB II submarine |
| Displacement | |
| Length |
|
| Beam |
|
| Draught | 3.69 m (12 ft 1 in) |
| Propulsion |
|
| Speed |
|
| Range |
|
| Test depth | 50 m (160 ft) |
| Complement | 2 officers, 21 men |
| Armament |
|
| Notes | 42-second diving time |
| Service record | |
| Part of: |
|
| Commanders: | |
| Operations: | 13 patrols |
| Victories: | |
Design
editA Type UB II submarine, UB-41 had a displacement of 274 tonnes (270 long tons) when at the surface and 303 tonnes (298 long tons) while submerged. She had a total length of 36.90 m (121 ft 1 in), a beam of 4.37 m (14 ft 4 in), and a draught of 3.69 m (12 ft 1 in). The submarine was powered by two Körting six-cylinder diesel engines producing a total 284 metric horsepower (280 shp; 209 kW), two Siemens-Schuckert electric motors producing 280 metric horsepower (210 kW; 280 shp), and one propeller shaft. She was capable of operating at depths of up to 50 metres (160 ft).[2]
The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 9.15 knots (16.95 km/h; 10.53 mph) and a maximum submerged speed of 5.81 knots (10.76 km/h; 6.69 mph). When submerged, she could operate for 45 nautical miles (83 km; 52 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph); when surfaced, she could travel 6,450 nautical miles (11,950 km; 7,420 mi) at 5 knots (9.3 km/h; 5.8 mph). UB-41 was fitted with two 50 centimetres (20 in) torpedo tubes, four torpedoes, and one 8.8 cm (3.5 in) Uk L/30 deck gun. She had a complement of twenty-one crew members and two officers and a 42-second dive time.[2]
Construction and career
editThe U-boat was ordered on 22 July 1915 and launched on 6 May 1916. She was commissioned into the German Imperial Navy on 25 August 1916 as SM UB-41.
The submarine sank eight ships in thirteen patrols. They included the William Cory and Son collier SS Harrow, which UB-41 torpedoed in the North Sea off Robin Hood's Bay on 8 September 1917. UB-41 was reported missing on 5 October 1917. The same day, a large explosion was observed from the coast at Scarborough, England. The case of her loss was either an internal explosion, or she struck a mine, possibly a German one, and sank in the North Sea on 5 October 1917.[2][7]
Her wrecksite was discovered in 1989 and surveyed in 1997 and 2003. The vessel is broken into two sections, at degree angles laying on the starboard side, and showing signs of impact damage.[8]
Summary of raiding history
edit| Date | Name | Nationality | Tonnage[Note 2] | Fate[9] |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21 November 1916 | Thyholmen |  Norway
|
259 | Captured as prize |
| 18 January 1917 | Cetus |  United Kingdom
|
139 | Damaged |
| 19 April 1917 | Ellida | Norway
|
1,124 | Sunk |
| 22 May 1917 | Lanthorn | United Kingdom
|
2,299 | Sunk |
| 23 May 1917 | Monarch | Norway
|
1,318 | Sunk |
| 12 June 1917 | Alwyn | United Kingdom
|
73 | Sunk |
| 13 June 1917 | Silverburn | United Kingdom
|
284 | Sunk |
| 14 June 1917 | Angantyr |  Denmark
|
1,359 | Sunk |
| 6 August 1917 | Talisman | United Kingdom
|
153 | Sunk |
| 8 September 1917 | Harrow | United Kingdom
|
1,777 | Sunk |
| 3 October 1917 | Clydebrae | United Kingdom
|
502 | Damaged |
References
editNotes
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.
- ^ Tonnages are in gross register tons
Citations
edit- ^ a b Rössler 1979, p. 64.
- ^ a b c d e f Gröner 1991, pp. 23–25.
- ^ a b c Rössler 1979, p. 65.
- ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Friedrich Karl Sichart von Sichartshofen". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 2 February 2015.
- ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Günther Krause". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 2 February 2015.
- ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Max Ploen". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 2 February 2015.
- ^ Howell & Croce 2013, p. 4.
- ^ Howell & Croce 2013, p. 5.
- ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by UB 41". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 2 February 2015.
Bibliography
edit- Bendert, Harald (2000). Die UB-Boote der Kaiserlichen Marine, 1914-1918. Einsätze, Erfolge, Schicksal (in German). Hamburg: Verlag E.S. Mittler & Sohn GmbH. ISBN 3-8132-0713-7.
- 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.
- Howell, D; Croce, Paulo (November 2013). Archaeological Services in Relation to Marine DesignationUB-41 and UB-75, off Robin Hood's Bay (PDF). research.historicengland.org.uk (Report). Salisbury: Wessex Archaeology (for English Heritage). Retrieved 9 December 2020.
- Rössler, Eberhard (1979). Die deutschen U-Boote und ihre Werften: eine Bilddokumentation über den deutschen U-Bootbau; in zwei Bänden (in German). Vol. I. Munich: Bernard & Graefe. ISBN 3-7637-5213-7.