SM UC-43[Note 1] 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 20 November 1915 and was launched on 5 October 1916. She was commissioned into the German Imperial Navy on 25 October 1916 as SM UC-43. In two patrols UC-43 was credited with sinking 13 ships, either by torpedo or by mines laid. UC-43 was torpedoed and sunk by HMS G13 north of Muckle Flugga on 10 March 1917.[1]
| History | |
|---|---|
 German Empire | |
| Name | UC-43 |
| Ordered | 20 November 1915[1] |
| Builder | AG Vulcan, Hamburg[2] |
| Yard number | 76[1] |
| Launched | 5 October 1916[1] |
| Commissioned | 25 October 1916[1] |
| Fate | Torpedoed and sunk by HMS G13 on 10 March 1917[1] |
| General characteristics [3] | |
| Class and type | Type UC II submarine |
| Displacement | |
| Length |
|
| Beam |
|
| Draught | 3.68 m (12 ft 1 in) |
| Propulsion |
|
| Speed |
|
| Range |
|
| Test depth | 50 m (160 ft) |
| Complement | 26 |
| Armament |
|
| Notes | 48-second diving time |
| Service record | |
| Part of: |
|
| Commanders: |
|
| Operations: | 2 patrols |
| Victories: | |
Design
editA Type UC II submarine, UC-43 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 11.7 knots (21.7 km/h; 13.5 mph) and a submerged speed of 6.7 knots (12.4 km/h; 7.7 mph). When submerged, she could operate for 60 nautical miles (110 km; 69 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-43 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[5] |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31 December 1916 | Lupus |  Norway
|
539 | Captured as prize |
| 12 January 1917 | Brentwood |  United Kingdom
|
1,192 | Sunk |
| 15 January 1917 | Brabant | Norway
|
1,492 | Sunk |
| 15 January 1917 | Graafjeld | Norway
|
728 | Sunk |
| 20 January 1917 | Planudes | United Kingdom
|
542 | Sunk |
| 27 February 1917 | Marie Madeleine |  France
|
45 | Sunk |
| 1 March 1917 | Mabella | Norway
|
1,637 | Sunk |
| 1 March 1917 | Storenes | Norway
|
1,870 | Sunk |
| 6 March 1917 | Cornelia | United Kingdom
|
903 | Sunk |
| 6 March 1917 | Sawa Maru |  Japan
|
2,578 | Sunk |
| 7 March 1917 | Baron Wemyss | United Kingdom
|
1,605 | Sunk |
| 9 March 1917 | Laurits |  Denmark
|
183 | Sunk |
| 13 March 1917 | Norwegian | United Kingdom
|
6,237 | Sunk |
| 22 March 1917 | Malmanger | Norway
|
5,672 | Sunk |
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 c d e f Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boats: UC 43". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 23 February 2009.
- ^ Tarrant, p. 173.
- ^ a b c Gröner 1991, pp. 31–32.
- ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Erwin Sebelin". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 23 February 2015.
- ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by UC 43". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 23 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.