History
German Empire
NameUC-76
Ordered12 January 1916[1]
BuilderAG Vulcan, Hamburg[2]
Yard number81[1]
Launched25 November 1916[1]
Commissioned17 December 1916[1]
FateSurrendered, 1 December 1918; broken up, 1919 – 20[1]
General characteristics [3]
Class and typeGerman Type UC II submarine
Displacement
  • 410 t (400 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
Draught3.65 m (12 ft)
Propulsion
Speed
  • 11.8 knots (21.9 km/h; 13.6 mph), surfaced
  • 7.3 knots (13.5 km/h; 8.4 mph), submerged
Range
  • 8,660–10,230 nmi (16,040–18,950 km; 9,970–11,770 mi) at 7 knots (13 km/h; 8.1 mph) surfaced
  • 52 nmi (96 km; 60 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph) submerged
Test depth50 m (160 ft)
Complement26
Armament
Notes30-second diving time
Service record
Part of:
  • I Flotilla
  • 13 February – 10 May 1917
  • Training Flotilla
  • 11 July – 11 November 1918
Commanders:
  • Oblt.z.S. Wilhelm Barten[4]
  • 17 December 1916 – 10 May 1917
  • Oblt.z.S. Wilhelm Ziegner[5]
  • 11 July - October 1918
  • Oblt.z.S. Karl Palmgren[6]
  • October – 11 November 1918
Operations: 2 patrols
Victories:
  • 13 merchant ships sunk
    (5,800 GRT)
  • 1 warship sunk
    (725 tons)
  • 1 auxiliary warship sunk
    (206 GRT)
  • 1 merchant ship damaged
    (10,422 GRT)

SM UC-76 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 12 January 1916 and was launched on 25 November 1916. She was commissioned into the German Imperial Navy on 17 December 1916 as SM UC-76.[Note 1] In two patrols UC-76 was credited with sinking 15 ships, either by torpedo or by mines laid. UC-76 was surrendered on 1 December 1918 and broken up at Brighton Ferry in 1919 – 20.[1]

Design

A German Type UC II submarine, UC-76 had a displacement of 410 tonnes (400 long tons) when at the surface and 493 tonnes (485 long tons) while submerged. She had a length overall of 50.45 m (165 ft 6 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 290–300 metric horsepower (210–220 kW; 290–300 shp) (a total of 580–600 metric horsepower (430–440 kW; 570–590 shp)), two electric motors producing 620 metric horsepower (460 kW; 610 shp), and two propeller shafts. She had a dive time of 30 seconds and was capable of operating at a depth of 50 metres (160 ft).[3]

The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 11.8 knots (21.9 km/h; 13.6 mph) and a submerged speed of 7.3 knots (13.5 km/h; 8.4 mph). When submerged, she could operate for 52 nautical miles (96 km; 60 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph); when surfaced, she could travel 8,660 to 10,230 nautical miles (16,040 to 18,950 km; 9,970 to 11,770 mi) at 7 knots (13 km/h; 8.1 mph). UC-76 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[7]
7 March 1917 Naamah  United Kingdom 269 Sunk
7 March 1917 Vulcana  United Kingdom 219 Sunk
9 March 1917 Dana  Norway 753 Sunk
12 March 1917 HMS E49  Royal Navy 725 Sunk
12 April 1917 Caliban  United Kingdom 215 Sunk
12 April 1917 Chinkiang  United Kingdom 125 Sunk
12 April 1917 Crown Prince  United Kingdom 103 Sunk
12 April 1917 Equerry  United Kingdom 168 Sunk
12 April 1917 Fife Ness  United Kingdom 123 Sunk
12 April 1917 Largo Bay  United Kingdom 125 Sunk
12 April 1917 Lillian  United Kingdom 120 Sunk
12 April 1917 Osprey  United Kingdom 106 Sunk
13 April 1917 HMT Pitstruan  Royal Navy 206 Sunk
17 April 1917 Robert  Denmark 1,445 Sunk
17 April 1917 Winifredian  United Kingdom 10,422 Damaged
18 April 1917 Bergensgut  Norway 2,029 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. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boats: UC 76". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 23 February 2009.
  2. ↑ Tarrant, p. 173.
  3. 1 2 3 Gröner 1991, pp. 31–32.
  4. ↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Wilhelm Barten". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 4 March 2015.
  5. ↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Wilhelm Ziegner". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 4 March 2015.
  6. ↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Karl Palmgren". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 4 March 2015.
  7. ↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by UC 76". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 4 March 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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