SM UC-1 was a German Type UC I minelayer submarine or U-boat in the German Imperial Navy during World War I. The U-boat had been ordered by November 1914 and was launched on 26 April 1915. She was commissioned into the German Imperial Navy on 5 July 1915 as SM UC-1. Mines laid by UC-1 in her 80 patrols were credited with sinking 41 ships. UC-1 disappeared after 18 July 1917. UC-1 was sunk on 24 July 1917 by F2B Felixstowe flying boat. Standard practice was to fly along the U boat and drop 2 250lb bombs astride it, hoping to cause leaks and give time for a destroyer to collect the submariners and sink it. On this occasion, by fluke, one bomb went through the conning tower and blew the base out of UC1. MFG Mill was awarded the DFC for this but he refused to wear it because of the total loss of life <london Gazette> <MFG Mill Diaries>

Design

A Type UC I submarine, UC-1 had a displacement of 168 t when at the surface and 183 t while submerged. She had a length overall of 33.99 m, a beam of 3.15 m, and a draught of 3.04 m. The submarine was powered by one Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft six-cylinder, four-stroke diesel engine producing 90 PS, an electric motor producing 175 PS, and one propeller shaft. She was capable of operating at a depth of 50 m. The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 6.20 kn and a maximum submerged speed of 5.22 kn. When submerged, she could operate for 50 nmi at 4 kn; when surfaced, she could travel 780 nmi at 5 kn. UC-1 was fitted with six 100 cm mine tubes, twelve UC 120 mines, and one 8 mm machine gun. She was built by AG Vulcan Stettin and her complement was fourteen crew members.

Summary of raiding history

Citations