SM UC-45 was a German Type UC II minelaying submarine or U-boat in the German Imperial Navy during World War I. The U-boat was ordered on 20 November 1915 and was launched on 20 October 1916. She was commissioned into the German Imperial Navy on 18 November 1916 as SM UC-45. In five patrols UC-45 was credited with sinking 12 ships, either by torpedo or by mines laid. UC-45 sank in a diving accident on 17 September 1917 in the North Sea. The German salvage vessel SMS Vulkan raised the wreck and UC-45 re-entered service on 24 October 1918. She was surrendered on 24 November 1918 and broken up at Preston in 1919–20.

Design

A Type UC II submarine, UC-45 had a displacement of 400 t when at the surface and 480 t while submerged. She had a length overall of 49.45 m, a beam of 5.22 m, and a draught of 3.68 m. The submarine was powered by two six-cylinder four-stroke diesel engines each producing 260 PS (a total of 520 PS), two electric motors producing 460 PS, and two propeller shafts. She had a dive time of 48 seconds and was capable of operating at a depth of 50 m. The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 11.7 kn and a submerged speed of 6.7 kn. When submerged, she could operate for 60 nmi at 4 kn; when surfaced, she could travel 9410 nmi at 7 kn. UC-45 was fitted with six 100 cm mine tubes, eighteen UC 200 mines, three 50 cm torpedo tubes (one on the stern and two on the bow), seven torpedoes, and one 8.8 cm Uk L/30 deck gun. Her complement was twenty-six crew members.

Summary of raiding history

Citations