German Type UC I submarine


The Type UC I coastal submarines were a class of small minelaying U-boats built in Germany during the early part of World War I. They were the first operational minelaying submarines in the world. A total of fifteen boats were built. The class is sometimes also referred to as the UC-1 class after, the class leader. The Italian X-class submarine was a reverse-engineered and modified type of the UC-1-class.

Design

These submarines were designed by Dr. Werner of the Torpedo Inspectorate, and based on the Type UB I small coastal submarines, with a revised bow section housing inclined minelaying tubes and uprated engines to compensate for the increased displacement and less streamlined form. The boats' sole armament was six internal mine tubes with 12 mines, although UC-11 was fitted with a single external torpedo tube in 1916. They were constructed very quickly, and suffered from problems with their minelaying system, which in some cases caused the mines to become armed before exiting their tubes and explode prematurely.
Type UC I submarines had a displacement of when at the surface and while submerged. They had a length overall of, a beam of, and a draught of. The submarines were powered by one Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft or Benz six-cylinder, four-stroke diesel engine producing, an electric motor producing, and one propeller shaft. They were capable of operating at a depth of.
The submarines had a maximum surface speed of and a maximum submerged speed of. When submerged, they could operate for at ; when surfaced, they could travel at. They were fitted with six mine tubes, twelve UC 120 mines, and one machine gun. They was built by AG Vulcan Stettin or AG Weser Bremen and her complement was fourteen crew members.

List of Type UC I submarines

A total of 15 Type UC I submarines were built.