SM UB-48


The SM UB-48 was a German Type UB III submarine or U-boat in the German Imperial Navy during World War I. It was commissioned into the German Imperial Navy on 11 June 1917 as SM UB-48.
The submarine conducted nine patrols and sank 32 ships during the war for a total loss of and one destroyer. It operated as part of the Pola Flotilla and later the II Mediterranean U-boat Flotilla based in Cattaro. UB-48 was one of the most successful u-boats serving in the Mediterranean. The boat was assigned the number in the Austro-Hungarian Navy. It was scuttled in Pola after the surrender of Austria-Hungary on 28 October 1918.

Construction

UB-48 was ordered by the GIN on 20 May 1916 and built by Blohm & Voss of Hamburg. Following less than a year of construction, it was launched at Hamburg on 6 January 1917. UB-48 was commissioned later that same year under the command of Wolfgang Steinbauer. Like all Type UB III submarines, UB-48 carried 10 torpedoes and was armed with a deck gun. UB-48 would carry a crew of up to 3 officer and 31 men and had a cruising range of. UB-48 had a displacement of while surfaced and when submerged. Her engines enabled her to travel at when surfaced and when submerged.

Summary of raiding history

DateNameNationalityTonnageFate
12 August 1917Roanoke4,803Sunk
14 August 1917HMS Prize199Sunk
18 August 1917Kongsli5,826Sunk
20 August 1917Serra Do Marco50Sunk
20 August 1917Serra Do Pilar50Sunk
23 August 1917Winlaton3,270Sunk
27 August 1917Hathor3,823Sunk
2 October 1917Imera1,172Sunk
6 October 1917Citta Di Bari1,489Sunk
9 October 1917Niki511Sunk
14 October 1917Valparaiso4,930Sunk
19 October 1917Pera7,635Sunk
20 October 1917Collegian7,520Sunk
27 November 1917Glenbridge3,845Damaged
4 December 1917Dowlais3,016Sunk
4 December 1917Gerasimos3,845Sunk
8 December 1917Consols3,756Sunk
27 January 1918Volonta Di Dio43Sunk
30 January 1918Harlaw821Sunk
2 February 1918Celia5,004Sunk
2 February 1918Edilio4,719Sunk
2 February 1918Newminster Abbey3,114Sunk
3 February 1918Aboukir3,660Sunk
7 February 1918Sturton4,406Sunk
26 April 1918Upada5,257Damaged
27 April 1918Romany3,983Sunk
29 April 1918Kingstonian6,564Sunk
29 April 1918Dalkeith748Sunk
29 April 1918Monte Bianco988Damaged
29 April 1918Moose208Damaged
2 May 1918Franklyn4,919Sunk
2 May 1918Tyler3,928Sunk
5 May 1918Clan Ross5,971Damaged
2 June 1918San Antonio389Sunk
6 June 1918Christophero Colombo264Sunk
10 June 1918Nivernais2,555Sunk
13 June 1918Penhallow4,318Sunk
16 August 1918Balkan1,709Sunk
18 August 1918Nordboen2,417Sunk
1 September 1918Baron Minto4,537Damaged
1 September 1918Monviso4,020Damaged
18 October 1918Voltaire18,400Damaged

Citations