Type UC III submarine
{{More citations needed|date=June 2024}}
| {{Infobox ship begin}}
{{Infobox ship image |Ship image=SM UC 93 Italy.jpg |Ship caption={{SMU|UC-93 | 2}} in Italy, 1918
}} {{Infobox ship class overview |Name= |Operators={{navy|German Empire}} |Class before=UC II |Class after= |Subclasses= |Cost=3,303,000 German paper marks |Built range=1917–1918 |In service range= |In commission range=1918–1919 |Total ships building=59 |Total ships planned=113 |Total ships completed=25 |Total ships cancelled=54 |Total ships active= |Total ships laid up= |Total ships lost=1 |Total ships retired= |Total ships preserved= }} {{Infobox ship characteristics |Header caption= |Ship class=German Type UC III submarine |Ship displacement=
|Ship length=
|Ship beam={{convert|5.54|m|ftin|abbr=on}} (o/a) |Ship draft={{convert|3.77|m|ftin|abbr=on}} |Ship propulsion=
|Ship speed=
|Ship range=
|Ship test depth={{convert|75|m|ft|abbr=on}} |Ship complement=32 |Ship armament=
|Ship notes=15-second diving time }} |
Type UC III minelaying submarines were used by the Imperial German Navy ({{lang|de|Kaiserliche Marine}}) during World War I. They displaced {{convert|474|t|LT|0|lk=on}} at the surface and {{convert|571|t|LT|0|abbr=on}} submerged, carried guns, 7 torpedoes and up to 14 mines. The ships were double-hulled with improved range and sea-keeping compared to the UC II type. The type had better seagoing, maneuvering and turning capabilities than its predecessor, while underwater stability was reduced.{{sfn|Gröner|1991|p=35}}
A total of 113 Type UC III submarines were ordered by the Imperial German Navy, but only 25 U-boats were completed before the Armistice with Germany in 1918. Of those, 16 U-boats actually served in the war. 54 building orders were cancelled in 1918, while 34 U-boats were never completed and broken up in the ship yards.
Design
German Type UC III submarines had a displacement of {{convert|491|t|LT}} when at the surface and {{convert|571|t|LT}} while submerged. They had a length overall of {{convert|56.51|m|ftin|abbr=on}}, a beam of {{convert|5.54|m|ftin|abbr=on}}, and a draught of {{convert|3.77|m|ftin|abbr=on}}. The submarines were powered by two six-cylinder four-stroke diesel engines each producing {{convert|300|PS|kW shp}} (a total of {{convert|600|PS|kW shp|disp=sqbr}}), two electric motors producing {{convert|770|PS|kW shp}}, and two propeller shafts. They had a dive time of 15 seconds and were capable of operating at a depth of {{convert|75|m}}.{{sfn|Gröner|1991|pp=34-35}}
The submarines were designed for a maximum surface speed of {{convert|11.5|kn}} and a submerged speed of {{convert|6.6|kn}}. When submerged, they could operate for {{convert|40|nmi}} at {{convert|4.5|kn}}; when surfaced, they could travel {{convert|9850|nmi}} at {{convert|7|kn}}. UC III-class boats were fitted with six {{convert|100|cm|adj=on}} mine tubes, fourteen UC 200 mines, three {{convert|50|cm|adj=on}} torpedo tubes (one on the stern and two on the bow), seven torpedoes, and one 10.5 cm SK L/45 naval gun or 8.8 cm SK L/30 naval gun deck gun. Their complement was twenty-six crew members.{{sfn|Gröner|1991|pp=34-35}}
List of Type UC III submarines
=Serving in World War I=
There were 16 Type UC III submarines serving with the Imperial German Navy during World War I.
- {{SMU|UC-90}}
- {{SMU|UC-91}}
- {{SMU|UC-92}}
- {{SMU|UC-93}}
- {{SMU|UC-94}}
- {{SMU|UC-95}}
- {{SMU|UC-96}}
- {{SMU|UC-97}}
- {{SMU|UC-98}}
- {{SMU|UC-99}}
- {{SMU|UC-100}}
- {{SMU|UC-101}}
- {{SMU|UC-102}}
- {{SMU|UC-103}}
- {{SMU|UC-104}}
- {{SMU|UC-105}}
=Completed after Armistice and surrendered to the Allies=
- {{SMU|UC-106}}
- {{SMU|UC-107}}
- {{SMU|UC-108}}
- {{SMU|UC-109}}
- {{SMU|UC-110}}
- {{SMU|UC-111}}
- {{SMU|UC-112}}
- {{SMU|UC-113}}
- {{SMU|UC-114}}
=Broken up at yard=
- {{SMU|UC-80}}
- {{SMU|UC-81}}
- {{SMU|UC-82}}
- {{SMU|UC-83}}
- {{SMU|UC-84}}
- {{SMU|UC-85}}
- {{SMU|UC-86}}
- {{SMU|UC-87}}
- {{SMU|UC-88}}
- {{SMU|UC-89}}
- {{SMU|UC-115}}
- {{SMU|UC-116}}
- {{SMU|UC-117}}
- {{SMU|UC-118}}
- {{SMU|UC-119}}
- {{SMU|UC-120}}
- {{SMU|UC-121}}
- {{SMU|UC-122}}
- {{SMU|UC-123}}
- {{SMU|UC-124}}
- {{SMU|UC-125}}
- {{SMU|UC-126}}
- {{SMU|UC-127}}
- {{SMU|UC-128}}
References
{{Commons category|German Type UC III submarine}}
=Citations=
{{reflist}}
=Bibliography=
{{refbegin}}
- {{cite book
|last1=Gröner
|first1=Erich
|last2=Jung
|first2=Dieter
|last3=Maass
|first3=Martin
|translator-last1=Thomas
|translator-first1=Keith
|translator-last2=Magowan
|translator-first2=Rachel
|year=1991
|title=German Warships 1815–1945, U-boats and Mine Warfare Vessels
|volume=2
|location=London
|publisher=Conway Maritime Press
|isbn=0-85177-593-4
|ref=CITEREFGröner1991
}}
{{refend}}
{{German Type UC III submarines}}
{{WWI German ships}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Type UC 3}}