SM U-74
| History | |
|---|---|
 German Empire
| |
| Name: | U-74 |
| Ordered: | 6 January 1915 |
| Builder: | Kaiserliche Werft Danzig ( 30) |
| Launched: | 10 August 1915 |
| Commissioned: | 24 November 1915 |
| Fate: | 17 May 1916 - Sank in a mine handling accident 3.5 nmi (6.5 km; 4.0 mi) off Dunbar, Scotland. 34 dead (all hands lost).[1] |
| General characteristics [2] | |
| Class and type: | German Type UE I submarine |
| Displacement: |
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| Length: |
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| Beam: |
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| Height: | 8.25 m (27 ft 1 in) |
| Draught: | 4.84 m (15 ft 11 in) |
| Installed power: | |
| Propulsion: | 2 shafts, 2× 1.41 m (4 ft 8 in) propellers |
| Speed: |
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| Range: |
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| Test depth: | 50 m (164 ft 1 in) |
| Complement: | 4 officers, 28 enlisted |
| Armament: |
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| Service record | |
| Part of: |
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| Commanders: |
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| Operations: | 2 patrols |
| Victories: | 1 ship sunk (2,802 GRT)[1] |
SM U-74 was a Type UE 1 submarine and one of the 329 submarines serving in the Imperial German Navy in World War I. U-74 was engaged in the naval warfare and took part in the First Battle of the Atlantic.
Design
German Type UE I submarines were preceded by the longer Type U 66 submarines. U-74 had a displacement of 755 tonnes (743 long tons) when at the surface and 832 tonnes (819 long tons) while submerged.[2] It had a total length of 186 ft 4 in (56.79 m), a pressure hull length of 153 ft 1 in (46.66 m), a beam of 19 ft 4 in (5.89 m), a height of 27 ft 1 in (8.26 m), and a draught of 15 ft 11 in (4.85 m). The submarine was powered by two 900 metric horsepower (660 kW; 890 shp) engines for use while surfaced, and two 900 metric horsepower (660 kW; 890 shp) engines for use while submerged. It had two propeller shafts. It was capable of operating at depths of up to 50 metres (160 ft).[2]
The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 10.6 knots (19.6 km/h; 12.2 mph) and a maximum submerged speed of 7.9 knots (14.6 km/h; 9.1 mph).[2] When submerged, it could operate for 83 nautical miles (154 km; 96 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph); when surfaced, it could travel 7,880 nautical miles (14,590 km; 9,070 mi) at 7 knots (13 km/h; 8.1 mph). U-74 was fitted with two 50 centimetres (20 in) torpedo tubes (one at the starboard bow and one starboard stern), four torpedoes, and one 5.5 centimetres (2.2 in) deck machine gun. It had a complement of thirty-two (twenty-eight crew members and four officers).[2]
Summary of raiding history
| Date | Name | Nationality | Tonnage (GRT) |
Fate[4] |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 April 1916 | Sabbia |  United Kingdom |
2,802 | Sunk |
References
- 1 2 Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boats: U 74". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 24 December 2014.
- 1 2 3 4 5 Gröner 1991, pp. 10-11.
- ↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Erwin Weisbach". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 18 January 2015.
- ↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U 74". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 18 January 2015.
Bibliography
- Gröner, Erich; Jung, Dieter; Maass, Martin (1991). U-boats and Mine Warfare Vessels. German Warships 1815–1945 2. Translated by Thomas, Keith; Magowan, Rachel (London: Conway Maritime Press). ISBN 0-85177-593-4.