SM UC-103

History
German Empire
Name:	UC-103
Ordered:	12 January 1916[1]
Builder:	Blohm & Voss, Hamburg[2]
Yard number:	337[1]
Launched:	14 April 1918[1]
Commissioned:	21 October 1918[1]
Fate:	surrendered, November 1918; broken up, 1921[1]
General characteristics
Class and type:	German Type UC III submarine
Displacement:	491 t (483 long tons), surfaced 571 t (562 long tons), submerged
Length:	56.51 m (185 ft 5 in) (o/a) 42.20 m (138 ft 5 in) (pressure hull)
Beam:	5.54 m (18.2 ft) (o/a)
Draft:	3.77 m (12 ft 4 in)
Propulsion:	2 × propeller shafts 2 × 6-cylinder, 4-stroke diesel engines, 600 PS (440 kW; 590 bhp) 2 × electric motors, 770 PS (570 kW; 760 shp)
Speed:	11.5 knots (21.3 km/h; 13.2 mph), surfaced 6.6 knots (12.2 km/h; 7.6 mph), submerged
Range:	9,850 nautical miles (18,240 km; 11,340 mi) at 7 knots (13 km/h; 8.1 mph), surfaced 40 nmi (74 km; 46 mi) at 4.5 knots (8.3 km/h; 5.2 mph), submerged
Test depth:	75 m (246 ft)
Complement:	32
Armament:	6 × 100 cm (39.4 in) mine tubes 14 × UC 200 mines 3 × 50 cm (19.7 in) torpedo tubes (2 bow external; one stern) 7 × torpedoes 1 × 10.5 cm (4.1 in) SK L/45 deck gun
Notes:	15-second diving time

SM UC-103 was a German Type UC III minelaying submarine or U-boat in the German Imperial Navy (German: Kaiserliche Marine) during World War I.

Design

A German Type UC III submarine, UC-103 had a displacement of 491 tonnes (483 long tons) when at the surface and 571 tonnes (562 long tons) while submerged. She had a length overall of 56.51 m (185 ft 5 in), a beam of 5.54 m (18 ft 2 in), and a draught of 3.77 m (12 ft 4 in). The submarine was powered by two six-cylinder four-stroke diesel engines each producing 300 metric horsepower (220 kW; 300 shp) (a total of 600 metric horsepower (440 kW; 590 shp)), two electric motors producing 770 metric horsepower (570 kW; 760 shp), and two propeller shafts. She had a dive time of 15 seconds and was capable of operating at a depth of 75 metres (246 ft).^[3]

The submarine was designed for a maximum surface speed of 11.5 knots (21.3 km/h; 13.2 mph) and a submerged speed of 6.6 knots (12.2 km/h; 7.6 mph). When submerged, she could operate for 40 nautical miles (74 km; 46 mi) at 4.5 knots (8.3 km/h; 5.2 mph); when surfaced, she could travel 9,850 nautical miles (18,240 km; 11,340 mi) at 7 knots (13 km/h; 8.1 mph). UC-103 was fitted with six 100 centimetres (39 in) mine tubes, fourteen UC 200 mines, three 50 centimetres (20 in) torpedo tubes (one on the stern and two on the bow), seven torpedoes, and one 8.8 centimetres (3.5 in) Uk L/30 deck gun. Her complement was twenty-six crew members.^[3]

Construction and career

The U-boat was ordered on 12 January 1916 and was launched on 14 April 1918. She was commissioned into the German Imperial Navy on 21 October 1918 as SM UC-103.^{[Note 1]} As with the rest of the completed UC III boats, UC-103 conducted no war patrols and sank no ships. She was surrendered to France on 22 November 1918 and was broken up in Cherbourg in 1921.^[1]

References

Notes

1. "SM" stands for "Seiner Majestät" (English: His Majesty's) and combined with the U for Unterseeboot would be translated as His Majesty's Submarine.

Citations

1. Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boats: UC 103". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 23 February 2009.
2. Tarrant, p. 174.
3. Gröner 1991, pp. 34-35.

Bibliography

• Bendert, Harald (2001). Die UC-Boote der Kaiserlichen Marine 1914-1918. Minenkrieg mit U-Booten (in German). Hamburg, Berlin, Bonn: Mittler. ISBN 3-8132-0758-7.
• 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.
• Gardiner, Robert, ed. (1985). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships, 1906–1921. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 978-0-87021-907-8. OCLC 12119866.
• Tarrant, V. E. (1989). The U-Boat Offensive: 1914–1945. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 978-0-87021-764-7. OCLC 20338385.