|  SM UB-45 a U-boat similar to UB-40 | |
| History | |
|---|---|
| .svg.png.webp) German Empire | |
| Name | UB-40 | 
| Ordered | 22 July 1915[1] | 
| Builder | Blohm & Voss, Hamburg[1] | 
| Cost | 1,152,000 German Papiermark[2] | 
| Yard number | 264[3] | 
| Launched | 25 April 1916[3] | 
| Completed | 18 August 1916[3] | 
| Commissioned | 17 August 1916[2] | 
| Fate | Scuttled during the retreat from Belgium, 5 October 1918[2] | 
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | German Type UB II submarine | 
| Displacement | 
 | 
| Length | 
 | 
| Beam | 
 | 
| Draught | 3.69 m (12 ft 1 in) | 
| Propulsion | 
 | 
| Speed | 
 | 
| Range | 
 | 
| Test depth | 50 m (160 ft) | 
| Complement | 2 officers, 21 men | 
| Armament | 
 | 
| Notes | 42-second diving time | 
| Service record[4] | |
| Part of: | 
 | 
| Commanders: | 
 | 
| Operations: | 28 patrols | 
| Victories: | |
SM UB-40[Note 1] was a German Type UB II submarine or U-boat in the German Imperial Navy (German: Kaiserliche Marine) during World War I.
Design
A German Type UB II submarine, UB-40 had a displacement of 274 tonnes (270 long tons) when at the surface and 303 tonnes (298 long tons) while submerged. She had a total length of 36.90 m (121 ft 1 in), a beam of 4.37 m (14 ft 4 in), and a draught of 3.69 m (12 ft 1 in). The submarine was powered by two Körting six-cylinder diesel engines producing a total 284 metric horsepower (280 shp; 209 kW), two Siemens-Schuckert electric motors producing 280 metric horsepower (210 kW; 280 shp), and one propeller shaft. She was capable of operating at depths of up to 50 metres (160 ft).[2]
The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 9.15 knots (16.95 km/h; 10.53 mph) and a maximum submerged speed of 5.81 knots (10.76 km/h; 6.69 mph). When submerged, she could operate for 45 nautical miles (83 km; 52 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph); when surfaced, she could travel 6,450 nautical miles (11,950 km; 7,420 mi) at 5 knots (9.3 km/h; 5.8 mph). UB-40 was fitted with two 50 centimetres (20 in) torpedo tubes, four torpedoes, and one 8.8 cm (3.5 in) Uk L/30 deck gun. She had a complement of twenty-one crew members and two officers and a 42-second dive time.[2]
Construction and career
The U-boat was ordered on 22 July 1915 and launched on 25 April 1916. She was commissioned into the German Imperial Navy on 17 August 1916 as SM UB-40.[Note 2]
The submarine sank 100 ships in 28 patrols. UB-40 was scuttled in Ostend when the German army retreated from Belgium on 5 October 1918.[2]
The wreck of UB-40 has been located & identified by divers in the recent years.[5]
Summary of raiding history
| Date | Name | Nationality | Tonnage[Note 3] | Fate[6] | 
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 October 1916 | Barbara |  United Kingdom | 3,740 | Sunk | 
| 21 October 1916 | Cock O’ the Walk |  United Kingdom | 111 | Sunk | 
| 22 October 1916 | Maris Stella |  France | 106 | Sunk | 
| 22 October 1916 | Risøy |  Norway | 1,129 | Sunk | 
| 7 November 1916 | Reime |  Norway | 1,913 | Sunk | 
| 8 November 1916 | Killellan |  United Kingdom | 1,971 | Sunk | 
| 16 November 1916 | Alphonse Marceline | .svg.png.webp) Belgium | 60 | Sunk | 
| 16 November 1916 | Vanguard |  United Kingdom | 142 | Sunk | 
| 17 November 1916 | Saint Rogatien |  France | 1,581 | Sunk | 
| 21 November 1916 | Alice |  France | 822 | Sunk | 
| 21 November 1916 | Palm Beach |  United Kingdom | 3,891 | Damaged | 
| 22 November 1916 | Houlgate |  France | 1,550 | Sunk | 
| 22 November 1916 | City of Mexico |  Norway | 1,511 | Sunk | 
| 22 November 1916 | Grenada |  United Kingdom | 2,268 | Sunk | 
| 28 December 1916 | Oldambt |  Netherlands | 470 | Captured as prize | 
| 5 February 1917 | Anna Prosper | .svg.png.webp) Belgium | 70 | Sunk | 
| 5 February 1917 | Emerald |  United Kingdom | 57 | Sunk | 
| 21 February 1917 | Alice |  Norway | 709 | Sunk | 
| 25 February 1917 | Maria Adriana |  Netherlands | 88 | Sunk | 
| 26 February 1917 | Tammerfors |  Russian Empire | 994 | Sunk | 
| 28 February 1917 | Immaculee Conception |  France | 36 | Sunk | 
| 25 March 1917 | Etoile De La Mer |  France | 43 | Sunk | 
| 25 March 1917 | Felix Faure |  France | 37 | Sunk | 
| 25 March 1917 | Louise |  France | 45 | Sunk | 
| 25 March 1917 | Marie Louise |  France | 34 | Sunk | 
| 25 March 1917 | Saint Joseph |  France | 35 | Sunk | 
| 29 March 1917 | Conoid |  United Kingdom | 165 | Sunk | 
| 29 March 1917 | Irma |  France | 32 | Sunk | 
| 30 March 1917 | Somme |  United Kingdom | 1,828 | Sunk | 
| 15 April 1917 | Möhlenpris |  Norway | 638 | Sunk | 
| 16 April 1917 | Cairndhu |  United Kingdom | 4,109 | Sunk | 
| 16 April 1917 | Victoria |  United Kingdom | 165 | Sunk | 
| 17 April 1917 | HMHS Lanfranc |  Royal Navy | 6,287 | Sunk | 
| 19 April 1917 | Limeleaf |  United Kingdom | 7,339 | Damaged | 
| 3 May 1917 | Clodmoor |  United Kingdom | 3,753 | Sunk | 
| 15 May 1917 | Cuba |  United Kingdom | 271 | Sunk | 
| 16 May 1917 | Highland Corrie |  United Kingdom | 7,583 | Sunk | 
| 16 May 1917 | Pagenturm |  United Kingdom | 5,000 | Sunk | 
| 17 May 1917 | Florence Louisa |  United Kingdom | 115 | Sunk | 
| 20 May 1917 | Porthkerry |  United Kingdom | 1,920 | Sunk | 
| 20 May 1917 | Tycho |  United Kingdom | 3,216 | Sunk | 
| 21 May 1917 | Jupiter |  United Kingdom | 2,124 | Sunk | 
| 7 June 1917 | Mahopac |  United Kingdom | 3,216 | Damaged | 
| 7 June 1917 | Oldfield Grange |  United Kingdom | 4,653 | Damaged | 
| 8 June 1917 | Phantom |  United Kingdom | 251 | Sunk | 
| 9 June 1917 | Eugene Mathilde |  France | 15 | Sunk | 
| 9 June 1917 | Francois Georgette |  France | 7 | Sunk | 
| 10 June 1917 | Henri Jeanne |  France | 9 | Sunk | 
| 10 June 1917 | Madeleine |  France | 7 | Sunk | 
| 11 June 1917 | Eustace |  United Kingdom | 3,995 | Damaged | 
| 11 June 1917 | Huntsholm |  United Kingdom | 2,073 | Sunk | 
| 11 June 1917 | Margarita |  United Kingdom | 2,788 | Damaged | 
| 12 June 1917 | Alfred |  United Kingdom | 130 | Sunk | 
| 27 June 1917 | Solway Prince |  United Kingdom | 317 | Sunk | 
| 28 June 1917 | Marguerite |  France | 1,544 | Sunk | 
| 28 June 1917 | Northfield |  United Kingdom | 2,099 | Damaged | 
| 30 June 1917 | Borgund I |  Norway | 764 | Sunk | 
| 30 June 1917 | Chateau Yquem |  France | 1,913 | Sunk | 
| 15 July 1917 | Dinorwic |  United Kingdom | 124 | Sunk | 
| 15 July 1917 | Ebenezer |  United Kingdom | 177 | Sunk | 
| 20 July 1917 | L. H. Carl |  United Kingdom | 1,916 | Sunk | 
| 20 July 1917 | Salsette |  United Kingdom | 5,842 | Sunk | 
| 22 July 1917 | Rota |  United Kingdom | 2,171 | Sunk | 
| 12 August 1917 | Marie Alfred |  France | 159 | Sunk | 
| 12 August 1917 | Pauline Louisa |  France | 172 | Sunk | 
| 14 August 1917 | Tuddal |  Norway | 3,511 | Sunk | 
| 15 August 1917 | Brodstone |  United Kingdom | 4,927 | Sunk | 
| 16 August 1917 | Eastgate |  United Kingdom | 4,277 | Damaged | 
| 19 August 1917 | Glocliffe |  United Kingdom | 2,211 | Sunk | 
| 21 September 1917 | Radaas |  Denmark | 2,524 | Sunk | 
| 22 September 1917 | Greleen |  United Kingdom | 2,286 | Sunk | 
| 23 September 1917 | Rosehill |  United Kingdom | 2,788 | Sunk | 
| 25 September 1917 | City of Swansea |  United Kingdom | 1,375 | Sunk | 
| 19 October 1917 | Wellington |  United Kingdom | 5,600 | Damaged | 
| 24 October 1917 | Gallia | _crowned.svg.png.webp) Kingdom of Italy | 2,728 | Sunk | 
| 25 October 1917 | Gefion |  United Kingdom | 1,123 | Sunk | 
| 28 October 1917 | Redesmere |  United Kingdom | 2,123 | Sunk | 
| 17 November 1917 | Abaris |  United Kingdom | 2,892 | Damaged | 
| 17 November 1917 | Western Coast |  United Kingdom | 1,394 | Sunk | 
| 19 November 1917 | Aparima |  United Kingdom | 5,704 | Sunk | 
| 9 December 1917 | Sedbergh |  United Kingdom | 4,275 | Damaged | 
| 27 January 1918 | Carolus |  Norway | 1,041 | Sunk | 
| 29 January 1918 | Butetown |  United Kingdom | 1,829 | Sunk | 
| 20 February 1918 | Huntsmoor |  United Kingdom | 4,957 | Sunk | 
| 25 February 1918 | Nyanza |  United Kingdom | 6,695 | Damaged | 
| 16 March 1918 | Author |  United Kingdom | 5,586 | Damaged | 
| 21 March 1918 | Ikeda |  United Kingdom | 6,311 | Sunk | 
| 18 April 1918 | Pentyrch |  United Kingdom | 3,312 | Sunk | 
| 26 May 1918 | Dayspring |  United Kingdom | 57 | Sunk | 
| 26 May 1918 | Eclipse |  United Kingdom | 47 | Sunk | 
| 26 May 1918 | Fortuna |  United Kingdom | 61 | Sunk | 
| 31 May 1918 | Alert |  United Kingdom | 59 | Sunk | 
| 3 June 1918 | Antiope |  United Kingdom | 3,004 | Damaged | 
| 6 June 1918 | Active |  United Kingdom | 57 | Sunk | 
| 6 June 1918 | Beryl |  United Kingdom | 57 | Sunk | 
| 6 June 1918 | Dianthus |  United Kingdom | 51 | Sunk | 
| 29 June 1918 | Grekland |  Sweden | 2,751 | Sunk | 
| 29 June 1918 | Florentia |  United Kingdom | 3,688 | Sunk | 
| 1 July 1918 | Charing Cross |  United Kingdom | 2,534 | Sunk | 
| 2 July 1918 | Admiral |  United Kingdom | 102 | Sunk | 
| 2 July 1918 | Madeleine |  France | 158 | Damaged | 
| 2 July 1918 | Nord |  France | 409 | Sunk | 
| 7 July 1918 | Aby |  United Kingdom | 15 | Sunk | 
| 7 July 1918 | Albion |  United Kingdom | 22 | Sunk | 
| 7 July 1918 | Leeds |  United Kingdom | 161 | Damaged | 
| 26 July 1918 | Boy Jack |  United Kingdom | 57 | Sunk | 
| 26 July 1918 | Godesgenage | .svg.png.webp) Belgium | 40 | Sunk | 
| 27 July 1918 | Counsellor |  United Kingdom | 56 | Sunk | 
| 27 July 1918 | Fear Not |  United Kingdom | 59 | Sunk | 
| 27 July 1918 | I’ll Try |  United Kingdom | 51 | Sunk | 
| 27 July 1918 | Kirkham Abbey |  United Kingdom | 1,166 | Sunk | 
| 27 July 1918 | Le Bijou |  United Kingdom | 46 | Sunk | 
| 27 July 1918 | Paragon |  United Kingdom | 56 | Sunk | 
| 27 July 1918 | Passion Flower |  United Kingdom | 46 | Sunk | 
| 27 July 1918 | Success |  United Kingdom | 54 | Sunk | 
| 27 July 1918 | Valour |  United Kingdom | 39 | Sunk | 
| 28 July 1918 | Francis Robert |  United Kingdom | 44 | Sunk | 
References
Notes
- ↑ "SM" stands for "Seiner Majestät" (English: His Majesty's) and combined with the U for Unterseeboot would be translated as His Majesty's Submarine.
- ↑ "SM" stands for "Seiner Majestät" (English: His Majesty's) and combined with the U for Unterseeboot would be translated as His Majesty's Submarine.
- ↑ Tonnages are in gross register tons
Citations
- 1 2 Rössler 1979, p. 64.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 Gröner 1991, pp. 23–25.
- 1 2 3 Rössler 1979, p. 65.
- ↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: UB 40". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 8 December 2014.
- ↑ wrecksite.eu
- ↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by UB 40". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 8 December 2014.
Bibliography
- Bendert, Harald (2000). Die UB-Boote der Kaiserlichen Marine, 1914-1918. Einsätze, Erfolge, Schicksal (in German). Hamburg: Verlag E.S. Mittler & Sohn GmbH. ISBN 3-8132-0713-7.
- Gröner, Erich; Jung, Dieter; Maass, Martin (1991). U-boats and Mine Warfare Vessels. German Warships 1815–1945. Vol. 2. Translated by Thomas, Keith; Magowan, Rachel. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-593-4.
- Rössler, Eberhard (1979). U-Bootbau bis Ende des 1. Weltkrieges, Konstruktionen für das Ausland und die Jahre 1935 – 1945 (in German). Vol. I. Munich: Bernard & Graefe. ISBN 3-7637-5213-7. {{cite book}}:|work=ignored (help)

