SM UB-20
Design
A Type UB II submarine, UB-20 had a displacement of 263 tonnes (259 long tons) when at the surface and 292 tonnes (287 long tons) while submerged. She had a total length of 36.13 m (118 ft 6 in), a beam of 4.36 m (14 ft 4 in), and a draught of 3.70 m (12 ft 2 in). The submarine was powered by two Körting six-cylinder, four-stroke diesel engines each producing a total 284 metric horsepower (209 kW; 280 shp), a Siemens-Schuckert electric motor 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).
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 6,650 nautical miles (12,320 km; 7,650 mi) at 5 knots (9.3 km/h; 5.8 mph). UB-20 was fitted with two 50 centimetres (20 in) torpedo tubes, four torpedoes, and one 5 cm (2.0 in) SK L/40 deck gun. She had a complement of twenty-three crew members and two officers and a 45-second dive time.
Loss
At noon on 28.07.1917 UB 20 left Ostend for a four-hour sea trial in the area around West Hinder lightship. The boat did not return. (Pos. 51°21'N-02°38'E). The commander's body was washed up on the Jutland coast near Lodbjerg on 03.08.1917 and buried in the local cemetery.
Summary of raiding history
Date | Name | Nationality | Tonnage | Fate |
---|---|---|---|---|
2 August 1916 | Bror Oskar | ![]() |
368 | Sunk |
2 August 1916 | Commerce | ![]() |
638 | Sunk |
2 August 1916 | Themis | ![]() |
1,047 | Captured as prize |
2 August 1916 | Vera | ![]() |
312 | Sunk |
2 August 1916 | Vermland | ![]() |
213 | Sunk |
10 April 1917 | Pluto | ![]() |
1,266 | Sunk |
7 May 1917 | Martha Maria | ![]() |
176 | Sunk |
7 May 1917 | Prins Hendrik De Nederlande | ![]() |
182 | Sunk |
16 May 1917 | Friso | ![]() |
171 | Sunk |
17 May 1917 | Kilmaho | ![]() |
2,155 | Sunk |
18 May 1917 | Adventure | ![]() |
50 | Sunk |
18 May 1917 | Primrose | ![]() |
62 | Sunk |
19 May 1917 | Askild | ![]() |
2,540 | Sunk |
20 May 1917 | Normand | ![]() |
2,097 | Sunk |
11 June 1917 | Knight Companion | ![]() |
7,241 | Damaged |
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.
- ^ Tonnages are in gross register tons
Citations
- ^ Rössler 1979, p. 64.
- ^ Gröner 1991, pp. 23–25.
- ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Max Viebeg (Pour le Mérite)". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 29 January 2015.
- ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Hermann Glimpf". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 29 January 2015.
- ^ Bendert 2000, p. 195.
- ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by UB 20". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 29 January 2015.
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). Die deutschen U-Boote und ihre Werften: eine Bilddokumentation über den deutschen U-Bootbau; in zwei Bänden (in German). Vol. I. Munich: Bernard & Graefe. ISBN 3-7637-5213-7.