SM UB-66

SM UB-66 was a German Type UB III submarine or U-boat in the German Imperial Navy (German: Kaiserliche Marine) during World War I. She was commissioned into the German Imperial Navy on 1 August 1917 as SM UB-66.[Note 1]

For other ships with the same name, see German submarine U-66.
UB-148 at sea, a U-boat similar to UB-66.
History
German Empire
Name: UB-66
Ordered: 20 May 1916[1]
Builder: Friedrich Krupp Germaniawerft, Kiel
Cost: 3,276,000 German Papiermark
Yard number: 284
Launched: 31 May 1917[2]
Commissioned: 1 August 1917[2]
Fate: sunk by depth charges 18 January 1918 at 38°30′N 24°25′E by a British warship[2]
General characteristics [2]
Class and type: German Type UB III submarine
Displacement:
  • 513 t (505 long tons) surfaced
  • 647 t (637 long tons) submerged
Length: 55.83 m (183 ft 2 in) (o/a)
Beam: 5.80 m (19 ft)
Draught: 3.67 m (12 ft)
Propulsion:
Speed:
  • 13.2 knots (24.4 km/h; 15.2 mph) surfaced
  • 7.6 knots (14.1 km/h; 8.7 mph) submerged
Range:
  • 9,090 nmi (16,830 km; 10,460 mi) at 6 knots (11 km/h; 6.9 mph) surfaced
  • 55 nmi (102 km; 63 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph) submerged
Test depth: 50 m (160 ft)
Complement: 3 officers, 31 men[2]
Armament:
Service record
Part of:
Commanders:
  • Kptlt. Fritz Wernicke[3]
  • 1 August 1917 – 18 January 1918
Operations: 2 patrols
Victories: 2 merchant ships sunk (4,105 GRT)

UB-66 was sunk by HMS Campanula at 38°30′N 24°25′E on 18 January 1918, 30 crew members died in the event.[2]

Construction
Main article: German Type UB III submarine

She was built by Friedrich Krupp Germaniawerft of Kiel and following just under a year of construction, launched at Kiel on 31 May 1917. UB-66 was commissioned later that same year under the command of Kptlt. Fritz Wernicke. Like all Type UB III submarines, UB-66 carried 10 torpedoes and was armed with a 8.8 cm (3.46 in) deck gun. UB-66 would carry a crew of up to 3 officer and 31 men and had a cruising range of 9,090 nautical miles (16,830 km; 10,460 mi). UB-66 had a displacement of 513 t (505 long tons) while surfaced and 647 t (637 long tons) when submerged. Her engines enabled her to travel at 13.2 knots (24.4 km/h; 15.2 mph) when surfaced and 7.6 knots (14.1 km/h; 8.7 mph) when submerged.

Summary of raiding history
Date Name Nationality Tonnage[Note 2] Fate[4]
19 October 1917 Martha  Denmark 412 Sunk
17 January 1918 Windsor Hall  United Kingdom 3,693 Sunk

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.
  2. Tonnages are in gross register tons

Citations
  1. Rössler 1979, p. 27.
  2. Gröner 1991, pp. 25-30.
  3. Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Fritz Wernicke". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 8 March 2015.
  4. Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by UB 66". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 8 March 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.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • 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.
  • Rössler, Eberhard (1979). U-Bootbau bis Ende des 1. Weltkrieges, Konstruktionen für das Ausland und die Jahre 1935 - 1945. Die deutschen U-Boote und ihre Werften (in German). I. Munich: Bernard & Graefe. ISBN 3-7637-5213-7.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)

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