SM UB-45, a U-boat similar to UB-26
History
German Empire
NameUB-26
Ordered30 April 1915[1]
BuilderAG Weser, Bremen[1]
Cost1,291,000 German Papiermark
Yard number240[1]
Laid down30 June 1915
Launched14 December 1915[1]
Commissioned27 December 1915
FateSunk in Le Havre harbour
France
NameRoland Morillot
NamesakeRoland Morillot
Acquired30 August 1917
Decommissioned21 January 1925
FateBroken up after testing in 1931
General characteristics [2]
Class and typeGerman Type UB II submarine
Displacement
  • 265 t (261 long tons) surfaced
  • 291 t (286 long tons) submerged
Length
Beam
  • 4.36 m (14 ft 4 in) o/a
  • 3.85 m (13 ft) pressure hull
Draught3.66 m (12 ft)
Propulsion
Speed
  • 9.15 knots (16.95 km/h; 10.53 mph) surfaced
  • 5.81 knots (10.76 km/h; 6.69 mph) submerged
Range
  • 7,200 nautical miles (13,300 km; 8,300 mi) at 5 knots (9.3 km/h; 5.8 mph) surfaced
  • 45 nmi (83 km; 52 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph) submerged
Test depth50 m (160 ft)
Complement2 officers, 21 men
Armament
Notes30-second diving time
Service record
Part of:
Commanders:
  • Oblt.z.S. Wilhelm Smiths[3]
  • 7 January – 5 April 1916
Operations: 2 patrols
Victories: None

SM UB-26 was a German Type UB II submarine or U-boat in the German Imperial Navy (German: Kaiserliche Marine) during World War I. The U-boat was ordered on 30 April 1915 and launched on 14 December 1915. She was commissioned into the German Imperial Navy on 27 December 1915 as SM UB-26.[Note 1] UB-26 was trapped in anti-submarine nets trailed by the French destroyer Trombe and was scuttled in Le Havre harbour on 5 April 1916. She was raised by the French on 30 August 1917 and served as Roland Morillot.

On 23 October 1922, Roland Morillot sprang a leak and was abandoned in the English Channel west of Guernsey, Channel Islands. Her crew were rescued by the French ship Daphne. Roland Morillot was subsequently towed into Cherbourg, France by the French tug Centaure.[4]

Roland Morillot was repaired and remained in service until 21 January 1925. She then was used in tests before finally being broken up in Cherbourg in 1935.

Design

A German Type UB II submarine, UB-26 had a displacement of 265 tonnes (261 long tons) when at the surface and 291 tonnes (286 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 3.66 m (12 ft 0 in). The submarine was powered by two Daimler six-cylinder diesel engines producing a total 270 metric horsepower (270 shp; 200 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 8.9 knots (16.5 km/h; 10.2 mph) and a maximum submerged speed of 5.72 knots (10.59 km/h; 6.58 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 7,200 nautical miles (13,300 km; 8,300 mi) at 5 knots (9.3 km/h; 5.8 mph). UB-26 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-one crew members and two officers and a thirty-second dive time.[2]

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.

References

  1. ^ a b c d Rössler 1979, p. 54.
  2. ^ a b c Gröner 1991, pp. 23–25.
  3. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Wilhelm Smiths". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 8 March 2015.
  4. ^ "Missing submarine found". The Times. No. 43171. London. 25 October 1922. col B, p. 11.

Bibliography

49°28′N 0°2′E / 49.467°N 0.033°E / 49.467; 0.033

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