SM U-74
| History | |
|---|---|
 German Empire | |
| Name | U-74 |
| Ordered | 6 January 1915 |
| Builder | Kaiserliche Werft Danzig |
| Yard number | 30 |
| Launched | 10 August 1915 |
| Commissioned | 24 November 1915 |
| Fate | 17 May 1916 - Sank in a mine handling accident 3.5 nmi (6.5 km; 4.0 mi) off Dunbar, Scotland. 34 dead (all hands lost).[1] |
| General characteristics [2] | |
| Class and type | German Type UE I submarine |
| Displacement |
|
| Length |
|
| Beam |
|
| Height | 8.25 m (27 ft 1 in) |
| Draught | 4.84 m (15 ft 11 in) |
| Installed power | |
| Propulsion | 2 shafts, 2× 1.41 m (4 ft 8 in) propellers |
| Speed |
|
| Range |
|
| Test depth | 50 m (164 ft 1 in) |
| Complement | 4 officers, 28 enlisted |
| Armament |
|
| Service record | |
| Part of: |
|
| Commanders: |
|
| Operations: | 2 patrols |
| Victories: |
1 merchant ship sunk (2,802 GRT)[1] |
SM U-74[Note 1] was a Type UE 1 submarine and one of the 329 submarines serving in the Imperial German Navy in World War I. U-74 was engaged in the naval warfare and took part in the First Battle of the Atlantic.
Design[edit]
German Type UE I submarines were preceded by the longer Type U 66 submarines. U-74 had a displacement of 755 tonnes (743 long tons) when at the surface and 829 tonnes (816 long tons) while submerged.[2] She had a total length of 56.80 m (186 ft 4 in), a pressure hull length of 46.66 m (153 ft 1 in), a beam of 5.90 m (19 ft 4 in), a height of 8.25 m (27 ft 1 in), and a draught of 4.84 m (15 ft 11 in). The submarine was powered by two 800 metric horsepower (590 kW; 790 shp) engines for use while surfaced, and two 800 metric horsepower (590 kW; 790 shp) engines for use while submerged. She had two propeller shafts. She was capable of operating at depths of up to 50 metres (160 ft).[2]
The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 10.6 knots (19.6 km/h; 12.2 mph) and a maximum submerged speed of 7.9 knots (14.6 km/h; 9.1 mph).[2] When submerged, she could operate for 83 nautical miles (154 km; 96 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph); when surfaced, she could travel 5,480 nautical miles (10,150 km; 6,310 mi) at 7 knots (13 km/h; 8.1 mph). U-74 was fitted with two 50 centimetres (20 in) torpedo tubes (one at the port bow and one starboard stern), four torpedoes, and one 8.8 cm (3.5 in) SK L/30 deck gun. She had a complement of thirty-two (twenty-eight crew members and four officers).[2]
Summary of raiding history[edit]
| Date | Name | Nationality | Tonnage[Note 2] | Fate[4] |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 April 1916 | Sabbia |  United Kingdom
|
2,802 | Sunk |
References[edit]
Notes[edit]
- ^ "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[edit]
- ^ a b Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boats: U 74". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 24 December 2014.
- ^ a b c d e Gröner 1991, pp. 10–11.
- ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Erwin Weisbach". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 18 January 2015.
- ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U 74". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 18 January 2015.
Bibliography[edit]
- 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.
Shipwrecks and maritime incidents in May 1916 | |
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| Shipwrecks |
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| Other incidents |
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