SM UB-25

For other ships with the same name, see German submarine U-25.

SM UB-25 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 9 October 1915. She was commissioned into the German Imperial Navy on 11 December 1915 as SM UB-25.^{[Note 1]} The submarine was lost in a collision with SMS V26 in Kiel harbour on 17 March 1917. She was raised on 22 March 1917 by the salvage ship SMS Vulcan and served on as a training boat until surrendered to the Allies at Harwich on 26 November 1918 in accordance with the requirements of the Armistice with Germany. She was sold by the British Admiralty to George Cohen on 3 March 1919 for £750 (excluding her engines), and was broken up at Canning Town.^[4]

SM UB-45, a U-boat similar to UB-25
History
German Empire
Name	UB-25
Ordered	30 April 1915[1]
Builder	AG Weser, Bremen[1]
Cost	1,291,000 German Papiermark
Yard number	239[1]
Laid down	30 June 1915
Launched	22 November 1915[1]
Commissioned	11 December 1915
Fate	Sunk in accident 19 March 1917; salvaged; surrendered 26 November 1918; scrapped 1919.
General characteristics [2]
Class and type	Type UB II submarine
Displacement	265 t (261 long tons) surfaced 291 t (286 long tons) submerged
Length	36.13 m (118 ft 6 in) o/a 27.13 m (89 ft) pressure hull
Beam	4.36 m (14 ft 4 in) o/a 3.85 m (13 ft) pressure hull
Draught	3.66 m (12 ft)
Propulsion	1 × propeller shaft 2 × 6-cylinder diesel engine, 270 PS (200 kW; 270 bhp) 2 × electric motor, 280 PS (210 kW; 280 shp)
Speed	8.9 knots (16.5 km/h; 10.2 mph) surfaced 5.72 knots (10.59 km/h; 6.58 mph) submerged
Range	7,200 nmi (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 depth	50 m (160 ft)
Complement	2 officers, 21 men
Armament	2 × 50 cm (19.7 in) torpedo tubes 4 × torpedoes (later 6) 1 × 5 cm SK L/40 gun
Notes	30-second diving time
Service record
Commanders:	Oblt.z.S. Hans Nieland[3] 11 – 24 December 1915
Operations:	No patrols
Victories:	None

Design

A Type UB II submarine, UB-25 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 Benz six-cylinder diesel engines each producing a total 267 metric horsepower (263 shp; 196 kW), a Siemens-Schuckert electric motor producing 210 kilowatts (280 shp; 290 PS), 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 8.90 knots (16.48 km/h; 10.24 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-25 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. Rössler 1979, p. 54.
2. Gröner 1991, pp. 23–25.
3. Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Hans Nieland". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 8 March 2015.
4. Dodson, Aidan; Cant, Serena (2020). Spoils of War: the fate of enemy fleets after the two World Wars. Barnsley: Seaforth. p. 128. ISBN 978-1-5267-4198-1.

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.