# SM UB-39

SM UB-39 was a German Type UB II submarine or U-boat in the German Imperial Navy (German: Kaiserliche Marine) during World War I.

## Design

A Type UB II submarine, UB-39 had a displacement of 274 tonnes (270 long tons) when at the surface and 303 tonnes (298 long tons) while submerged. She had a total length of 36.90 m (121 ft 1 in), a beam of 4.37 m (14 ft 4 in), and a draught of 3.69 m (12 ft 1 in). The submarine was powered by two Körting six-cylinder diesel engines producing a total 284 metric horsepower (280 shp; 209 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).
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 6,450 nautical miles (11,950 km; 7,420 mi) at 5 knots (9.3 km/h; 5.8 mph). UB-39 was fitted with two 50 centimetres (20 in) torpedo tubes, four torpedoes, and one 8.8 cm (3.5 in) Uk L/30 deck gun. She had a complement of twenty-one crew members and two officers and a 42-second dive time.

## Construction and career

The U-boat was ordered on 22 July 1915 and launched on 28 December 1915. She was commissioned into the German Imperial Navy on 29 April 1916 as SM UB-38.
The submarine sank 93 ships in 14 patrols. UB-39 struck a mine and sank in the English Channel on 17 May 1917.

## Summary of raiding history

| Date | Name | Nationality | Tonnage | Fate |
| 10 July 1916 | Staffa | United Kingdom | 176 | Sunk |
| 13 July 1916 | Dalhousie | United Kingdom | 89 | Sunk |
| 13 July 1916 | Florence | United Kingdom | 149 | Sunk |
| 13 July 1916 | Mary Ann | United Kingdom | 5 | Sunk |
| 13 July 1916 | Success | United Kingdom | 6 | Sunk |
| 14 July 1916 | Ben Aden | United Kingdom | 176 | Sunk |
| 14 July 1916 | Bute | United Kingdom | 176 | Sunk |
| 14 July 1916 | Girls Friend | United Kingdom | 55 | Sunk |
| 14 July 1916 | Langley Castle | United Kingdom | 93 | Sunk |
| 14 July 1916 | Recorder | United Kingdom | 149 | Sunk |
| 1 August 1916 | Braconash | United Kingdom | 192 | Sunk |
| 1 August 1916 | Helvetia | United Kingdom | 167 | Sunk |
| 1 August 1916 | King James | United Kingdom | 163 | Sunk |
| 1 August 1916 | Rhodesia | United Kingdom | 110 | Sunk |
| 1 August 1916 | Tatiana | United Kingdom | 285 | Sunk |
| 1 August 1916 | Zeeland | Netherlands | 1,292 | Sunk |
| 2 August 1916 | Olympia | United Kingdom | 221 | Sunk |
| 2 August 1916 | Smiling Morn | United Kingdom | 126 | Sunk |
| 2 August 1916 | Twiddler | United Kingdom | 99 | Sunk |
| 3 August 1916 | Trawler Prince | United Kingdom | 126 | Sunk |
| 3 August 1916 | Lucania | United Kingdom | 92 | Sunk |
| 3 August 1916 | Merchant Prince | United Kingdom | 130 | Sunk |
| 3 August 1916 | Destro | United Kingdom | 859 | Damaged |
| 4 August 1916 | Jägersborg | Denmark | 1,797 | Sunk |
| 4 August 1916 | Stamfordham | United Kingdom | 921 | Sunk |
| 5 August 1916 | Egyptian Prince | United Kingdom | 129 | Sunk |
| 5 August 1916 | St. Olive | United Kingdom | 202 | Sunk |
| 6 September 1916 | Ancona | United Kingdom | 1,168 | Damaged |
| 6 September 1916 | Strathtay | United Kingdom | 4,428 | Sunk |
| 6 September 1916 | Tagus | United Kingdom | 937 | Sunk |
| 7 September 1916 | Marguerite | France | 102 | Sunk |
| 7 September 1916 | Alcyon | France | 163 | Sunk |
| 7 September 1916 | Heathdene | United Kingdom | 3,541 | Sunk |
| 7 September 1916 | Messicano | Kingdom of Italy | 4,065 | Sunk |
| 8 September 1916 | Jeune Union | France | 267 | Sunk |
| 8 September 1916 | Lyderhorn | Norway | 939 | Sunk |
| 8 September 1916 | Olazarri | Spain | 2,585 | Sunk |
| 9 September 1916 | Europe | France | 356 | Sunk |
| 9 September 1916 | Pronto | Norway | 1,411 | Sunk |
| 10 September 1916 | Lexie | United Kingdom | 3,778 | Sunk |
| 11 September 1916 | Fredavore | Norway | 1,577 | Sunk |
| 20 October 1916 | Midland | United Kingdom | 4,247 | Sunk |
| 20 October 1916 | Secundo | Norway | 1,512 | Sunk |
| 21 October 1916 | Hebe | Denmark | 775 | Sunk |
| 21 October 1916 | Helga | Denmark | 1,182 | Sunk |
| 22 October 1916 | Alix | Norway | 1,584 | Sunk |
| 13 November 1916 | Corinth | United Kingdom | 3,669 | Sunk |
| 28 November 1916 | Alert | United Kingdom | 289 | Sunk |
| 28 November 1916 | Alison | United Kingdom | 286 | Sunk |
| 28 November 1916 | Ramsgarth | United Kingdom | 1,553 | Sunk |
| 29 November 1916 | Grace | United Kingdom | 135 | Sunk |
| 29 November 1916 | Saint Philippe | France | 3,419 | Sunk |
| 30 November 1916 | Nagata Maru | Japan | 3,521 | Sunk |
| 30 November 1916 | Harald | Norway | 1,083 | Sunk |
| 1 December 1916 | Jeanne D’arc | France | 205 | Sunk |
| 2 December 1916 | Palacine | Canada | 3,286 | Sunk |
| 3 December 1916 | Primevere | France | 143 | Sunk |
| 6 December 1916 | Amicitia | Norway | 1,111 | Sunk |
| 7 December 1916 | Bravo | Spain | 1,214 | Sunk |
| 8 December 1916 | Rakiura | Norway | 3,569 | Sunk |
| 8 December 1916 | Rollo | Denmark | 2,290 | Sunk |
| 8 December 1916 | Saga | Norway | 433 | Sunk |
| 28 December 1916 | Rouen | France | 1,656 | Damaged |
| 1 January 1917 | Holly Branch | United Kingdom | 3,568 | Sunk |
| 1 January 1917 | Leon | France | 652 | Sunk |
| 2 January 1917 | Carlyle | United Kingdom | 466 | Sunk |
| 3 January 1917 | Columbia | France | 34 | Sunk |
| 3 January 1917 | Diamant De La Couronne I | France | 36 | Sunk |
| 3 January 1917 | Diamant De La Couronne II | France | 34 | Sunk |
| 3 January 1917 | Formidable | France | 26 | Sunk |
| 3 January 1917 | Helgøy | Norway | 1,806 | Sunk |
| 3 January 1917 | Honneur Et Devouement | France | 26 | Sunk |
| 3 January 1917 | Jeanne Mathilde | France | 60 | Sunk |
| 3 January 1917 | La Pensee | France | 30 | Sunk |
| 3 January 1917 | Marie Henriette | France | 25 | Sunk |
| 3 January 1917 | Moderne | France | 38 | Sunk |
| 3 January 1917 | Pere Montfort | France | 13 | Sunk |
| 3 January 1917 | Pierre Le Grand | France | 42 | Sunk |
| 3 January 1917 | Richelieu | France | 25 | Sunk |
| 3 January 1917 | Saint Jacques | France | 34 | Sunk |
| 3 January 1917 | Saint Paul II | France | 30 | Sunk |
| 3 January 1917 | Petit Emile | France | 60 | Sunk |
| 4 January 1917 | Gabrielle Francois | France | 37 | Sunk |
| 5 January 1917 | Allie | United Kingdom | 1,127 | Sunk |
| 5 January 1917 | Markland | Norway | 1,627 | Sunk |
| 4 February 1917 | Dauntless | United Kingdom | 2,157 | Sunk |
| 5 February 1917 | Yvonne | France | 123 | Sunk |
| 10 February 1917 | Rancagua | France | 2,729 | Sunk |
| 23 March 1917 | Achille Adam | United Kingdom | 460 | Sunk |
| 23 March 1917 | Clan Macmillan | United Kingdom | 4,525 | Sunk |
| 23 March 1917 | Exchange | United Kingdom | 279 | Sunk |
| 23 March 1917 | O. A. Knudsen | Norway | 3,532 | Damaged |
| 1 April 1917 | Silvia | United Kingdom | 164 | Sunk |
| 5 April 1917 | Dicto | Norway | 2,363 | Sunk |
| 6 April 1917 | La Tour D’Auvergne | France | 188 | Sunk |
| 6 April 1917 | Perce Neige | France | 141 | Sunk |
| 9 April 1917 | Saint Maudez | France | 292 | Sunk |