# SM UC-72

SM UC-72 was a German Type UC II minelaying submarine or U-boat in the German Imperial Navy (German: Kaiserliche Marine) during World War I. The U-boat was ordered on 12 January 1916 and was launched on 12 August 1916. She was commissioned into the German Imperial Navy on 5 December 1916 as SM UC-72. In eight patrols UC-72 was credited with sinking 41 ships, either by torpedo or by mines laid. UC-72 disappeared after 21 August 1917.
The wreck of UC-72 was identified by marine archaeologist Innes McCartney off Dover in 2013. The wreck seems to have fallen victim to a mine while inbound from patrol.

## Design

A Type UC II submarine, UC-72 had a displacement of 427 tonnes (420 long tons) when at the surface and 508 tonnes (500 long tons) while submerged. She had a length overall of 50.35 m (165 ft 2 in), a beam of 5.22 m (17 ft 2 in), and a draught of 3.64 m (11 ft 11 in). The submarine was powered by two six-cylinder four-stroke diesel engines each producing 300 metric horsepower (220 kW; 300 shp) (a total of 600 metric horsepower (440 kW; 590 shp)), two electric motors producing 620 metric horsepower (460 kW; 610 shp), and two propeller shafts. She had a dive time of 48 seconds and was capable of operating at a depth of 50 metres (160 ft).
The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph) and a submerged speed of 7.4 knots (13.7 km/h; 8.5 mph). When submerged, she could operate for 52 nautical miles (96 km; 60 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph); when surfaced, she could travel 10,420 nautical miles (19,300 km; 11,990 mi) at 7 knots (13 km/h; 8.1 mph). UC-72 was fitted with six 100 centimetres (39 in) mine tubes, eighteen UC 200 mines, three 50 centimetres (20 in) torpedo tubes (one on the stern and two on the bow), seven torpedoes, and one 8.8 cm (3.5 in) Uk L/30 deck gun. Her complement was twenty-six crew members.

## Summary of raiding history

| Date | Name | Nationality | Tonnage | Fate |
| 13 March 1917 | Reward | United Kingdom | 172 | Sunk |
| 24 March 1917 | HMT Kings Grey | Royal Navy | 338 | Damaged |
| 1 April 1917 | Eastern Belle | United Kingdom | 97 | Sunk |
| 26 April 1917 | HMD Plantin | Royal Navy | 84 | Sunk |
| 27 April 1917 | Good Hope | United Kingdom | 89 | Sunk |
| 29 April 1917 | Bayonnais | France | 20 | Sunk |
| 29 April 1917 | Eugenie Et Lucie | France | 34 | Sunk |
| 29 April 1917 | Frere Des Cinq Soeurs | France | 20 | Sunk |
| 29 April 1917 | Petit Ernest | France | 20 | Sunk |
| 1 May 1917 | Acacia | France | 9 | Sunk |
| 1 May 1917 | Antigone | France | 15 | Sunk |
| 1 May 1917 | Camille Amelie | France | 21 | Sunk |
| 2 May 1917 | Cancalais | France | 231 | Sunk |
| 2 May 1917 | Keryado | French Navy | 175 | Sunk |
| 2 May 1917 | Victoire | France | 290 | Sunk |
| 2 May 1917 | Russie | France | 127 | Sunk |
| 2 May 1917 | Yvonne | France | 100 | Sunk |
| 4 May 1917 | Mamelena IX | Spain | 115 | Sunk |
| 4 May 1917 | Mamelena XII | Spain | 111 | Sunk |
| 4 May 1917 | Marne II | France | 250 | Sunk |
| 4 May 1917 | Verdun | France | 25 | Sunk |
| 5 May 1917 | Nydal | Norway | 1,809 | Sunk |
| 6 May 1917 | Francesco | Kingdom of Italy | 3,438 | Sunk |
| 28 May 1917 | Detlef Wagner | United Kingdom | 225 | Sunk |
| 2 June 1917 | Ereaga | Spain | 2,233 | Sunk |
| 2 June 1917 | Skarpsno | Norway | 1,766 | Sunk |
| 2 June 1917 | St. Sunniva | Norway | 1,140 | Sunk |
| 3 June 1917 | Rosario | Uruguay | 1,565 | Sunk |
| 6 June 1917 | Saint Eloi | France | 1,993 | Sunk |
| 8 June 1917 | Sequana | French Navy | 5,557 | Sunk |
| 3 July 1917 | Henrik | Norway | 3,928 | Sunk |
| 7 July 1917 | Massapequa | United States | 3,193 | Sunk |
| 8 July 1917 | Cambronne | France | 1,863 | Sunk |
| 8 July 1917 | M. I. Mandal | Denmark | 1,886 | Sunk |
| 8 July 1917 | Mary W. Bowen | United States | 2,153 | Sunk |
| 9 July 1917 | Ceres | France | 296 | Sunk |
| 11 July 1917 | Anglo-Patagonian | United Kingdom | 5,017 | Sunk |
| 15 July 1917 | Trelissick | United Kingdom | 4,168 | Sunk |
| 16 August 1917 | Delphic | United Kingdom | 8,273 | Sunk |
| 17 August 1917 | Meuse II | France | 5,270 | Sunk |
| 19 August 1917 | HMS Penshurst | Royal Navy | 1,191 | Damaged |
| 21 August 1917 | HS 4 | United Kingdom | 121 | Sunk |
| 21 August 1917 | RB 6 | United Kingdom | 800 | Sunk |