# SM UC-47

SM UC-47 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 20 November 1915, laid down on 1 February 1916, and was launched on 30 August 1916. She was commissioned into the German Imperial Navy on 13 October 1916 as SM UC-47. In 13 patrols UC-47 was credited with sinking 58 ships, either by torpedo or by mines laid. UC-47 was rammed and depth charged by British patrol boat P-57, under the command of H.C. Birnie, off Flamborough Head on 18 November 1917. UC-47 went down with all hands.

## Design

A Type UC II submarine, UC-47 had a displacement of 420 tonnes (410 long tons) when at the surface and 502 tonnes (494 long tons) while submerged. She had a length overall of 51.85 m (170 ft 1 in), a beam of 5.22 m (17 ft 2 in), and a draught of 3.68 m (12 ft 1 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 460 metric horsepower (340 kW; 450 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 11.7 knots (21.7 km/h; 13.5 mph) and a submerged speed of 6.7 knots (12.4 km/h; 7.7 mph). When submerged, she could operate for 54 nautical miles (100 km; 62 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph); when surfaced, she could travel 7,280 nautical miles (13,480 km; 8,380 mi) at 7 knots (13 km/h; 8.1 mph). UC-47 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 |
| 31 January 1917 | Modiva | Norway | 1,276 | Sunk |
| 1 February 1917 | Portia | Norway | 1,127 | Sunk |
| 8 February 1917 | HMS Ghurka | Royal Navy | 880 | Sunk |
| 8 February 1917 | Lullington | United Kingdom | 2,816 | Sunk |
| 10 February 1917 | Japanese Prince | United Kingdom | 4,876 | Sunk |
| 12 February 1917 | Aghios Spyridon | Greece | 1,618 | Sunk |
| 12 February 1917 | Brissons | United Kingdom | 60 | Sunk |
| 13 February 1917 | Sequoya | United Kingdom | 5,263 | Damaged |
| 13 February 1917 | F. D. Lambert | United Kingdom | 2,195 | Sunk |
| 13 February 1917 | Fleurette | United Kingdom | 60 | Sunk |
| 11 March 1917 | Charles Le Cour | France | 2,352 | Sunk |
| 11 March 1917 | G. A. Savage | United Kingdom | 357 | Sunk |
| 12 March 1917 | C.A.S. | United Kingdom | 60 | Sunk |
| 12 March 1917 | Ena | United Kingdom | 56 | Sunk |
| 12 March 1917 | Gratia | United Kingdom | 37 | Sunk |
| 12 March 1917 | Hyacinth | United Kingdom | 56 | Sunk |
| 12 March 1917 | Inter-nos | United Kingdom | 59 | Sunk |
| 12 March 1917 | Jessamine | United Kingdom | 56 | Sunk |
| 12 March 1917 | Lent Lily | United Kingdom | 23 | Sunk |
| 12 March 1917 | Nellie | United Kingdom | 61 | Sunk |
| 12 March 1917 | Proverb | United Kingdom | 37 | Sunk |
| 12 March 1917 | Rivina | United Kingdom | 22 | Sunk |
| 14 March 1917 | Brika | United Kingdom | 3,549 | Sunk |
| 15 March 1917 | Solferino | Norway | 1,155 | Sunk |
| 15 March 1917 | Wilfred | Norway | 1,121 | Sunk |
| 16 March 1917 | Medusa | Kingdom of Italy | 1,274 | Sunk |
| 16 March 1917 | Sully | France | 2,649 | Sunk |
| 17 April 1917 | Dantzic | United Kingdom | 108 | Sunk |
| 17 April 1917 | William Shephard | United Kingdom | 143 | Sunk |
| 19 April 1917 | Old Head | United Kingdom | 105 | Damaged |
| 19 April 1917 | Gold Coast | United Kingdom | 4,255 | Sunk |
| 19 April 1917 | Jewel | United Kingdom | 195 | Sunk |
| 19 April 1917 | HMT Star of Freedom | Royal Navy | 258 | Sunk |
| 22 April 1917 | HMS Gaelic | Royal Navy | 224 | Damaged |
| 23 April 1917 | Tommi | United Kingdom | 138 | Damaged |
| 23 April 1917 | Imataka | United Kingdom | 1,776 | Sunk |
| 24 April 1917 | Heather | United Kingdom | 58 | Sunk |
| 24 April 1917 | Plutus | United Kingdom | 1,189 | Sunk |
| 26 April 1917 | Aigle | France | 172 | Sunk |
| 26 April 1917 | John Lockett | Norway | 842 | Sunk |
| 18 May 1917 | Mary Baird | United Kingdom | 1,830 | Sunk |
| 3 June 1917 | Portofino | Kingdom of Italy | 1,754 | Sunk |
| 12 June 1917 | HMT Carew Castle | Royal Navy | 256 | Sunk |
| 14 June 1917 | Dart | United Kingdom | 3,207 | Sunk |
| 19 June 1917 | Great City | United Kingdom | 5,525 | Damaged |
| 18 July 1917 | Ruth | Norway | 549 | Damaged |
| 20 July 1917 | Beatrice | United Kingdom | 712 | Sunk |
| 20 July 1917 | Bramham | United Kingdom | 1,978 | Sunk |
| 31 July 1917 | Fremona | United Kingdom | 3,028 | Sunk |
| 31 July 1917 | Motano | United States | 2,730 | Sunk |
| 22 August 1917 | Gro | Norway | 2,667 | Sunk |
| 23 August 1917 | Peer Gynt | Norway | 1,144 | Sunk |
| 23 August 1917 | Veghtstroom | United Kingdom | 1,353 | Sunk |
| 26 August 1917 | Eirini | Greece | 2,452 | Sunk |
| 26 August 1917 | Seresia | Belgium | 2,342 | Damaged |
| 23 September 1917 | Perseverance | United Kingdom | 118 | Sunk |
| 24 September 1917 | Mimosa | France | 296 | Damaged |
| 25 September 1917 | Boynton | United Kingdom | 2,578 | Sunk |
| 3 October 1917 | Annie F. Conlon | United States | 591 | Sunk |
| 18 October 1917 | Cadmus | United Kingdom | 1,879 | Sunk |
| 18 October 1917 | Togston | United Kingdom | 1,057 | Sunk |
| 9 November 1917 | Ballogie | United Kingdom | 1,207 | Sunk |
| 9 November 1917 | Isabelle | France | 2,466 | Sunk |
| 11 November 1917 | Dana | Sweden | 1,620 | Sunk |
| 12 November 1917 | Huibertje | Netherlands | 68 | Sunk |
| 14 March 1918 | Jeanne Marie | France | 2,971 | Sunk |