# SM UC-26

SM UC-26 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 29 August 1915 and was launched on 22 June 1916. She was commissioned into the German Imperial Navy on 18 July 1916 as SM UC-26. In nine patrols UC-26 was credited with sinking 39 ships, either by torpedo or by mines laid. On 16 February 1917, SM UC-26 was rammed by the Royal Naval vessel Mona's Queen (with over 1,000 troops embarked) near Le Harve. The submarine was hit by the port paddlebox of the Mona's Queen, with her steel paddle floats severely damaging the submarine's bow. UC-26 was ultimately rammed and sunk by HMS Milne off Calais on 8 May 1917.

## Design

A Type UC II submarine, UC-26 had a displacement of 400 tonnes (390 long tons) when at the surface and 480 tonnes (470 long tons) while submerged. She had a length overall of 49.45 m (162 ft 3 in), a beam of 5.22 m (17 ft 2 in), and a draught of 3.65 m (12 ft). The submarine was powered by two six-cylinder four-stroke diesel engines each producing 250 metric horsepower (180 kW; 250 shp) (a total of 500 metric horsepower (370 kW; 490 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 11.6 knots (21.5 km/h; 13.3 mph) and a submerged speed of 6.6 knots (12.2 km/h; 7.6 mph). When submerged, she could operate for 53 nautical miles (98 km; 61 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph); when surfaced, she could travel 9,260 nautical miles (17,150 km; 10,660 mi) at 7 knots (13 km/h; 8.1 mph). UC-26 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 |
| 23 September 1916 | Prinsessan Ingeborg | Sweden | 3,670 | Damaged |
| 30 September 1916 | Maywood | United Kingdom | 1,188 | Sunk |
| 30 September 1916 | William George | United Kingdom | 151 | Sunk |
| 1 October 1916 | Vanellus | United Kingdom | 1,797 | Sunk |
| 1 October 1916 | Villebois Mareuil | France | 32 | Sunk |
| 3 October 1916 | Ada | Norway | 1,111 | Sunk |
| 4 October 1916 | Risholm | Norway | 2,550 | Sunk |
| 5 October 1916 | Isle of Hastings | United Kingdom | 1,575 | Sunk |
| 13 October 1916 | Mercator | Finland | 2,827 | Sunk |
| 27 October 1916 | Blanc Nez | French Navy | 247 | Sunk |
| 28 October 1916 | HMHS Galeka | Royal Navy | 6,772 | Sunk |
| 30 October 1916 | Saint Hubert | French Navy | 216 | Sunk |
| 1 November 1916 | Torpilleur 300 | French Navy | 99 | Sunk |
| 15 November 1916 | Saint Leonards | United Kingdom | 4,574 | Damaged |
| 16 November 1916 | HMT Anthony Hope | Royal Navy | 288 | Sunk |
| 16 November 1916 | Joachim Brinch Lund | Norway | 1,603 | Sunk |
| 16 November 1916 | San Nicolao | Portugal | 2,697 | Sunk |
| 17 November 1916 | Monmouth | United Kingdom | 4,078 | Damaged |
| 19 November 1916 | Finn | Norway | 3,806 | Sunk |
| 21 November 1916 | Cap Lihou | France | 252 | Sunk |
| 22 November 1916 | Brierton | United Kingdom | 3,255 | Sunk |
| 22 November 1916 | Trym | Norway | 1,801 | Sunk |
| 23 November 1916 | Dansted | Denmark | 1,499 | Sunk |
| 25 November 1916 | Alfred De Courcy | France | 164 | Sunk |
| 25 November 1916 | Malvina | France | 112 | Sunk |
| 10 December 1916 | Strathalbyn | United Kingdom | 4,331 | Sunk |
| 28 January 1917 | Egret | Russia | 4,055 | Sunk |
| 28 January 1917 | Argo | Norway | 1,261 | Sunk |
| 28 January 1917 | Heimland I | Norway | 505 | Sunk |
| 7 February 1917 | Noella | French Navy | 277 | Sunk |
| 16 February 1917 | Mona's Queen | Isle of Man | 1,200 | Damaged during ramming |
| 10 April 1917 | HMS P26 | Royal Navy | 613 | Sunk |
| 10 April 1917 | HMHS Salta | Royal Navy | 7,284 | Sunk |
| 11 April 1917 | HMT Amy | Royal Navy | 270 | Sunk |
| 11 April 1917 | Branksome Hall | United Kingdom | 4,262 | Damaged |
| 11 April 1917 | Duchess of Cornwall | United Kingdom | 1,706 | Sunk |
| 13 April 1917 | Gambetta | France | 39 | Sunk |
| 14 April 1917 | Tom | Spain | 2,413 | Sunk |
| 18 April 1917 | Surcouf | France | 195 | Sunk |
| 19 April 1917 | Senator Dantziger | United Kingdom | 164 | Sunk |
| 2 May 1917 | Certo | Norway | 1,629 | Sunk |
| 2 May 1917 | HMS Derwent | Royal Navy | 555 | Sunk |
| 3 May 1917 | Ussa | United Kingdom | 2,066 | Sunk |
| 8 May 1917 | Iris | United Kingdom | 75 | Sunk |