# SM UC-16

SM UC-16 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 1 February 1916. She was commissioned into the German Imperial Navy on 18 June 1916 as SM UC-16. In 13 patrols UC-16 was credited with sinking 43 ships, either by torpedo or by mines laid. UC-16 disappeared in October 1917. A postwar German study concluded that UC-16 probably sank after striking a mine off Zeebrugge

## Design

Like all pre-UC-25 Type UC II submarines, UC-16 had a displacement of 417 tonnes (410 long tons) when at the surface and 493 tonnes (485 long tons) while submerged. She had a total length of 49.35 m (161 ft 11 in), 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 500 metric horsepower (370 kW; 490 shp) (a total of 1,000 metric horsepower (740 kW; 990 shp)), two electric motors producing 460 metric horsepower (340 kW; 450 shp), and two propeller shafts. She had a dive time of 35 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 7 knots (13 km/h; 8.1 mph). When submerged, she could operate for 55 nautical miles (102 km; 63 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph); when surfaced, she could travel 9,430 nautical miles (17,460 km; 10,850 mi) at 7 knots (13 km/h; 8.1 mph). UC-16 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 | Andromeda | United Kingdom | 149 | Sunk |
| 23 September 1916 | Beechwold | United Kingdom | 129 | Sunk |
| 23 September 1916 | Britannia III | United Kingdom | 138 | Sunk |
| 23 September 1916 | Cockatrice | United Kingdom | 115 | Sunk |
| 23 September 1916 | Mercury | United Kingdom | 183 | Sunk |
| 23 September 1916 | Phoenix | United Kingdom | 117 | Sunk |
| 23 September 1916 | Refino | United Kingdom | 182 | Sunk |
| 23 September 1916 | Rego | United Kingdom | 176 | Sunk |
| 23 September 1916 | Restless | United Kingdom | 125 | Sunk |
| 23 September 1916 | Viella | United Kingdom | 144 | Sunk |
| 23 September 1916 | Weelsby | United Kingdom | 122 | Sunk |
| 19 October 1916 | Alaunia | United Kingdom | 13,405 | Sunk |
| 22 October 1916 | Fortuna | Netherlands | 1,254 | Sunk |
| 11 November 1916 | Daphne | Norway | 1,388 | Sunk |
| 11 November 1916 | Veronica | United Kingdom | 27 | Sunk |
| 13 November 1916 | Marie Therese | France | 156 | Sunk |
| 14 November 1916 | N.D. De Bon Secours | France | 81 | Sunk |
| 14 November 1916 | Nominoe | France | 327 | Sunk |
| 14 November 1916 | Salangane | France | 125 | Sunk |
| 16 November 1916 | Lelia | France | 79 | Sunk |
| 16 November 1916 | Vasco | United Kingdom | 1,914 | Sunk |
| 26 November 1916 | Caloric | Norway | 7,012 | Damaged |
| 28 December 1916 | Suffolk | United Kingdom | 7,573 | Damaged |
| 30 December 1916 | Aspenleaf | United Kingdom | 7,535 | Damaged |
| 18 January 1917 | Taormina | Kingdom of Italy | 2,457 | Sunk |
| 19 January 1917 | Anna | Norway | 1,237 | Sunk |
| 19 January 1917 | Reinunga | Norway | 1,147 | Sunk |
| 19 January 1917 | Theresdal | Norway | 1,762 | Sunk |
| 21 January 1917 | Couronne | France | 169 | Sunk |
| 22 January 1917 | Juno | Netherlands | 2,345 | Damaged |
| 23 January 1917 | Ymer | Norway | 1,123 | Sunk |
| 15 February 1917 | Leven | United Kingdom | 775 | Sunk |
| 26 February 1917 | Sea Gull | United Kingdom | 144 | Sunk |
| 26 February 1917 | HMT St. Germain | Royal Navy | 307 | Damaged |
| 15 March 1917 | Coonagh | United Kingdom | 1,412 | Sunk |
| 20 April 1917 | HMS Glen | Royal Navy | 112 | Damaged |
| 27 July 1917 | Dirk | Netherlands | 81 | Sunk |
| 27 July 1917 | Dirk van Duyne | Netherlands | 116 | Sunk |
| 27 July 1917 | Jan | Netherlands | 104 | Sunk |
| 27 July 1917 | Majoor Thomson | Netherlands | 110 | Sunk |
| 27 July 1917 | President Commissaris van den Burgh | Netherlands | 111 | Sunk |
| 27 July 1917 | Sterna III | Netherlands | 111 | Sunk |
| 28 July 1917 | Neptunus I | Netherlands | 80 | Sunk |
| 16 August 1917 | Manchester Engineer | United Kingdom | 4,465 | Sunk |
| 17 August 1917 | Susie | United Kingdom | 41 | Sunk |
| 18 August 1917 | Ardens | United Kingdom | 1,274 | Sunk |
| 4 September 1917 | Bishopston | United Kingdom | 2,513 | Sunk |
| 7 September 1917 | Hinemoa | United Kingdom | 2,283 | Sunk |
| 7 September 1917 | Vestfjeld | Norway | 2,063 | Sunk |