SM UC-12
SM "UC-12" was a German Type UC I minelayer submarine or U-boat in the German Imperial Navy () during World War I. Design. A German Type UC I submarine, "UC-1" had a displacement of when at the surface and while submerged. She had a length overall of , a beam of , and a draught of . The submarine was powered by one Benz six-cylinder, four-stroke diesel engine producing , an electric motor producing , and one propeller shaft. She was capable of operating at a depth of . The submarine had a maximum surface speed of and a maximum submerged speed  of . When submerged, she could operate for at ; when surfaced, she could travel at . "UC-1" was fitted with six mine tubes, twelve UC 120 mines, and one machine gun. She was built by AG Weser Bremen and her complement was fourteen crew members. Construction. The U-boat was ordered on 23 November 1914, laid down on 27 January 1915, and was launched on 29 April 1915. She was commissioned into the German Imperial Navy on 2 May 1915 as SM "UC-12". Service history. "UC-12" served with the Pola Flotilla based at Cattaro in the Adriatic. She operated as a minelayer , and undertook seven patrols in this role. Mines laid by "UC-12" were credited with sinking six ships. One of these, the Italian "Marechiaro" sunk on 21 February 1916, was listed as a hospital ship and sank with over 200 casualties. Since Germany was not at war with Italy at this stage, though Austria was, "UC 12", like other German U-boats in the Mediterranean, operated under the Austro-Hungarian flag. Fate. On 16 March 1916 "UC-12" was sunk by the detonation of one of her own mines while laying a mine fields off Taranto harbour. Italian divers inspected the wreck  and established its identity. The knowledge that Germany, technically their ally, was assiduously mining their naval bases was a contributing factor in Italy’s decision in August 1916 to declare war on Germany. The submarine was raised by Italy and commissioned as X-1 in the Italian Royal Navy.