U boot lied
The mine storage bins were arranged in the bow section rather than in the stern as with the UE type. In terms of technological innovation they were nevertheless ahead of anything the British possessed. The first UC-1 boats were tiny, toy like craft with a very limited range. A new kind of U-boat was developed from lessons learned from the UE type, the UC-boat. Indeed, the most notable success was scored by UE-75 which had laid the mine which sank HMS Hampshire in the Orkneys leading to the death of Kitchener. Note external stern tubes to make room for the minesįor all their flaws the UE class had demonstrated that a purpose built mine-laying submarine was possible. In April 1916, UE-74 was ordered to lay mines in the River Forth.
The East coast of Britain was a promising place for them to demonstrate the worth of these experimental vessels. The less lyrical called themselves, ‘The Suicide Club’. Initially they called the UE type U-boats ‘The Children of Sorrow’, then the mine-laying crews adopted the name for themselves. The German mine-laying crews regarded themselves as a breed apart. Crews believed there was a mechanical flaw in the mine-laying mechanism which was in turn responsible for premature mine detonation. Quite apart from the obvious dangers of war, there was a high accident rate among the submarine mine-laying crews. Unsurprisingly the UE class was unpopular with the U-bootewaffen. After every operation the boats had to spend time in dock under repair. The UE class were comparatively fragile and they were poor depth keepers. The engine compartment was situated ‘midships to make room for the mine-laying equipment located aft of the conning tower, specifically for thirty-four mines. One result of this was the production of a handful of purpose-built experimental mine-laying U-boats which entered service with 1. Technology and resources were poured into U-boat development. Specialist personnel – torpedo petty officers and engineers were pressed into the vastly expanding U-boat fleet as need arose. Post Jutland the KDM turned its attention to boosting its U-boat wing at the expense of the once vaunted High Seas Fleet. What follows is the strangely ironic story of SMS UC-32. What is less well known is the campaign which brought it to Wearside in the first place and the role of the UCII class of U-boats in sowing terror and disruption on the NE coast. Some will inform you it is UC-32, sunk in 1917. Many people will tell you that there is a wrecked First World War U-boat just off Roker Pier. Remains of a U-boat lie just off Roker Pier