The submarine sank 27 ships in 25 patrols. UB-31 was depth charged and sunk by British warships HMS Lord Leitrim, HMS Loyal Friend, and HMS Ocean Roamer in the English Channel on 2 May 1918.[2] Alternatively she may have been sunk by a mine on that date.[6]
A German Type UB II submarine, UB-31 had a displacement of 274 tonnes (270 long tons) when at the surface and 303 tonnes (298 long tons) while submerged. She had a total length of 36.90 m (121 ft 1 in), a beam of 4.37 m (14 ft 4 in), and a draught of 3.69 m (12 ft 1 in). The submarine was powered by two Benz six-cylinder diesel engines producing a total 270 metric horsepower (270 shp; 200 kW), two Siemens-Schuckert electric motors producing 280 metric horsepower (210 kW; 280 shp), and one propeller shaft. She was capable of operating at depths of up to 50 metres (160 ft).[2]
The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 9.06 knots (16.78 km/h; 10.43 mph) and a maximum submerged speed of 5.71 knots (10.57 km/h; 6.57 mph). When submerged, she could operate for 45 nautical miles (83 km; 52 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph); when surfaced, she could travel 7,030 nautical miles (13,020 km; 8,090 mi) at 5 knots (9.3 km/h; 5.8 mph). UB-31 was fitted with two 50 centimetres (20 in) torpedo tubes, four torpedoes, and one 8.8 cm (3.5 in) Uk L/30deck gun. She had a complement of twenty-one crew members and two officers and a 42-second dive time.[2]
^Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Karl Vesper (Royal House Order of Hohenzollern)". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 1 February 2015.
^Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Thomas Bieber (Royal House Order of Hohenzollern)". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 1 February 2015.
^Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Wilhelm Braun". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 1 February 2015.
^Helgason, Guðmundur. "UB-31". U-Boat.net. Retrieved 8 May 2018.
^Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by UB-31". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 1 February 2015.
Gröner, Erich; Jung, Dieter; Maass, Martin (1991). U-boats and Mine Warfare Vessels. German Warships 1815–1945. Vol. 2. Translated by Thomas, Keith; Magowan, Rachel. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN0-85177-593-4.
Rössler, Eberhard (1979). Die deutschen U-Boote und ihre Werften: eine Bilddokumentation über den deutschen U-Bootbau; in zwei Bänden (in German). Vol. I. Munich: Bernard & Graefe. ISBN3-7637-5213-7.
External linksedit
Croche, Paulo (2014) 'UB-31 Folkestone, Kent: Archaeological Report', Wessex Archaeology
Historic England project to research First World War submarine wrecks. 24 June 2016 at the Wayback Machine
January 01, 1970
other, ships, with, same, name, german, submarine, note, german, type, submarine, boat, german, imperial, navy, german, kaiserliche, marine, during, world, boat, ordered, july, 1915, launched, november, 1915, commissioned, into, german, imperial, navy, march, . For other ships with the same name see German submarine U 31 SM UB 31 Note 1 was a German Type UB II submarine or U boat in the German Imperial Navy German Kaiserliche Marine during World War I The U boat was ordered on 22 July 1915 and launched on 16 November 1915 She was commissioned into the German Imperial Navy on 25 March 1916 as SM UB 31 SM UB 45 a U boat similar to UB 31History German Empire NameUB 31 Ordered22 July 1915 1 BuilderBlohm amp Voss Hamburg 1 Cost1 152 000 German Papiermark 2 Yard number255 1 Launched16 November 1915 1 Completed24 March 1916 1 Commissioned25 March 1916 2 FateSunk 2 May 1918 by British warships 2 General characteristics 2 Class and typeGerman Type UB II submarine Displacement274 t 270 long tons surfaced 303 t 298 long tons submerged Length36 90 m 121 ft 1 in o a 27 90 m 91 ft 6 in pressure hull Beam4 37 m 14 ft 4 in o a 3 85 m 12 ft 8 in pressure hull Draught3 69 m 12 ft 1 in Propulsion1 propeller shaft 2 6 cylinder diesel engine 270 PS 200 kW 270 bhp 2 electric motor 280 PS 210 kW 280 shp Speed9 06 knots 16 78 km h 10 43 mph surfaced 5 71 knots 10 57 km h 6 57 mph submerged Range7 030 nmi 13 020 km 8 090 mi at 5 knots 9 3 km h 5 8 mph surfaced 45 nmi 83 km 52 mi at 4 knots 7 4 km h 4 6 mph submerged Test depth50 m 160 ft Complement2 officers 21 men Armament2 50 cm 19 7 in torpedo tubes 4 torpedoes later 6 1 8 8 cm 3 5 in Uk L 30 deck gun Notes42 second diving time Service record Part of Baltic Flotilla 16 May 1916 24 February 1917 Flandern Flotilla 24 February 1917 2 May 1918Commanders Oblt z S Karl Vesper 3 18 March 11 August 1916 Oblt z S Thomas Bieber 4 12 August 1916 31 January 1918 Oblt z S Wilhelm Braun 5 1 February 2 May 1918Operations 25 patrolsVictories 27 merchant ships sunk 73 810 GRT 8 merchant ships damaged 34 699 GRT The submarine sank 27 ships in 25 patrols UB 31 was depth charged and sunk by British warships HMS Lord Leitrim HMS Loyal Friend and HMS Ocean Roamer in the English Channel on 2 May 1918 2 Alternatively she may have been sunk by a mine on that date 6 Contents 1 Design 2 Summary of raiding history 3 References 3 1 Notes 3 2 Citations 4 Bibliography 5 External linksDesign editA German Type UB II submarine UB 31 had a displacement of 274 tonnes 270 long tons when at the surface and 303 tonnes 298 long tons while submerged She had a total length of 36 90 m 121 ft 1 in a beam of 4 37 m 14 ft 4 in and a draught of 3 69 m 12 ft 1 in The submarine was powered by two Benz six cylinder diesel engines producing a total 270 metric horsepower 270 shp 200 kW two Siemens Schuckert electric motors producing 280 metric horsepower 210 kW 280 shp and one propeller shaft She was capable of operating at depths of up to 50 metres 160 ft 2 The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 9 06 knots 16 78 km h 10 43 mph and a maximum submerged speed of 5 71 knots 10 57 km h 6 57 mph When submerged she could operate for 45 nautical miles 83 km 52 mi at 4 knots 7 4 km h 4 6 mph when surfaced she could travel 7 030 nautical miles 13 020 km 8 090 mi at 5 knots 9 3 km h 5 8 mph UB 31 was fitted with two 50 centimetres 20 in torpedo tubes four torpedoes and one 8 8 cm 3 5 in Uk L 30 deck gun She had a complement of twenty one crew members and two officers and a 42 second dive time 2 Summary of raiding history editDate Name Nationality Tonnage Note 2 Fate 7 9 April 1917 Kittiwake nbsp United Kingdom 1 866 Sunk 24 April 1917 Saint Jacques nbsp France 415 Damaged 28 April 1917 Medina nbsp United Kingdom 12 350 Sunk 21 May 1917 City of Corinth nbsp United Kingdom 5 870 Sunk 15 June 1917 Teesdale nbsp United Kingdom 2 470 Damaged 17 June 1917 Stanhope nbsp United Kingdom 2 854 Sunk 5 July 1917 Ocean Swell nbsp United Kingdom 195 Sunk 6 July 1917 Ariadne Christine nbsp United Kingdom 3 550 Damaged 7 July 1917 Bellucia nbsp United Kingdom 4 368 Sunk 10 July 1917 Hildegard nbsp United States 622 Sunk 11 July 1917 Brunhilda nbsp United Kingdom 2 296 Sunk 1 August 1917 Alcyone nbsp United Kingdom 149 Sunk 1 August 1917 Laertes nbsp United Kingdom 4 541 Sunk 2 August 1917 Newlyn nbsp United Kingdom 4 019 Sunk 3 August 1917 Renee Marthe nbsp France 49 Sunk 8 August 1917 Algerie nbsp France 3 386 Damaged 8 September 1917 Elizabeth nbsp United Kingdom 58 Sunk 9 September 1917 Pluton nbsp Norway 1 449 Sunk 19 October 1917 Waikawa nbsp United Kingdom 5 666 Sunk 20 October 1917 Colorado nbsp United Kingdom 7 165 Sunk 23 October 1917 Lepanto nbsp United Kingdom 6 389 Damaged 19 November 1917 Farn nbsp United Kingdom 4 393 Sunk 13 December 1917 Britannic nbsp United Kingdom 92 Sunk 15 December 1917 Sachem nbsp United Kingdom 5 354 Damaged 18 December 1917 Riversdale nbsp United Kingdom 2 805 Sunk 20 December 1917 Alice Marie nbsp United Kingdom 2 210 Sunk 20 December 1917 Eveline nbsp United Kingdom 2 605 Sunk 20 December 1917 Warsaw nbsp United Kingdom 608 Sunk 22 January 1918 Admiral Cochrane nbsp United Kingdom 6 565 Damaged 22 January 1918 Greatham nbsp United Kingdom 2 338 Sunk 24 January 1918 Elsa nbsp Norway 3 581 Sunk 28 February 1918 Heenvliet nbsp Netherlands 492 Sunk 20 March 1918 Boorara nbsp Australia 6 570 Damaged 24 April 1918 Agnete nbsp United Kingdom 1 127 Sunk 25 April 1918 Joseph nbsp France 42 SunkReferences editNotes edit SM stands for Seiner Majestat English His Majesty s and combined with the U for Unterseeboot would be translated as His Majesty s Submarine Tonnages are in gross register tons Citations edit a b c d e Rossler 1979 p 64 a b c d e f g Groner 1991 pp 23 25 Helgason Gudmundur WWI U boat commanders Karl Vesper Royal House Order of Hohenzollern German and Austrian U boats of World War I Kaiserliche Marine Uboat net Retrieved 1 February 2015 Helgason Gudmundur WWI U boat commanders Thomas Bieber Royal House Order of Hohenzollern German and Austrian U boats of World War I Kaiserliche Marine Uboat net Retrieved 1 February 2015 Helgason Gudmundur WWI U boat commanders Wilhelm Braun German and Austrian U boats of World War I Kaiserliche Marine Uboat net Retrieved 1 February 2015 Helgason Gudmundur UB 31 U Boat net Retrieved 8 May 2018 Helgason Gudmundur Ships hit by UB 31 German and Austrian U boats of World War I Kaiserliche Marine Uboat net Retrieved 1 February 2015 Bibliography editBendert Harald 2000 Die UB Boote der Kaiserlichen Marine 1914 1918 Einsatze Erfolge Schicksal in German Hamburg Verlag E S Mittler amp Sohn GmbH ISBN 3 8132 0713 7 Groner Erich Jung Dieter Maass Martin 1991 U boats and Mine Warfare Vessels German Warships 1815 1945 Vol 2 Translated by Thomas Keith Magowan Rachel London Conway Maritime Press ISBN 0 85177 593 4 Rossler Eberhard 1979 Die deutschen U Boote und ihre Werften eine Bilddokumentation uber den deutschen U Bootbau in zwei Banden in German Vol I Munich Bernard amp Graefe ISBN 3 7637 5213 7 External links editCroche Paulo 2014 UB 31 Folkestone Kent Archaeological Report Wessex Archaeology Historic England project to research First World War submarine wrecks Archived 24 June 2016 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title SM UB 31 amp oldid 1198315009, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
