SM UB-68

For other ships with the same name, see German submarine U-68.
History
German Empire
NameUB-68
Ordered20 May 1916[1][2]
BuilderFriedrich Krupp Germaniawerft, Kiel
Cost3,276,000 German Papiermark
Yard number286
Launched4 July 1917[3]
Commissioned5 October 1917[3]
FateSunk 4 October 1918[3]
General characteristics [3]
Class and typeType UB III submarine
Displacement
  • 513 t (505 long tons) surfaced
  • 647 t (637 long tons) submerged
Length55.83 m (183 ft 2 in) (o/a)
Beam5.80 m (19 ft)
Draught3.67 m (12 ft 0 in)
Propulsion
Speed
  • 13.2 knots (24.4 km/h; 15.2 mph) surfaced
  • 7.6 knots (14.1 km/h; 8.7 mph) submerged
Range
  • 9,090 nmi (16,830 km; 10,460 mi) at 6 knots (11 km/h; 6.9 mph) surfaced
  • 55 nmi (102 km; 63 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph) submerged
Test depth50 m (160 ft)
Complement3 officers, 31 men[3]
Armament
Notes30-second diving time
Service record
Part of:
  • Mittelmeer I Flotilla[2]
  • 8 January – 4 October 1918
Commanders:
Operations: 5 patrols[2]
Victories:
  • 5 merchant ships sunk
    (10,709 GRT)
  • 4 merchant ships damaged
    (23,788 GRT)[2]

SM UB-68[Note 1] was a German Type UB III submarine or U-boat in the German Imperial Navy (German: Kaiserliche Marine) during World War I. The U-boat was ordered on 20 May 1916. It was commissioned into the German Imperial Navy on 5 October 1917 as SM UB-68. The submarine conducted five patrols and sank five ships during the war. Under the command of Karl Dönitz, on 4 October 1918 UB-68 encountered technical problems and had to surface where she was sunk by gunfire at 33°56′N 16°20′E / 33.933°N 16.333°E / 33.933; 16.333. There was one dead and thirty-three survivors.[2] Other sources name the British warships involved in the sinking of UB-68 as HMS Snapdragon and HMS Cradosin, and claim four crew members died in the event.[4]

  1. ^ Rössler 1979, p. 27.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boats: UB 68". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 30 August 2009.
  3. ^ a b c d e Gröner 1991, pp. 25–30.
  4. ^ Gröner, p.54


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