SM UC-47 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 20 November 1915, laid down on 1 February 1916, and was launched on 30 August 1916. She was commissioned into the German Imperial Navy on 13 October 1916 as SM UC-47.^{[Note 1]} In 13 patrols UC-47 was credited with sinking 58 ships, either by torpedo or by mines laid. UC-47 was rammed and depth charged by British patrol boat P-57, under the command of H.C. Birnie, off Flamborough Head on 18 November 1917. UC-47 went down with all hands.^[1][6]

Quick Facts History, German Empire ...

History
German Empire
Name	UC-47
Ordered	20 November 1915[1]
Builder	AG Weser, Bremen[2]
Yard number	257[1]
Laid down	1 February 1916[1]
Launched	30 August 1916[1]
Commissioned	13 October 1916[1]
Fate	Rammed, depth charged and sunk by patrol boat off Flamborough Head, 18 November 1917[1]
General characteristics [3]
Class and type	Type UC II submarine
Displacement	420 t (410 long tons), surfaced 502 t (494 long tons), submerged
Length	51.85 m (170 ft 1 in) o/a 39.70 m (130 ft 3 in) pressure hull
Beam	5.22 m (17 ft 2 in) o/a 3.65 m (12 ft) pressure hull
Draught	3.67 m (12 ft 0 in)
Propulsion	2 × propeller shafts 2 × 6-cylinder, 4-stroke diesel engines, 600 PS (440 kW; 590 shp) 2 × electric motors, 460 PS (340 kW; 450 shp)
Speed	11.7 knots (21.7 km/h; 13.5 mph), surfaced 6.7 knots (12.4 km/h; 7.7 mph), submerged
Range	7,280 nmi (13,480 km; 8,380 mi) at 7 knots (13 km/h; 8.1 mph) surfaced 54 nmi (100 km; 62 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph) submerged
Test depth	50 m (160 ft)
Complement	26
Armament	6 × 100 cm (39.4 in) mine tubes 18 × UC 200 mines 3 × 50 cm (19.7 in) torpedo tubes (2 bow/external; one stern) 7 × torpedoes 1 × 8.8 cm (3.5 in) Uk L/30 deck gun
Notes	30-second diving time
Service record
Part of:	Flandern / Flandern II Flotilla 23 January – 18 November 1917
Commanders:	Oblt.z.S. / Kptlt. Paul Hundius[4] 13 October 1916 – 8 October 1917 Oblt.z.S. Günther Wigankow[5] 9 October – 18 November 1917
Operations:	13 patrols
Victories:	55 merchant ships sunk (73,100 GRT) 1 warship sunk (880 tons) 2 auxiliary warships sunk (514 GRT) 7 merchant ships damaged (14,218 GRT) 1 auxiliary warship damaged (224 GRT)

Close

A German Type UC II submarine, UC-47 had a displacement of 420 tonnes (410 long tons) when at the surface and 502 tonnes (494 long tons) while submerged. She had a length overall of 51.85 m (170 ft 1 in), a beam of 5.22 m (17 ft 2 in), and a draught of 3.68 m (12 ft 1 in). The submarine was powered by two six-cylinder four-stroke diesel engines each producing 300 metric horsepower (220 kW; 300 shp) (a total of 600 metric horsepower (440 kW; 590 shp)), two electric motors producing 460 metric horsepower (340 kW; 450 shp), and two propeller shafts. She had a dive time of 48 seconds and was capable of operating at a depth of 50 metres (160 ft).^[3]

The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 11.7 knots (21.7 km/h; 13.5 mph) and a submerged speed of 6.7 knots (12.4 km/h; 7.7 mph). When submerged, she could operate for 54 nautical miles (100 km; 62 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph); when surfaced, she could travel 7,280 nautical miles (13,480 km; 8,380 mi) at 7 knots (13 km/h; 8.1 mph). UC-47 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.^[3]