1. Design

2. Service
    Fate 

3. Rediscovery

4. Summary of raiding history

5. References
    Notes  Citations  Bibliography 

6. External links

Design

A German Type UC II submarine, UC-42 had a displacement of {{convert|400|t|LT}} when at the surface and {{convert|480|t|LT}} while submerged. She had a length overall of {{convert|49.45|m|ftin|abbr=on}}, a beam of {{convert|5.22|m|ftin|abbr=on}}, and a draught of {{convert|3.68|m|ftin|abbr=on}}. The submarine was powered by two six-cylinder four-stroke diesel engines each producing {{convert|260|PS|kW shp}} (a total of {{convert|520|PS|kW shp}}), two electric motors producing {{convert|460|PS|kW shp}}, and two propeller shafts. She had a dive time of 48 seconds and was capable of operating at a depth of {{convert|50|m}}.{{sfn|Gröner|1991|pp=31-32}}

The submarine had a maximum surface speed of {{convert|11.7|kn}} and a submerged speed of {{convert|6.7|kn}}. When submerged, she could operate for {{convert|60|nmi}} at {{convert|4|kn}}; when surfaced, she could travel {{convert|9410|nmi}} at {{convert|7|kn}}. UC-42 was fitted with six {{convert|100|cm}} mine tubes, eighteen UC 200 mines, three {{convert|50|cm}} torpedo tubes (one on the stern and two on the bow), seven torpedoes, and one {{convert|8.8|cm|in|sp=us|abbr=on}} Uk L/30 deck gun. Her complement was twenty-six crew members.{{sfn|Gröner|1991|pp=31-32}}

Service

In a career that encompassed six patrols, operating from 1 January 1917, UC-42 succeeded in sinking thirteen vessels totaling 9,636 tons, and disabling a warship of 1,210 tons displacement.

Fate

UC-42 sailed on her last patrol on 1 September 1917.

On 31 October 1917 Torpedo Boat TB 055 was accompanying minesweepers operating at the entrance to Cork harbour. At 1500 hours an oil track was seen floating on the surface of the water. Following it to its source, TB 055 used its hydrophone to see if the oil was coming from a submarine. Loud mechanical sounds, of "hammering" and "turbine-like noises" were reported and, believing this to be a U-boat, a marker buoy was dropped, followed shortly after by a depth charge. Following detonation of the charge, TB 055 returned to the area and found that the volume of floating oil had increased, and there were bubbles rising to the surface.

TB 055 signalled the nearby armed minesweeper HMT Sarba for assistance. Sarba used her hydrophone but detected no sounds from the presumed submarine. A second depth charge was dropped and Sarba remained on station overnight. The following morning HMD Sunshine and TB 058 swept around the spot, to confirm that the incident had not been a false alarm caused by old wreckage. On 2 November oil was still coming to the surface and dockyard divers arrived to inspect the assumed wreck. The divers reported a German U-boat lying on the seabed with her stern blown off, and a brass plate on her conning tower reading "C42, 1916" identified her as UC-42. No survivors were ever reported even though some of the hatches were found to have been opened. It was thought likely that the submarine had been sunk by one of her own mines detonating under her stern while minelaying.

When the sinking and identification of the submarine was reported, the British Admiralty requested an identifiable item from the vessel for verification purposes, and in December 1917 divers recovered the telephone buoy from the conning tower. The Royal Navy's Naval Intelligence Department were aware of submarine's 1 September departure date from Belgium and were sceptical about the hammering and engine noises reported by TB 055. The Admiralty reported that "The longest known cruise of a UC boat in home waters is 24 days, so UC-42 must have been dead long before TB 055 and Sarba dropped the depth charges".^[6]

Rediscovery

The wreck was relocated on 6 November 2010 by Irish divers Ian Kelleher, Niall O'Regan, Philip Johnston, Eoin McGarry and Timmy Carey ^[7] in just {{convert|27|m|ft}} of water off Roche's Point Co. Cork. It was found with "little obvious explosive damage". A serial number stamped on one of the propellers allowed positive identification as the UC-42.^[8]

A commemorative plaque was subsequently attached to the boat's stern and under International Maritime Law she is now a War Grave, untouchable and the responsibility of the Deutsche Marine.^[9]

Summary of raiding history

References

Notes

Citations

Bibliography

• {{cite book

• {{cite book

• {{cite book | last = Gardiner | first = Robert, ed. | title = Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships, 1906–1921 | location = Annapolis, Maryland | publisher = Naval Institute Press | year = 1985 | isbn = 978-0-87021-907-8 | oclc = 12119866 }}
• {{cite book | last = Tarrant | first = V. E. | title = The U-Boat Offensive: 1914–1945 | location = Annapolis, Maryland | publisher = Naval Institute Press | year = 1989 | isbn = 978-0-87021-764-7 | oclc = 20338385 }}

External links

• wrecksite.eu
• Cork divers discover WWI U-boat RTÉ news report of find, January 2011.
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