SM UB-41 facts for kids

SM UB-45 a U-boat similar to UB-41
Quick facts for kids History
German Empire
Name	UB-41
Ordered	22 July 1915
Builder	Blohm & Voss, Hamburg
Cost	1,152,000 German Papiermark
Yard number	265
Launched	6 May 1916
Completed	25 August 1916
Commissioned	25 August 1916
Fate	sunk by mine 5 October 1917
General characteristics
Class and type	German Type UB II submarine
Displacement	274 t (270 long tons) surfaced 303 t (298 long tons) submerged
Length	36.90 m (121 ft 1 in) o/a 27.90 m (91 ft 6 in) pressure hull
Beam	4.37 m (14 ft 4 in) o/a 3.85 m (12 ft 8 in) pressure hull
Draught	3.69 m (12 ft 1 in)
Propulsion	1 × propeller shaft 2 × 6-cylinder diesel engine, 284 PS (209 kW; 280 bhp) 2 × electric motor, 280 PS (210 kW; 280 shp)
Speed	9.15 knots (16.95 km/h; 10.53 mph) surfaced 5.81 knots (10.76 km/h; 6.69 mph) submerged
Range	6,450 nmi (11,950 km; 7,420 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 depth	50 m (160 ft)
Complement	2 officers, 21 men
Armament	2 × 50 cm (19.7 in) torpedo tubes 4 × torpedoes (later 6) 1 × 8.8 cm (3.5 in) Uk L/30 deck gun
Notes	42-second diving time
Service record
Part of:	Imperial German Navy: II Flotilla 2 November 1916 – 13 September 1917 V Flotilla 13 September – 5 October 1917
Commanders:	Oblt.z.S. Friedrich Karl Sichart von Sichartshofen 25 August 1916 – 20 March 1917 Oblt.z.S. Günther Krause 21 March – 13 September 1917 Oblt.z.S. Max Ploen 14 September – 5 October 1917
Operations:	13 patrols
Victories:	8 merchant ships sunk (8,387 GRT) 2 merchant ships damaged (641 GRT) 1 merchant ships captured as a prize (259 GRT)

SM UB-41 was a German submarine (also known as a U-boat) that served in the German Imperial Navy during World War I. The letters "SM" stand for "Seiner Majestät," which means "His Majesty's" in German. So, UB-41 was "His Majesty's Submarine." It was part of a group of submarines called Type UB II.

What was UB-41 like?

UB-41 was a medium-sized submarine. When it was on the surface of the water, it weighed about 274 tons. When it was underwater, it weighed a bit more, around 303 tons.

Size and Shape

The submarine was about 36.90 meters (around 121 feet) long. Its widest part was about 4.37 meters (around 14 feet). It sat about 3.69 meters (around 12 feet) deep in the water.

How it Moved

UB-41 used two powerful diesel engines to move when it was on the surface. When it went underwater, it switched to two electric motors. It had one propeller to push it through the water.

Speed and Range

On the surface, UB-41 could travel at a top speed of about 9.15 knots (about 10.5 miles per hour). Underwater, it was slower, moving at about 5.81 knots (about 6.7 miles per hour). It could travel a very long way on the surface, about 6,450 nautical miles (over 7,400 miles) at a slower speed. Underwater, its range was much shorter, about 45 nautical miles (around 52 miles).

Diving Deep

This submarine could dive to a depth of about 50 meters (around 164 feet). It was also quite fast at diving, taking only 42 seconds to go underwater.

Weapons and Crew

UB-41 was armed with two torpedo tubes that fired torpedoes, which are like underwater missiles. It usually carried four torpedoes, but later could carry six. It also had a deck gun on top, which was an 8.8 cm (about 3.5 inches) cannon. The submarine had a crew of 23 people: two officers and 21 other sailors.

Building and Service of UB-41

The order to build UB-41 was placed on July 22, 1915. It was built by a company called Blohm & Voss in Hamburg, Germany.

Launch and Commission

The submarine was put into the water for the first time on May 6, 1916. It officially joined the German Imperial Navy on August 25, 1916, ready for duty.

Missions and Successes

UB-41 went on 13 patrols during World War I. During these missions, it sank eight merchant ships. These were ships that carried goods, not warships. It also damaged two other merchant ships and captured one as a prize.

One notable event was on September 8, 1917. UB-41 used a torpedo to sink a ship called Harrow in the North Sea. Harrow was a collier, which is a ship designed to carry coal.

The End of UB-41

UB-41 was reported missing on October 5, 1917. On the same day, people on the coast of Scarborough, England, saw a large explosion at sea. It's believed that UB-41 either had an explosion inside or hit a mine and sank in the North Sea. It's even possible it hit a German mine by mistake.

Discovery of the Wreck

The remains of UB-41 were found in 1989. Divers explored the wreck in 1997 and 2003. They found that the submarine had broken into two parts and was lying on its side, showing signs of being hit hard.

Ships Affected by UB-41

Here is a list of the ships that UB-41 either sank, damaged, or captured during its patrols:

Date	Name	Nationality	Tonnage	Fate
21 November 1916	Thyholmen	Norway	259	Captured as a prize
18 January 1917	Cetus	United Kingdom	139	Damaged
19 April 1917	Ellida	Norway	1,124	Sunk
22 May 1917	Lanthorn	United Kingdom	2,299	Sunk
23 May 1917	Monarch	Norway	1,318	Sunk
12 June 1917	Alwyn	United Kingdom	73	Sunk
13 June 1917	Silverburn	United Kingdom	284	Sunk
14 June 1917	Angantyr	Denmark	1,359	Sunk
6 August 1917	Talisman	United Kingdom	153	Sunk
8 September 1917	Harrow	United Kingdom	1,777	Sunk
3 October 1917	Clydebrae	United Kingdom	502	Damaged