SM UB-20

SM UB-20 was a German Type UB II submarine or U-boat in the German Imperial Navy (Kaiserliche Marine) during World War I. The U-boat was ordered on 30 April 1915 and launched on 26 September 1915. She was commissioned into the German Imperial Navy on 10 February 1916 as SM UB-20. The submarine sank 13 ships in 15 patrols for a total of. UB-20 was mined and sunk on 28 July 1917 at 51.35°N, 2.63333°W. Fifteen crew members died in the event.

Design
A Type UB II submarine, UB-20 had a displacement of 263 t when at the surface and 292 t while submerged. She had a total length of 36.13 m, a beam of 4.36 m, and a draught of 3.70 m. The submarine was powered by two Körting six-cylinder, four-stroke diesel engines each producing a total 284 PS, a Siemens-Schuckert electric motor producing 280 PS, and one propeller shaft. She was capable of operating at depths of up to 50 m.

The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 9.15 kn and a maximum submerged speed of 5.81 kn. When submerged, she could operate for 45 nmi at 4 kn; when surfaced, she could travel 6650 nmi at 5 kn. UB-20 was fitted with two 50 cm torpedo tubes, four torpedoes, and one 5 cm SK L/40 deck gun. She had a complement of twenty-three crew members and two officers and a 45-second dive time.

Loss
At noon on 28.07.1917 UB 20 left Ostend for a four-hour sea trial in the area around West Hinder lightship. The boat did not return. (Pos. 51°21'N-02°38'E). The commander's body was washed up on the Jutland coast near Lodbjerg on 03.08.1917 and buried in the local cemetery.