SM UC-12

SM UC-12 was a German Type UC I minelayer submarine or U-boat in the German Imperial Navy (Kaiserliche Marine) during World War I.

Design
A Type UC I submarine, UC-1 had a displacement of 168 t when at the surface and 182 t while submerged. She had a length overall of 33.99 m, a beam of 3.15 m, and a draught of 3.06 m. The submarine was powered by one Benz six-cylinder, four-stroke diesel engine producing 80 PS, an electric motor producing 175 PS, and one propeller shaft. She was capable of operating at a depth of 50 m.

The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 6.49 kn and a maximum submerged speed of 5.67 kn. When submerged, she could operate for 50 nmi at 4 kn; when surfaced, she could travel 910 nmi at 5 kn. UC-1 was fitted with six 100 cm mine tubes, twelve UC 120 mines, and one 8 mm machine gun. She was built by AG Weser Bremen and her complement was fourteen crew members.

Construction
The U-boat was ordered on 23 November 1914, laid down on 27 January 1915, and was launched on 29 April 1915. She was commissioned into the German Imperial Navy on 2 May 1915 as SM UC-12.

Service history
UC-12 served with the Pola Flotilla based at Cattaro in the Adriatic. She operated as a minelayer, and undertook seven patrols in this role. Mines laid by UC-12 were credited with sinking six ships. One of these, the Italian Marechiaro sunk on 21 February 1916, was listed as a hospital ship and sank with over 200 casualties. Since Germany was not at war with Italy at this stage, though Austria was, UC 12, like other German U-boats in the Mediterranean, operated under the Austro-Hungarian flag.

Fate
On 16 March 1916 UC-12 was sunk by the detonation of one of her own mines while laying a mine fields off Taranto harbour. Italian divers inspected the wreck and established its identity. The knowledge that Germany, technically their ally, was assiduously mining their naval bases was a contributing factor in Italy’s decision in August 1916 to declare war on Germany. The submarine was raised by Italy and commissioned as X-1 in the Italian Royal Navy.