SM UC-14

SM UC-14 was a German Type UC I minelayer submarine or U-boat in the German Imperial Navy (Kaiserliche Marine) during World War I. The U-boat was ordered on 23 November 1914, laid down on 28 January 1915, and was launched on 13 May 1915. She was commissioned into the German Imperial Navy on 5 June 1915 as SM UC-14. Mines laid by UC-14 in her 38 patrols were credited with sinking 16 ships, one of which was the Italian pre-dreadnought battleship ITALIAN BATTLESHIP Regina Margherita, which at 13427 t displacement was one of the largest ships sunk by U-boats during the war. UC-14 was mined and sunk on 3 October 1917.

The submarine's wreck was finally located in September 2023

Design
A Type UC I submarine, UC-14 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 depths of up to 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-14 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.