SM UC-2

SM UC-2 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 had been ordered by November 1914 and was launched on 12 May 1915. She was commissioned into the German Imperial Navy on 17 May 1915 as SM UC-2. Mines laid by UC-2 in her two patrols were not credited with sinking any ships.

Design
A Type UC I submarine, UC-2 had a displacement of 168 t when at the surface and 183 t while submerged. She had a length overall of 33.99 m, a beam of 3.15 m, and a draught of 3.04 m. The submarine was powered by one Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft six-cylinder, four-stroke diesel engine producing 90 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 6.20 kn and a maximum submerged speed of 5.22 kn. When submerged, she could operate for 50 nmi at 4 kn; when surfaced, she could travel 780 nmi at 5 kn. UC-2 was fitted with six 100 cm mine tubes, twelve UC 120 mines, and one 8 mm machine gun. She was built by AG Vulcan Stettin and her complement was fourteen crew members.

Fate
UC-2 sailed from Zeebrugge on 29 June 1915 to lay mines off Lowestoft. On 2 July she was accidentally run down by the coaster Cottingham off that same port; the impact tore a 3 ft opening in the forward part of the pressure hull, and the submarine sank. The Cottingham's master reported the incident and the area was subsequently dragged by Royal Navy vessels, whose lines fouled an underwater obstruction and caused a substantial submerged explosion. On 3 July a diver discovered UC-2 in 8 fathom; as well as the damage which had resulted from the impact with the Cottingham, he reported that one of the submarine's mines had been detonated by the drag lines.