SM UC-48

SM UC-48 was a German Type UC II minelaying submarine or U-boat in the German Imperial Navy (Kaiserliche Marine) during World War I. The U-boat was ordered on 20 November 1915, laid down on 1 February 1916, and was launched on 27 September 1916. She was commissioned into the German Imperial Navy on 6 November 1916 as SM UC-48. In 13 patrols UC-48 was credited with sinking 35 ships, either by torpedo or by mines laid. UC-48 was severely damaged by a depth charge attack by HMS Loyal (1913) on 20 March 1918 that ruptured the fuel tanks. Unable to return to Zeebrugge, the boat was steered to Ferrol, Spain, where she and her crew were interned for the rest of the war. The Spanish authorities removed UC-48's propellers to prevent any attempts at leaving port.

Design
A Type UC II submarine, UC-48 had a displacement of 420 t when at the surface and 502 t while submerged. She had a length overall of 51.85 m, a beam of 5.22 m, and a draught of 3.68 m. The submarine was powered by two six-cylinder four-stroke diesel engines each producing 300 PS (a total of 600 PS), two electric motors producing 460 PS, and two propeller shafts. She had a dive time of 48 seconds and was capable of operating at a depth of 50 m.

The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 11.7 kn and a submerged speed of 6.7 kn. When submerged, she could operate for 54 nmi at 4 kn; when surfaced, she could travel 7280 nmi at 7 kn. UC-48 was fitted with six 100 cm mine tubes, eighteen UC 200 mines, three 50 cm torpedo tubes (one on the stern and two on the bow), seven torpedoes, and one 8.8 cm Uk L/30 deck gun. Her complement was twenty-six crew members.