SM UB-55
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 UB-148 at sea, a U-boat similar to UB-55. | |
| History | |
|---|---|
 German Empire | |
| Name | UB-55 |
| Ordered | 20 May 1916[1] |
| Builder | AG Weser, Bremen |
| Cost | 3,276,000 German Papiermark |
| Yard number | 267 |
| Laid down | 5 September 1916[2] |
| Launched | 9 May 1917[3] |
| Commissioned | 1 July 1917[3] |
| Fate | Sunk 22 April 1918 at 50°59′N 01°20′E / 50.983°N 1.333°E by mines, 30 dead[3] |
| General characteristics [3] | |
| Class & type | Type UB III submarine |
| Displacement | |
| Length | 55.85 m (183 ft 3 in) (o/a) |
| Beam | 5.80 m (19 ft) |
| Draught | 3.72 m (12 ft 2 in) |
| Propulsion |
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| Speed |
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| Range |
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| Test depth | 50 m (160 ft) |
| Complement | 3 officers, 31 men[3] |
| Armament |
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| Service record | |
| Part of |
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| Commanders |
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| Operations | 7 patrols |
| Victories | |
SM UB-55 was a German Type UB III submarine or U-boat in the German Imperial Navy (German: Kaiserliche Marine) during World War I. She was commissioned into the Flanders Flotilla of the German Imperial Navy on 1 July 1917 as SM UB-55.[Note 1]
She operated as part of the Flanders Flotilla based in Zeebrugge. UB-55 was sunk at 05:05 on 22 April 1918 at 51°01′N 01°20′E / 51.017°N 1.333°E after striking a mine, 30 crew members lost their lives in the event.[3]
She was built by AG Weser, Bremen and following just under a year of construction, launched at Bremen on 9 May 1917. UB-55 was commissioned later that same year under the command of Kptlt. Ralph Wenninger. Like all Type UB III submarines, UB-55 carried 10 torpedoes and was armed with a 8.8 cm (3.46 in) deck gun. UB-55 would carry a crew of up to 3 officer and 31 men and had a cruising range of 9,020 nautical miles (16,710 km; 10,380 mi). UB-55 had a displacement of 516 t (508 long tons) while surfaced and 646 t (636 long tons; 712 short tons) when submerged. Her engines enabled her to travel at 13.4 knots (24.8 km/h; 15.4 mph) when surfaced and 7.8 knots (14.4 km/h; 9.0 mph) when submerged.
