SM UB-56

UB-148 at sea, a U-boat similar to UB-56.
History
German Empire
NameUB-56
Ordered20 May 1916
BuilderAG Weser, Bremen
Cost3,276,000 German Papiermark
Yard number268
Laid down5 September 1916
Launched6 June 1917
Commissioned19 July 1917
FateSunk 19 December 1917 at 50°58′N 01°21′E / 50.967°N 1.350°E / 50.967; 1.350 by a mine, 37 dead
General characteristics
Class & typeType UB III submarine
Displacement
  • 516 t (508 long tons) surfaced
  • 646 t (636 long tons; 712 short tons) submerged
Length55.85 m (183 ft 3 in) (o/a)
Beam5.80 m (19 ft)
Draught3.72 m (12 ft 2 in)
Propulsion
Speed
  • 13.4 knots (24.8 km/h; 15.4 mph) surfaced
  • 7.8 knots (14.4 km/h; 9.0 mph) submerged
Range
  • 9,020 nmi (16,710 km; 10,380 mi) at 6 knots (11 km/h; 6.9 mph) surfaced
  • 55 nmi (102 km; 63 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph) submerged
Test depth50 m (160 ft)
Complement3 officers, 31 men
Armament
Service record
Part of:
  • Flandern I Flotilla
  • 10 September – 19 December 1917
Commanders:
  • Oblt.z.S. Hans Valentier
  • 19 July – 19 December 1917
Operations: 4 patrols
Victories: 4 merchant ships sunk
(5,387 GRT)

SM UB-56 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 19 July 1917 as SM UB-56.

She operated as part of the Flanders Flotilla based in Zeebrugge. UB-56 was sunk at 23:41 on 19 December 1917 at 50°58′N 01°21′E / 50.967°N 1.350°E / 50.967; 1.350 after striking a mine, 37 crew members lost their lives in the event.