SM UB-26

For other ships with the same name, see German submarine U-26 and French ship Roland Morillot.

SM UB-45, a U-boat similar to UB-26
History
German Empire
Name	UB-26
Ordered	30 April 1915
Builder	AG Weser, Bremen
Cost	1,291,000 German Papiermark
Yard number	240
Laid down	30 June 1915
Launched	14 December 1915
Commissioned	27 December 1915
Fate	Sunk in Le Havre harbour
France
Name	Roland Morillot
Namesake	Roland Morillot
Acquired	30 August 1917
Decommissioned	21 January 1925
Fate	Broken up after testing in 1931
General characteristics
Class and type	Type UB II submarine
Displacement	265 t (261 long tons) surfaced 291 t (286 long tons) submerged
Length	36.13 m (118 ft 6 in) o/a 27.13 m (89 ft) pressure hull
Beam	4.36 m (14 ft 4 in) o/a 3.85 m (13 ft) pressure hull
Draught	3.66 m (12 ft)
Propulsion	1 × propeller shaft 2 × four-stroke 6-cylinder diesel engine, 284 PS (209 kW; 280 bhp) 2 × electric motor, 280 PS (210 kW; 280 shp)
Speed	9.15 knots (16.95 km/h; 10.53 mph) surfaced 5.81 knots (10.76 km/h; 6.69 mph) submerged
Range	7,200 nautical miles (13,300 km; 8,300 mi) at 5 knots (9.3 km/h; 5.8 mph) surfaced 45 nmi (83 km; 52 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph) submerged
Test depth	50 m (160 ft)
Complement	2 officers, 21 men
Armament	2 × 50 cm (19.7 in) torpedo tubes 4 × torpedoes (later 6) 1 × 5 cm SK L/40 gun
Notes	30-second diving time
Service record
Part of:	Flanders Flotilla 21 March – 5 April 1916
Commanders:	Oblt.z.S. Wilhelm Smiths 7 January – 5 April 1916
Operations:	2 patrols
Victories:	None

SM UB-26 was a German Type UB II submarine or U-boat in the German Imperial Navy (German: Kaiserliche Marine) during World War I. The U-boat was ordered on 30 April 1915 and launched on 14 December 1915. She was commissioned into the German Imperial Navy on 27 December 1915 as SM UB-26. UB-26 was trapped in anti-submarine nets trailed by the Trombe and was scuttled in Le Havre harbour on 5 April 1916. She was raised by the French on 30 August 1917 and served as Roland Morillot.

On 23 October 1922, Roland Morillot sprang a leak and was abandoned in the English Channel west of Guernsey, Channel Islands. Her crew were rescued by the French ship Daphne. Roland Morillot was subsequently towed into Cherbourg, France by the French tug Centaure.

Roland Morillot was repaired and remained in service until 21 January 1925. She then was used in tests before finally being broken up in Cherbourg in 1935.

Design

A Type UB II submarine, UB-26 had a displacement of 265 tonnes (261 long tons) when at the surface and 291 tonnes (286 long tons) while submerged. She had a total length of 36.13 m (118 ft 6 in), a beam of 4.36 m (14 ft 4 in), and a draught of 3.66 m (12 ft 0 in). The submarine was powered by two Daimler six-cylinder diesel engines producing a total 270 metric horsepower (270 shp; 200 kW), two Siemens-Schuckert electric motors producing 280 metric horsepower (210 kW; 280 shp), and one propeller shaft. She was capable of operating at depths of up to 50 metres (160 ft).

The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 8.9 knots (16.5 km/h; 10.2 mph) and a maximum submerged speed of 5.72 knots (10.59 km/h; 6.58 mph). When submerged, she could operate for 45 nautical miles (83 km; 52 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph); when surfaced, she could travel 7,200 nautical miles (13,300 km; 8,300 mi) at 5 knots (9.3 km/h; 5.8 mph). UB-26 was fitted with two 50 centimetres (20 in) torpedo tubes, four torpedoes, and one 5 cm (2.0 in) SK L/40 deck gun. She had a complement of twenty-one crew members and two officers and a thirty-second dive time.

Bibliography

• Bendert, Harald (2000). Die UB-Boote der Kaiserlichen Marine, 1914-1918. Einsätze, Erfolge, Schicksal (in German). Hamburg: Verlag E.S. Mittler & Sohn GmbH. ISBN 3-8132-0713-7.
• Gröner, Erich; Jung, Dieter; Maass, Martin (1991). U-boats and Mine Warfare Vessels. German Warships 1815–1945. Vol. 2. Translated by Thomas, Keith; Magowan, Rachel. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-593-4.
• Rössler, Eberhard (1979). Die deutschen U-Boote und ihre Werften: eine Bilddokumentation über den deutschen U-Bootbau; in zwei Bänden (in German). Vol. I. Munich: Bernard & Graefe. ISBN 3-7637-5213-7.