WWI U-boats

UC 78

Type UC II
ShipyardVulcan, Hamburg (Werk 83)
Ordered 12 Jan 1916
Launched 8 Dec 1916
Commissioned 10 Jan 1917
Commanders
10 Jan 1917 - 15 Jan 1918 Kptlt. Hans Kukat
16 Jan 1918 - 18 Jan 1918 Oblt. Werner Löwe
19 Jan 1918 - 9 May 1918 Kptlt. Hans Kukat
Career 12 patrols
10 Jan 1917 - 18 Jan 1918 Baltic Flotilla
18 Jan 1918 - 9 May 1918 Flandern I Flotilla
Successes1 ship damaged with a total of 1,481 tons.
1 warship sunk with a total of 350 tons. (View ships hit by UC 78)
Fate 9 May 1918 - Rammed by steamer Queen Alexandra west of Cherbourg at 49°49’N, 01°40’W. 29 dead (all hands lost).

For many years, UB 78 was thought to be the submarine sunk by Queen Alexandra. The discovery of the wreck of UB 78 off Folkestone leaves UC 78 as the only possible U-boat that the Queen Alexandra could have rammed.

Previously recorded fate
Lost on a mine in the Strait of Dover on May 2, 1918. No U-boat was sunk or damaged in this location on this date.


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