SM UB-10 - Conversion To Minelayer

Conversion To Minelayer

UB-10 and three sister boats, UB-12, UB-16, and UB-17, were all converted to minelaying submarines by 1918. The conversion involved removing the bow section containing the pair of torpedo tubes from each U-boat and replacing it with a new bow containing four mine chutes capable of carrying two mines each. In the process, the boats were lengthened to 105 feet (32 m), and the displacement increased to 147 metric tons (162 short tons) on the surface, and 161 metric tons (177 short tons) below the surface. Exactly when this conversion was performed on UB-10 is not reported, but UB-12 was converted in late 1916.

From late February to mid-May 1918, UB-10 was commanded by Oblt. Hans Joachim Emsmann. The 25-year-old Emmsman would later be notable as the commander of UB-116, the last U-boat sunk during the war, and as the namesake of the 5th U-boat Flotilla (German: 5. Unterseebootsflottille "Emmsman") of the Kriegsmarine in World War II.

On 2 July, UB-10 and UB-88 were both seriously damaged during a heavy British air raid on German-held bases in Flanders. During other raids, considerable damage to harbor facilities delayed repairs and impaired the flotilla's ability to operate at full strength. Although sources do not indicate whether the damage to UB-10's was repaired after this attack or not, by early September the boat was considered unfit for service and was decommissioned on the 12th.

After the Meuse-Argonne Offensive started on 26 September and the Allies began to drive back the German lines, plans were made to evacuate Flanders and dismantle the naval facilities at Bruges, Zeebrugge, and Ostende. All the vessels that were seaworthy were ordered to depart Flanders for Germany on 1 October; those unable to make the journey under their own power were to be destroyed. UB-10 was one of four U-boats left behind. On 5 October, a maintenance crew scuttled UB-10 off the Zeebrugge Mole at position 51°21′N 3°12′E / 51.350°N 3.200°E / 51.350; 3.200Coordinates: 51°21′N 3°12′E / 51.350°N 3.200°E / 51.350; 3.200.