SM UC-73 was a German Type UC II minelaying submarine or U-boat in the German Imperial Navy () during World War I. The U-boat was ordered on 12 January 1916 and was launched on 26 August 1916. She was commissioned into the German Imperial Navy on 24 December 1916 as SM UC-73. In ten patrols UC-73 was credited with sinking 16 ships, either by torpedo or by mines laid. UC-73 was surrendered on 6 January 1919 and broken up at Briton Ferry in 1919 – 20.
Design A Type UC II submarine, UC-73 had a displacement of when at the surface and while submerged. She had a length overall of , a beam of , and a draught of . The submarine was powered by two six-cylinder four-stroke diesel engines each producing (a total of ), two electric motors producing , and two propeller shafts. She had a dive time of 48 seconds and was capable of operating at a depth of .
The submarine had a maximum surface speed of and a submerged speed of . When submerged, she could operate for at ; when surfaced, she could travel at . UC-73 was fitted with six mine tubes, eighteen UC 200 mines, three torpedo tubes (one on the stern and two on the bow), seven torpedoes, and one Uk L/30 deck gun. Her complement was twenty-six crew members.
Summary of raiding history DateNameNationalityTonnageTonnages are in gross register tonsFate1 May 1917Imberhorne2,042Sunk3 May 1917Mezly1,568Sunk3 May 1917Misurata2,691Sunk26 May 1917Agragas850Sunk31 May 1917Rosebank3,837Sunk28 August 1917Saint Joseph5,796Damaged7 October 1917Georgios560Sunk14 October 1917Lido G.1,003Sunk28 December 1917Dauno455Sunk29 March 1918Unidentified sailing vessel (1 of 7)18Sunk29 March 1918Unidentified sailing vessel (2 of 7)18Sunk29 March 1918Unidentified sailing vessel (3 of 7)18Sunk29 March 1918Unidentified sailing vessel (4 of 7)18Sunk29 March 1918Unidentified sailing vessel (5 of 7)5Sunk29 March 1918Unidentified sailing vessel (6 of 7)5Sunk29 March 1918Unidentified sailing vessel (7 of 7)5Sunk8 July 1918Horta3,472Sunk
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