SM UC-50 was a German Type UC II minelaying submarine or U-boat in the German Imperial Navy (German: Kaiserliche Marine) during World War I. The U-boat was ordered on 20 November 1915 and was launched on 23 November 1916. She was commissioned into the German Imperial Navy on 21 December 1916 as SM UC-50.[Note 1] In nine patrols UC-50 was credited with sinking 29 ships, either by torpedo or by mines laid.[1] UC-50 was sunk by depth charges from British destroyer Zubian in the Dover Strait off Dungeness on 4 February 1918.[3]
| History | |
|---|---|
 German Empire | |
| Name | UC-50 |
| Ordered | 12 January 1916[1] |
| Builder | Germaniawerft, Kiel[2] |
| Yard number | 266[1] |
| Launched | 23 November 1916[1] |
| Commissioned | 21 December 1916[1] |
| Fate | Depth Charged by HMS Zubian, 4 February 1918[3] |
| General characteristics [4] | |
| Class and type | Type UC II submarine |
| Displacement | |
| Length |
|
| Beam |
|
| Draught | 3.64 m (11 ft 11 in) |
| Propulsion |
|
| Speed |
|
| Range |
|
| Test depth | 50 m (160 ft) |
| Complement | 26 |
| Armament |
|
| Notes | 30-second diving time |
| Service record | |
| Part of: |
|
| Commanders: |
|
| Operations: | 9 patrols |
| Victories: | |
Design
editA Type UC II submarine, UC-50 had a displacement of 434 tonnes (427 long tons) when at the surface and 511 tonnes (503 long tons) while submerged. She had a length overall of 52.69 m (172 ft 10 in), a beam of 5.22 m (17 ft 2 in), and a draught of 3.64 m (11 ft 11 in). The submarine was powered by two six-cylinder four-stroke diesel engines each producing 290–300 metric horsepower (210–220 kW; 290–300 shp) (a total of 580–600 metric horsepower (430–440 kW; 570–590 shp)), two electric motors producing 620 metric horsepower (460 kW; 610 shp), and two propeller shafts. She had a dive time of 48 seconds and was capable of operating at a depth of 50 metres (160 ft).[4]
The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 11.8 knots (21.9 km/h; 13.6 mph) and a submerged speed of 7.2 knots (13.3 km/h; 8.3 mph). When submerged, she could operate for 56 nautical miles (104 km; 64 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph); when surfaced, she could travel 8,820 to 9,450 nautical miles (16,330 to 17,500 km; 10,150 to 10,870 mi) at 7 knots (13 km/h; 8.1 mph). UC-50 was fitted with six 100 centimetres (39 in) mine tubes, eighteen UC 200 mines, three 50 centimetres (20 in) torpedo tubes (one on the stern and two on the bow), seven torpedoes, and one 8.8 cm (3.5 in) Uk L/30 deck gun. Her complement was twenty-six crew members.[4]
Summary of raiding history
edit| Date | Name | Nationality | Tonnage[Note 2] | Fate[6] |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 March 1917 | La Campine |  Netherlands
|
2,557 | Sunk |
| 16 March 1917 | Gudbrand |  Norway
|
1,860 | Sunk |
| 17 March 1917 | Caledonia |  United Kingdom
|
161 | Sunk |
| 17 March 1917 | Expedit | Norway
|
680 | Sunk |
| 17 March 1917 | Gowan | United Kingdom
|
25 | Sunk |
| 17 March 1917 | Kestrel | United Kingdom
|
181 | Sunk |
| 20 March 1917 | Frisk | Norway
|
1,038 | Sunk |
| 22 March 1917 | Rio Colorado | United Kingdom
|
3,565 | Sunk |
| 14 April 1917 | Venus | Norway
|
725 | Sunk |
| 18 April 1917 | Witham | United Kingdom
|
144 | Sunk |
| 20 April 1917 | HMT Ruthin Castle |  Royal Navy
|
275 | Sunk |
| 24 April 1917 | HMT Margate | Royal Navy
|
162 | Sunk |
| 24 April 1917 | Mayfly | United Kingdom
|
199 | Sunk |
| 24 April 1917 | HMT Gaul | Royal Navy
|
270 | Damaged |
| 26 April 1917 | Active | United Kingdom
|
149 | Sunk |
| 26 April 1917 | Telefon | Norway
|
777 | Sunk |
| 27 May 1917 | Dartmoor | United Kingdom
|
2,870 | Sunk |
| 30 May 1917 | HMT Ina William | Royal Navy
|
337 | Sunk |
| 26 July 1917 | Carmarthen | United Kingdom
|
4,262 | Sunk |
| 3 September 1917 | La Negra | United Kingdom
|
8,312 | Sunk |
| 5 September 1917 | Emma | United Kingdom
|
73 | Sunk |
| 5 September 1917 | Florence Muspratt[7] | United Kingdom
|
79 | Sunk |
| 5 September 1917 | Frances | United Kingdom
|
89 | Sunk |
| 5 September 1917 | Theodor |  United Kingdom
|
230 | Sunk |
| 6 September 1917 | Alesia |  France
|
6,006 | Sunk |
| 7 September 1917 | Versailles | France
|
70 | Sunk |
| 26 September 1917 | HMD Ocean Star | Royal Navy
|
92 | Sunk |
| 11 October 1917 | Baychattan | United Kingdom
|
3,758 | Sunk |
| 11 October 1917 | Mira | United Kingdom
|
3,700 | Sunk |
| 12 December 1917 | Emlyndene | United Kingdom
|
495 | Sunk |
References
editNotes
edit- ^ "SM" stands for "Seiner Majestät" (English: His Majesty's) and combined with the U for Unterseeboot would be translated as His Majesty's Submarine.
- ^ Merchant ship tonnages are in gross register tons. Military vessels are listed by tons displacement.
Citations
edit- ^ a b c d e Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boats: UC 50". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 23 February 2009.
- ^ Tarrant, p. 173.
- ^ a b Messimer, p. 290.
- ^ a b c Gröner 1991, pp. 31–32.
- ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Rudolf Seuffer". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
- ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by UC 50". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
- ^ "schooner Florence Muspratt". Burton Upon Hather Heritage Group. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
Bibliography
edit- Bendert, Harald (2001). Die UC-Boote der Kaiserlichen Marine 1914-1918. Minenkrieg mit U-Booten (in German). Hamburg, Berlin, Bonn: Mittler. ISBN 3-8132-0758-7.
- 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.
- Gardiner, Robert; Gray, Randal, eds. (1985). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1906–1921. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 978-0-87021-907-8. OCLC 12119866.
- Messimer, Dwight R. (2002). Verschollen: World War I U-boat Losses. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 978-1-55750-475-3. OCLC 231973419.
- Tarrant, V. E. (1989). The U-Boat Offensive: 1914–1945. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 978-0-87021-764-7. OCLC 20338385.