SM U-83

Last updated
History
War Ensign of Germany 1903-1918.svg German Empire
NameU-83
Ordered23 June 1915
Builder Germaniawerft, Kiel
Yard number253
Laid down23 October 1915
Launched13 July 1916
Commissioned6 September 1916
FateSunk by gunfire of Q-Ship Farnborough SW of Ireland at 51°34′N11°23′W / 51.567°N 11.383°W / 51.567; -11.383 , 17 February 1917. 35 dead and 2 survivors. [1]
General characteristics [2]
Displacement
  • 808 t (795 long tons) surfaced
  • 946 t (931 long tons) submerged
Length
Beam
  • 6.30 m (20 ft 8 in) (oa)
  • 4.15 m (13 ft 7 in) (pressure hull)
Height8.00 m (26 ft 3 in)
Draught4.02 m (13 ft 2 in)
Installed power
  • 2 × 2,400  PS (1,765  kW; 2,367  shp) surfaced
  • 2 × 1,200 PS (883 kW; 1,184 shp) submerged
Propulsion2 shafts, 2 × 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in) propellers
Speed
  • 16.8 knots (31.1 km/h; 19.3 mph) surfaced
  • 9.1 knots (16.9 km/h; 10.5 mph) submerged
Range
  • 11,220  nmi (20,780 km; 12,910 mi) at 8 knots (15 km/h; 9.2 mph) surfaced
  • 56 nmi (104 km; 64 mi) at 5 knots (9.3 km/h; 5.8 mph) submerged
Test depth50 m (160 ft)
Complement4 officers, 31 enlisted
Armament
Service record
Part of:
  • IV Flotilla
  • 31 October 1916 – 17 February 1917
Commanders:
Operations: 2 patrols
Victories:
  • 6 merchant ships sunk
    (6,450  GRT)
  • 1 auxiliary warship damaged
    (3,207  GRT)

SM U-83 was a Type U 81 U-boat of the German Imperial Navy (German : Kaiserliche Marine) during the First World War. She had been commissioned and deployed to operate off the coast of the British Isles and attack coastal shipping as part of the German U-boat campaign. [1]

Contents

In a six-month career, U-83 made two combat patrols into the South-Western Approaches during the Atlantic campaign. In these patrols she sank six merchant ships for 6,450  gross register tons  (GRT). On 17 February 1917, she torpedoed the British Q-ship HMS Farnborough off the Irish coast, but was sunk by Farnborough's hidden armaments when she approached too close. There were just 2 survivors, picked up by Farnborough; 35 of her crew perished. Farnborough was commanded by the submarine hunter Gordon Campbell and had on board later Victoria Cross recipients Ronald Niel Stuart and William Williams.

Design

German Type U 81 submarines were preceded by the shorter Type UE I submarines. U-83 had a displacement of 808 tonnes (795 long tons) when at the surface and 946 tonnes (931 long tons) while submerged. [2] She had a total length of 70.06 m (229 ft 10 in), a pressure hull length of 55.55 m (182 ft 3 in), a beam of 6.30 m (20 ft 8 in), a height of 8 m (26 ft 3 in), and a draught of 4.02 m (13 ft 2 in). The submarine was powered by two 2,400 metric horsepower (1,800 kW; 2,400 shp) engines for use while surfaced, and two 1,200 metric horsepower (880 kW; 1,200 shp) engines for use while submerged. She had two propeller shafts. She was capable of operating at depths of up to 50 metres (160 ft). [2]

The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 16.8 knots (31.1 km/h; 19.3 mph) and a maximum submerged speed of 9.1 knots (16.9 km/h; 10.5 mph). [2] When submerged, she could operate for 56 nautical miles (104 km; 64 mi) at 5 knots (9.3 km/h; 5.8 mph); when surfaced, she could travel 11,220 nautical miles (20,780 km; 12,910 mi) at 8 knots (15 km/h; 9.2 mph). U-83 was fitted with four 50 centimetres (20 in) torpedo tubes (two at the bow and two at the stern), twelve to sixteen torpedoes, and one 10.5 cm (4.1 in) SK L/45 deck gun. She had a complement of thirty-five (thirty-one crew members and four officers). [2]

Summary of raiding history

DateNameNationalityTonnage [Note 1] Fate [4]
17 December 1916 Niord Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden 123Sunk
4 February 1917 Anna Maria Flag of France.svg  France 141Sunk
4 February 1917 Coquette Flag of France.svg  France 167Sunk
6 February 1917 Crown Point Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 5,218Sunk
7 February 1917 Diaz Flag of Russia.svg  Russian Empire 637Sunk
10 February 1917 Paquerette Flag of France.svg  France 164Sunk
17 February 1917 HMS Farnborough Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy 3,207Damaged

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References

Notes

  1. ↑ Merchant ship tonnages are in gross register tons. Military vessels are listed by tons displacement.

Citations

  1. 1 2 Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boats: U 83". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 29 September 2010.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Gröner 1991, pp. 12–14.
  3. ↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Kptlt. Bruno Hoppe". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 29 September 2010.
  4. ↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U 83". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 20 January 2015.

Bibliography

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