SM UC-50

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History
War Ensign of Germany 1903-1918.svg German Empire
NameUC-50
Ordered12 January 1916 [1]
Builder Germaniawerft, Kiel [2]
Yard number266 [1]
Launched23 November 1916 [1]
Commissioned21 December 1916 [1]
FateMissing since 7 January 1918
General characteristics [3]
Class and type Type UC II submarine
Displacement
  • 434  t (427 long tons), surfaced
  • 511 t (503 long tons), submerged
Length
Beam
  • 5.22 m (17 ft 2 in) o/a
  • 3.65 m (12 ft) pressure hull
Draught3.64 m (11 ft 11 in)
Propulsion
Speed
  • 11.8 knots (21.9 km/h; 13.6 mph), surfaced
  • 7.2 knots (13.3 km/h; 8.3 mph), submerged
Range
  • 8,820–9,450  nmi (16,330–17,500 km; 10,150–10,870 mi) at 7 knots (13 km/h; 8.1 mph) surfaced
  • 56 nmi (104 km; 64 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph) submerged
Test depth50 m (160 ft)
Complement26
Armament
Notes30-second diving time
Service record
Part of:
  • I Flotilla
  • 18 February - 6 July 1917
  • Flandern / Flandern II Flotilla
  • 6 July 1917 – 7 January 1918
Commanders:
Operations: 9 patrols
Victories:
  • 25 merchant ships sunk
    (42,005  GRT)
  • 4 auxiliary warships sunk
    (866  GRT)
  • 1 auxiliary warship damaged
    (270  GRT)

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 went missing after 7 January 1918 while sailing for the Bay of Biscay.

Contents

Design

A 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). [3]

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. [3]

Previously recorded fate

UC-50 was thought to have been rammed and depth charged by HMS Zubian [5] , but this attack actually damaged the UC-79. [1]

Summary of raiding history

DateNameNationalityTonnage [Note 2] Fate [6]
13 March 1917 La Campine Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands 2,557Sunk
16 March 1917 Gudbrand Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 1,860Sunk
17 March 1917 Caledonia Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 161Sunk
17 March 1917 Expedit Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 680Sunk
17 March 1917 Gowan Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 25Sunk
17 March 1917 Kestrel Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 181Sunk
20 March 1917 Frisk Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 1,038Sunk
22 March 1917 Rio Colorado Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 3,565Sunk
14 April 1917 Venus Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 725Sunk
18 April 1917 Witham Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 144Sunk
20 April 1917 HMT Ruthin Castle Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy 275Sunk
24 April 1917 HMT Margate Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy 162Sunk
24 April 1917 Mayfly Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 199Sunk
24 April 1917HMT GaulNaval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy 270Damaged
26 April 1917 Active Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 149Sunk
26 April 1917 Telefon Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 777Sunk
27 May 1917 Dartmoor Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 2,870Sunk
30 May 1917 HMT Ina William Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy 337Sunk
26 July 1917 Carmarthen Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 4,262Sunk
3 September 1917 La Negra Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 8,312Sunk
5 September 1917 Emma Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 73Sunk
5 September 1917 Florence Muspratt [7] Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 79Sunk
5 September 1917 Frances Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 89Sunk
5 September 1917 Theodor Government Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 230Sunk
6 September 1917 Alesia Flag of France.svg  France 6,006Sunk
7 September 1917 Versailles Flag of France.svg  France 70Sunk
26 September 1917 HMD Ocean Star Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy 92Sunk
11 October 1917 Baychattan Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 3,758Sunk
11 October 1917 Mira Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 3,700Sunk
12 December 1917 Emlyndene Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 495Sunk

References

Notes

  1. ↑ "SM" stands for "Seiner Majestät" (English: His Majesty's) and combined with the U for Unterseeboot would be translated as His Majesty's Submarine.
  2. ↑ Merchant ship tonnages are in gross register tons. Military vessels are listed by tons displacement.

Citations

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boats: UC 50". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 23 February 2009.
  2. ↑ Tarrant, p. 173.
  3. 1 2 3 Gröner 1991, pp. 31–32.
  4. ↑ 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.
  5. ↑ Messimer, p. 290.
  6. ↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by UC 50". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
  7. ↑ "schooner Florence Muspratt". Burton Upon Hather Heritage Group. Retrieved 27 February 2015.

Bibliography

  • 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.
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