SM UC-53

Last updated
History
War Ensign of Germany 1903-1918.svg German Empire
NameUC-53
Ordered12 January 1916 [1]
Builder Germaniawerft, Kiel [2]
Yard number269 [1]
Launched27 February 1917 [1]
Commissioned5 April 1917 [1]
Fate Scuttled at Pola, 28 October 1918 [1]
General characteristics [3]
Class and type German 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:
  • Mittelmeer / Mittelmeer II Flotilla
  • 24 June 1917 – 28 October 1918
Commanders:
  • Kptlt. Kurt Albrecht [4]
  • 5 April 1917 – 5 February 1918
  • Oblt.z.S. Adolf Ehrensberger [5]
  • 6 February – 18 June 1918
  • Kptlt. Erich Gerth [6]
  • 19 June – 28 October 1918
Operations: 8 patrols
Victories:
  • 47 merchant ships sunk
    (46,469  GRT)
  • 11 merchant ships damaged
    (31,612  GRT)
  • 1 auxiliary warship damaged
    (120  GRT)

SM UC-53 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 12 January 1916 and was launched on 27 February 1917. She was commissioned into the German Imperial Navy on 5 April 1917 as SM UC-53. [Note 1] In eight patrols UC-53 was credited with sinking 47 ships, either by torpedo or by mines laid. UC-53 was scuttled at Pola on 28 October 1918 on the surrender of Austria-Hungary. [1]

Contents

Design

A German Type UC II submarine, UC-53 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-53 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]

Summary of raiding history

DateNameNationalityTonnage [Note 2] Fate [7]
4 June 1917 City of Baroda Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 5,032Sunk
9 June 1917 Lilly Flag of Denmark.svg  Denmark 1,150Sunk
9 June 1917 Tordenvore Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 1,565Sunk
10 June 1917 Ligeiro Flag of Portugal.svg  Portugal 285Damaged
10 June 1917 Santa Maria Flag of Portugal.svg  Portugal 204Sunk
11 June 1917 Sibens Flag of Russia.svg  Russian Empire 323Sunk
12 June 1917 Symra Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 3,005Sunk
16 June 1917 Esperanza Flag of Spain.svg  Spain 98Sunk
16 June 1917 F.7.SB. Flag of Spain.svg  Spain 50Sunk
21 June 1917 Nord Flag of France.svg  France 3,193Damaged
9 August 1917 Canara Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 6,012Damaged
10 August 1917 Margherita Flag of Italy (1861-1946) crowned.svg  Kingdom of Italy 66Sunk
10 August 1917 Tito Speri Flag of Italy (1861-1946) crowned.svg  Kingdom of Italy 3,893Sunk
13 August 1917 Arcangelo Michele Flag of Italy (1861-1946) crowned.svg  Kingdom of Italy 45Sunk
12 August 1917 Ansedonia Flag of Italy (1861-1946) crowned.svg  Kingdom of Italy 270Sunk
12 August 1917 Ardita Carrara Flag of Italy (1861-1946) crowned.svg  Kingdom of Italy 75Sunk
13 August 1917 Il Nuovo Leonardo Flag of Italy (1861-1946) crowned.svg  Kingdom of Italy 34Sunk
15 September 1917 Cavi Flag of Italy (1861-1946) crowned.svg  Kingdom of Italy 2,544Damaged
18 September 1917 Domenico Primo Flag of Italy (1861-1946) crowned.svg  Kingdom of Italy 80Damaged
19 September 1917 Teresita Flag of Italy (1861-1946) crowned.svg  Kingdom of Italy 136Sunk
21 September 1917 Christina Flag of Italy (1861-1946) crowned.svg  Kingdom of Italy 32Sunk
22 September 1917 Primo Flag of Italy (1861-1946) crowned.svg  Kingdom of Italy 65Sunk
23 September 1917 Argietta Flag of Italy (1861-1946) crowned.svg  Kingdom of Italy 165Sunk
23 September 1917 Giuseppina Concettina Flag of Italy (1861-1946) crowned.svg  Kingdom of Italy 31Sunk
23 September 1917 Irthington Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 2,845Sunk
24 September 1917 Nuova Francesca Flag of Italy (1861-1946) crowned.svg  Kingdom of Italy 45Sunk
24 September 1917 S. Espedito Flag of Italy (1861-1946) crowned.svg  Kingdom of Italy 31Sunk
8 December 1917 Giuseppe Naccari Flag of Italy (1861-1946) crowned.svg  Kingdom of Italy 128Sunk
9 December 1917 Cerea Flag of Italy (1861-1946) crowned.svg  Kingdom of Italy 4,295Damaged
9 December 1917 Costas Flag of Greece (1822-1978).svg  Greece 3,278Sunk
10 December 1917 Antonio Magliulo Flag of Italy (1861-1946) crowned.svg  Kingdom of Italy 520Sunk
13 December 1917 Karen Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 1,689Sunk
14 December 1917 HMS Brig 1 Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy 120Damaged
25 December 1917 Hekla Flag of Denmark.svg  Denmark 937Sunk
25 January 1918 Carignano Flag of Italy (1861-1946) crowned.svg  Kingdom of Italy 2,688Sunk
26 January 1918 Asimina Flag of Greece (1822-1978).svg  Greece 2,878Sunk
29 January 1918 Geo Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 3,048Sunk
30 January 1918 Fratelli Barrera Flag of Italy (1861-1946) crowned.svg  Kingdom of Italy 88Sunk
30 January 1918 Michele Padre Flag of Italy (1861-1946) crowned.svg  Kingdom of Italy 230Sunk
24 March 1918 La Nuova Felice Flag of Italy (1861-1946) crowned.svg  Kingdom of Italy 72Sunk
24 March 1918 Nuovo Genio Flag of Italy (1861-1946) crowned.svg  Kingdom of Italy 35Sunk
24 March 1918 Regina Immacolata Flag of Italy (1861-1946) crowned.svg  Kingdom of Italy 36Sunk
24 March 1918 Tre Sorelle Salvo Flag of Italy (1861-1946) crowned.svg  Kingdom of Italy 26Sunk
27 March 1918 Castrenzo Coppola Flag of Italy (1861-1946) crowned.svg  Kingdom of Italy 94Sunk
4 June 1918 Michelangelo Flag of Italy (1861-1946) crowned.svg  Kingdom of Italy 2,456Damaged
8 June 1918 Concettina Flag of Italy (1861-1946) crowned.svg  Kingdom of Italy 1,271Sunk
8 June 1918 La Bayonnaise Flag of France.svg  France 2,425Sunk
10 June 1918 Brodholme Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 5,747Damaged
22 September 1918 Gorsemore Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 3,079Sunk
28 September 1918 Caraibe Flag of France.svg  France 2,976Damaged
30 September 1918 Francesco Padre Flag of Italy (1861-1946) crowned.svg  Kingdom of Italy 101Sunk
30 September 1918 Gabriela Costela Flag of Italy (1861-1946) crowned.svg  Kingdom of Italy 105Sunk
30 September 1918 Giovanni Costa Flag of Italy (1861-1946) crowned.svg  Kingdom of Italy 102Sunk
30 September 1918 San Francesco P. Flag of Italy (1861-1946) crowned.svg  Kingdom of Italy 41Sunk
1 October 1918 Giuseppino M. Flag of Italy (1861-1946) crowned.svg  Kingdom of Italy 48Sunk
1 October 1918 S. Giuseppe A. Flag of Italy (1861-1946) crowned.svg  Kingdom of Italy 56Sunk
5 October 1918 Rosa Flag of Italy (1861-1946) crowned.svg  Kingdom of Italy 908Damaged
20 November 1918 War Typhoon Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 3,116Damaged
15 January 1919 Chaouia Flag of France.svg  France 4,334Sunk

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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 53". 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: Kurt Albrecht". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 1 March 2015.
  5. Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Adolf Ehrensberger". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 1 March 2015.
  6. Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Erich Gerth". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 1 March 2015.
  7. Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by UC 53". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 1 March 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.
  • Tarrant, V. E. (1989). The U-Boat Offensive: 1914–1945. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN   978-0-87021-764-7. OCLC   20338385.