SM U-63 (Germany)

Last updated

History
War Ensign of Germany 1903-1918.svg German Empire
NameU-63
Ordered17 May 1915
Builder Germaniawerft, Kiel
Yard number247
Laid down30 April 1915
Launched8 February 1916
Commissioned11 March 1916
FateSurrendered 16 January 1919. Broken up at Blyth in 1919-20
General characteristics [1]
Class and type Type U 63 submarine
Displacement
  • 810  t (800 long tons) surfaced
  • 927 t (912 long tons) submerged
Length
Beam
  • 6.30 m (20 ft 8 in) (oa)
  • 4.15 m (13 ft 7 in) (pressure hull)
Height7.65 m (25 ft 1 in)
Draught4.04 m (13 ft 3 in)
Installed power
  • 2 × 2,200  PS (1,618  kW; 2,170  shp) surfaced
  • 2 × 1,200 PS (883 kW; 1,184 shp) submerged
Propulsion2 shafts
Speed
  • 16.5 knots (30.6 km/h; 19.0 mph) surfaced
  • 9 knots (17 km/h; 10 mph) submerged
Range
  • 9,170  nmi (16,980 km; 10,550 mi) at 8 knots (15 km/h; 9.2 mph) surfaced
  • 60 nmi (110 km; 69 mi) at 5 knots (9.3 km/h; 5.8 mph) submerged
Test depth50 m (164 ft 1 in)
Complement36
Armament
Service record
Part of:
  • IV Flotilla
  • 2 May - 6 November 1916
  • Pola / Mittelmeer / Mittelmeer I Flotilla
  • 6 November 1916 - 11 November 1918
Commanders:
  • Kptlt. Otto Schultze [2]
  • 11 March 1916 – 27 August 1917 ,
  • 15 October – 24 December 1917
  • Kptlt. Heinrich Metzger [3]
  • 28 August – 14 October 1917
  • Kptlt. Kurt Hartwig [4]
  • 25 December 1917 – 11 November 1918
Operations: 12 patrols
Victories:
  • 69 merchant ships sunk
    (192,145  GRT)
  • 1 warship sunk
    (5,250 tons)
  • 3 auxiliary warships sunk
    (6,020  GRT)
  • 11 merchant ships damaged
    (47,700  GRT)
  • 2 warships damaged
    (2,540 tons)

SM U-63 was one of the 329 submarines serving in the Imperial German Navy in World War I. U-63 was engaged in naval warfare and took part in the First Battle of the Atlantic.

Contents

Summary of raiding history

DateNameNationalityTonnage [Note 1] Fate [5]
4 July 1916 HMS Rosemary Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy 1,250Damaged
20 August 1916 HMS Falmouth Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy 5,250Sunk
23 October 1916 Bayreaulx Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 3,009Sunk
28 October 1916 Lanao Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg  United States 692Sunk
28 October 1916 Rio Pirahy Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 3,561Sunk
28 October 1916 Selene Flag of Italy (1861-1946).svg  Italy 3,955Sunk
28 October 1916 Torsdal Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 3,621Sunk
29 October 1916 Massalia Flag of Greece (1822-1978).svg  Greece 2,186Sunk
29 October 1916 Meroë Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 3,552Sunk
29 October 1916 Torino Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 1,850Sunk
31 October 1916 Delto Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 3,193Sunk
31 October 1916 Fedelta Flag of Italy (1861-1946).svg  Italy 1,906Sunk
27 November 1916 Maude Larssen Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 1,222Sunk
28 November 1916 Sigurd Flag of Denmark.svg  Denmark 2,119Sunk
30 November 1916 Roma Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 125Sunk
2 December 1916 Luigi C. Flag of Italy (1861-1946).svg  Italy 71Sunk
2 December 1916 Roma Flag of Italy (1861-1946).svg  Italy 643Sunk
3 December 1916 HMS Perugia Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy 4,348Sunk
5 December 1916 Grigorios Anghelatos Flag of Greece (1822-1978).svg  Greece 3,635Sunk
11 December 1916 Magellan Flag of France.svg  France 6,027Sunk
11 December 1916 Sinai Flag of France.svg  France 4,624Sunk
25 March 1917 Vellore Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 4,926Sunk
26 March 1917 L. Rahmanich Flag of Egypt (1882-1922).svg  Egypt 79Sunk
1 April 1917 Zambesi Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 3,759Sunk
4 April 1917 Margit Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 2,490Sunk
5 April 1917 Solstad Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 4,147Sunk
5 April 1917 Kangaroo Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 4,348Damaged
28 April 1917 Carmelo Padre Flag of Italy (1861-1946).svg  Italy 74Sunk
28 April 1917 Giuseppe Padre I Flag of Italy (1861-1946).svg  Italy 102Sunk
28 April 1917 Giuseppina G. Flag of Italy (1861-1946).svg  Italy 100Sunk
28 April 1917 I Due Fratelli P. Flag of Italy (1861-1946).svg  Italy 97Sunk
28 April 1917 Karonga Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 4,665Sunk
28 April 1917 Natale B. Flag of Italy (1861-1946).svg  Italy 55Sunk
28 April 1917 San Francesco Di Paola Flag of Italy (1861-1946).svg  Italy 41Sunk
3 May 1917 Washington Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 5,080Sunk
4 May 1917 Transylvania Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 14,348Sunk
5 May 1917 Talawa Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 3,834Damaged
7 May 1917 Crown of Leon Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 3,391Damaged
14 May 1917 Francesco Raiola Flag of Italy (1861-1946).svg  Italy 181Sunk
14 May 1917 Volga Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 4,404Damaged
15 May 1917 Ferrara Flag of Italy (1861-1946).svg  Italy 5,660Damaged
22 June 1917 Himalaya Flag of France.svg  France 5,620Sunk
23 June 1917 Craonne Flag of France.svg  France 777Sunk
23 June 1917 Kalypso Vergotti Flag of Greece (1822-1978).svg  Greece 2,819Sunk
26 June 1917 Birdoswald Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 4,013Sunk
27 June 1917 Tong Hong Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 2,184Sunk
30 June 1917 Alkelda Flag of Italy (1861-1946).svg  Italy 98Sunk
30 June 1917 Enrichetta Flag of Italy (1861-1946).svg  Italy 3,638Sunk
1 July 1917 Marie Flag of France.svg  France 118Sunk
2 July 1917 Argentario Flag of Italy (1861-1946).svg  Italy 739Sunk
3 July 1917 Immacolatina Flag of Italy (1861-1946).svg  Italy 54Sunk
5 September 1917 Proletaire Flag of France.svg  France 101Sunk
11 September 1917 Embleton Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 5,377Sunk
12 September 1917 Reim Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 1,126Sunk
15 September 1917 Platuria Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg  United States 3,445Sunk
18 September 1917 Arendal Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 1,387Sunk
26 September 1917 Heraklios Flag of Greece (1822-1978).svg  Greece 2,878Sunk
5 November 1917 Hilda R. Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 136Sunk
5 November 1917 Kai Flag of Denmark.svg  Denmark 1,391Sunk
6 November 1917 HMS Peveril Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy 1,459Sunk
8 November 1917 HMS Candytuft Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy 1,290Damaged
8 November 1917 Benledi Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 3,931Damaged
9 November 1917 Ardglamis Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 4,540Sunk
14 November 1917 Trowbridge Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 3,712Sunk
16 November 1917 Gasconia Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 3,801Sunk
16 November 1917 Kyno Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 3,034Sunk
18 November 1917 Huntsgulf Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 3,185Damaged
20 November 1917 Commendatore Carlo Bruno Flag of Italy (1861-1946).svg  Italy 813Sunk
21 November 1917 Mossoul Flag of France.svg  France 3,135Sunk
5 January 1918 Rio Claro Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 3,687Sunk
8 January 1918 San Guglielmo Flag of Italy (1861-1946).svg  Italy 8,145Sunk
15 January 1918 Bonanova BandMercante1785.svg  Spain 933Sunk
18 January 1918 Maria P. Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 263Sunk
18 January 1918 Ville De Bordeaux Flag of France.svg  France 4,857Sunk
22 January 1918 Anglo-Canadian Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 4,239Sunk
22 January 1918 Manchester Spinner Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 4,247Sunk
19 May 1918 Saxilby Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 3,630Damaged
19 May 1918 Snowdon Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 3,189Sunk
24 May 1918 Elysia Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 6,397Damaged
30 May 1918 Antinous Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 3,682Damaged
30 May 1918 Asiatic Prince Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 2,887Sunk
30 May 1918 Aymeric Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 4,363Sunk
11 August 1918 City of Adelaide Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 8,389Sunk
12 August 1918 G6 Flag of Italy (1861-1946) crowned.svg  Regia Marina 213Sunk
24 August 1918 Delphinula Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 5,238Damaged
16 October 1918 War Council Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 5,875Sunk

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References

Notes

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

Citations

  1. Gröner 1991, pp. 8–10.
  2. Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Otto Schultze". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 25 November 2014.
  3. Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Heinrich Metzger". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 25 November 2014.
  4. Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Kurt Hartwig". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 25 November 2014.
  5. Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U 63". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 25 November 2014.

Bibliography