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]
Fate Depth Charged by HMS Zubian, 4 February 1918 [3]
General characteristics [4]
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 was sunk by depth charges from British destroyer Zubian in the Dover Strait off Dungeness on 4 February 1918. [3]

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). [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

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 1917 HMT Gaul Naval 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

Related Research Articles

SM UC-17 was a German Type UC II minelaying submarine or U-boat in the Imperial German Navy in World War I. She was ordered on 29 August 1915 and launched on 29 February 1916. She was commissioned into the Imperial German Navy on 21 July 1916 as SM UC-17.

SM UC-20 was a German Type UC II minelaying submarine or U-boat in the German Imperial Navy during World War I. The U-boat was ordered on 29 August 1915 and was launched on 1 April 1916. She was commissioned into the German Imperial Navy on 7 September 1916 as SM UC-20. In 13 patrols UC-20 was credited with sinking 21 ships, either by torpedo or by mines laid. UC-20 was surrendered on 16 January 1919 and broken up at Preston in 1919–20.

SM UC-37 was a German Type UC II minelaying submarine or U-boat in the German Imperial Navy during World War I. The U-boat was ordered on 20 November 1915 and was launched on 5 June 1916. She was commissioned into the German Imperial Navy on 17 October 1916 as SM UC-37. In 13 patrols UC-37 was credited with sinking 66 ships, either by torpedo or by mines laid. UC-37 was surrendered at Sevastopol on 25 November 1918 and broken up at Bizerta in August 1921.

SM UC-49 was a German Type UC II minelaying submarine or U-boat in the German Imperial Navy during World War I. The U-boat was ordered on 20 November 1915 and was launched on 7 November 1916. She was commissioned into the German Imperial Navy on 2 December 1916 as SM UC-49. In 13 patrols UC-49 was credited with sinking 26 ships, either by torpedo or by mines laid. UC-49 was sunk by mine off coast of Flanders on 14 August 1918.

SM UC-51 was a German Type UC II minelaying submarine or U-boat in the German Imperial Navy during World War I. The U-boat was ordered on 20 November 1915 and was launched on 5 December 1916. She was commissioned into the German Imperial Navy on 6 January 1917 as SM UC-51. In seven patrols UC-51 was credited with sinking 28 ships, either by torpedo or by mines laid. UC-51 was mined and sunk in the English Channel on 17 November 1917.

SM UC-52 was a German Type UC II minelaying submarine or U-boat in the German Imperial Navy during World War I. The U-boat was ordered on 12 January 1916 and was launched on 23 January 1917. She was commissioned into the German Imperial Navy on 15 March 1917 as SM UC-52. In seven patrols UC-52 was credited with sinking 18 ships, either by torpedo or by mines laid. She notably sank the Italian troopship Verona, killing 880 soldiers. UC-52 was surrendered on 16 January 1919 and broken up at Morecambe.

SM UC-54 was a German Type UC II minelaying submarine or U-boat in the German Imperial Navy during World War I. The U-boat was ordered on 12 January 1916 and was launched on 20 March 1917. She was commissioned into the German Imperial Navy on 10 May 1917 as SM UC-54. In eight patrols UC-54 was credited with sinking 18 ships, either by torpedo or by mines laid. UC-54 was scuttled at Trieste on 28 October 1918 on the surrender of Austria-Hungary.

SM UC-53 was a German Type UC II minelaying submarine or U-boat in the German Imperial Navy 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. 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.

SM UC-59 was a German Type UC II minelaying submarine or U-boat in the German Imperial Navy during World War I. The U-boat was ordered on 12 January 1916, laid down on 25 March 1916, and was launched on 28 September 1916. She was commissioned into the German Imperial Navy on 12 May 1917 as SM UC-59. In nine patrols UC-59 was credited with sinking eight ships, either by torpedo or by mines laid. UC-59 was surrendered on 21 November 1918 and broken up at Bo'ness in 1919 – 20.

SM UC-60 was a German Type UC II minelaying submarine or U-boat in the German Imperial Navy during World War I. The U-boat was ordered on 12 January 1916, laid down on 31 March 1916, and was launched on 8 November 1916. She was commissioned into the German Imperial Navy on 25 June 1917 as SM UC-60. In one patrols UC-60 was credited with sinking one ship, either by torpedo or by mines laid. UC-60 was surrendered on 23 February 1919 and was broken up at Rainham in 1921.

SM UC-55 was a German Type UC II minelaying submarine or U-boat in the German Imperial Navy during World War I. The U-boat was ordered on 12 January 1916, laid down on 25 February 1916, and was launched on 2 August 1916. She was commissioned into the German Imperial Navy on 15 November 1916 as SM UC-55.

SM <i>UC-56</i>

SM UC-56 was a German Type UC II minelaying submarine or U-boat in the German Imperial Navy during World War I. The U-boat was ordered on 12 January 1916, laid down on 4 March 1916, and was launched on 26 August 1916. She was commissioned into the German Imperial Navy on 18 December 1916 as SM UC-56. In six patrols UC-56 was credited with sinking one ship by torpedo: the British hospital ship HMHS Glenart Castle. UC-56 suffered from mechanical breakdowns that prevented her from submerging. She put in at Santander, Spain, on 24 May 1918 and was interned there for the duration of the war.

SM <i>UC-57</i>

SM UC-57 was a German Type UC II minelaying submarine or U-boat in the German Imperial Navy during World War I. The U-boat was ordered on 12 January 1916, laid down on 14 March 1916, and was launched on 7 September 1916. She was commissioned into the German Imperial Navy on 22 January 1917 as SM UC-57. In seven patrols UC-57 was credited with sinking 5 ships, either by torpedo or by mines laid.

SM <i>UC-58</i>

SM UC-58 was a German Type UC II minelaying submarine or U-boat in the German Imperial Navy during World War I. The U-boat was ordered on 12 January 1916, laid down on 18 March 1916, and was launched on 21 October 1916. She was commissioned into the German Imperial Navy on 12 March 1917 as SM UC-58. In twelve patrols UC-58 was credited with sinking 25 ships, either by torpedo or by mines laid. UC-58 was surrendered on 24 November 1918 and broken up at Cherbourg in 1921.

SM UC-64 was a German Type UC II minelaying submarine or U-boat in the German Imperial Navy during World War I. The U-boat was ordered on 12 January 1916, laid down on 3 April 1916, and was launched on 23 January 1917. She was commissioned into the German Imperial Navy on 22 February 1917 as SM UC-64. In 15 patrols UC-64 was credited with sinking 26 ships, either by torpedo or by mines laid. UC-64 was mined and sunk in the Dover Strait on 20 June 1918.

SM UC-74 was a German Type UC II minelaying submarine or U-boat in the German Imperial Navy during World War I. The U-boat was ordered on 12 January 1916 and was launched on 19 October 1916. She was commissioned into the German Imperial Navy on 26 November 1916 as SM UC-74. In ten patrols UC-74 was credited with sinking 37 ships, either by torpedo or by mines laid. UC-74 was interned at Barcelona on 21 November 1918 when she ran out of fuel. The U-boat was surrendered to France on 26 March 1919 and was broken up at Toulon in July 1921.

SM UC-76 was a German Type UC II minelaying submarine or U-boat in the German Imperial Navy during World War I. The U-boat was ordered on 12 January 1916 and was launched on 25 November 1916. She was commissioned into the German Imperial Navy on 17 December 1916 as SM UC-76. In two patrols UC-76 was credited with sinking 15 ships, either by torpedo or by mines laid. UC-76 was surrendered on 1 December 1918 and broken up at Brighton Ferry in 1919 – 20.

SM UC-77 was a German Type UC II minelaying submarine or U-boat in the German Imperial Navy during World War I. The U-boat was ordered on 12 January 1916 and was launched on 2 December 1916. She was commissioned into the German Imperial Navy on 29 December 1916 as SM UC-77. In 13 patrols UC-77 was credited with sinking 35 ships, either by torpedo or by mines laid. UC-77 was mined and sunk off Flanders on 11 July 1918.

SM UC-78 was a German Type UC II minelaying submarine or U-boat in the German Imperial Navy during World War I. The U-boat was ordered on 12 January 1916 and was launched on 8 December 1916. She was commissioned into the German Imperial Navy on 10 January 1917 as SM UC-78. In twelve patrols UC-78 was credited with sinking 1 warship, either by torpedo or by mines laid. UC-78 was rammed and sunk by the British steamer Queen Alexandra west of Cherbourg on 9 May 1918.

SM UC-79 was a German Type UC II minelaying submarine or U-boat in the German Imperial Navy during World War I.

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 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 Messimer, p. 290.
  4. 1 2 3 Gröner 1991, pp. 31–32.
  5. ↑ 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.
  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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