SM UB-57

Summary

SM UB-57 was a German Type UB III submarine or U-boat in the German Imperial Navy (German: Kaiserliche Marine) during World War I. She was commissioned into the Flanders Flotilla of the German Imperial Navy on 30 July 1917 as SM UB-57.[Note 1]

UB-148 at sea, a U-boat similar to UB-57.
History
German Empire
NameUB-57
Ordered20 May 1916[2]
BuilderAG Weser, Bremen
Cost3,276,000 German Papiermark
Yard number269
Laid down13 September 1916[3]
Launched21 June 1917[1]
Commissioned30 July 1917[1]
FateSunk 14 August 1918 at 51°56′N 02°02′E / 51.933°N 2.033°E / 51.933; 2.033 by a mine, 34 dead[1]
General characteristics [1]
Class and typeGerman Type UB III submarine
Displacement
  • 516 t (508 long tons) surfaced
  • 646 t (636 long tons; 712 short tons) submerged
Length55.85 m (183 ft 3 in) (o/a)
Beam5.80 m (19 ft)
Draught3.72 m (12 ft 2 in)
Propulsion
Speed
  • 13.4 knots (24.8 km/h; 15.4 mph) surfaced
  • 7.8 knots (14.4 km/h; 9.0 mph) submerged
Range
  • 9,020 nmi (16,710 km; 10,380 mi) at 6 knots (11 km/h; 6.9 mph) surfaced
  • 55 nmi (102 km; 63 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph) submerged
Test depth50 m (160 ft)
Complement3 officers, 31 men[1]
Armament
Service record
Part of:
  • Flandern I Flotilla
  • 20 September 1917 – 14 August 1918
Commanders:
Operations: 11 patrols
Victories:
  • 45 merchant ships sunk
    (112,535 GRT)
  • 1 auxiliary warship sunk
    (9,500 GRT)
  • 11 merchant ships damaged
    (64,265 GRT)

She operated as part of the Flanders Flotilla based in Zeebrugge. UB-57 was sunk at 23:00 on 14 August 1918 at 51°56′N 02°02′E / 51.933°N 2.033°E / 51.933; 2.033 after striking a mine, 34 crew members lost their lives in the event.[1]

Construction edit

She was built by AG Weser, Bremen and following just under a year of construction, launched at Bremen on 21 June 1917. UB-57 was commissioned later that same year under the command of Kptlt. Otto Steinbrinck. Like all Type UB III submarines, UB-57 carried 10 torpedoes and was armed with a 8.8 cm (3.46 in) deck gun. UB-57 would carry a crew of up to 3 officer and 31 men and had a cruising range of 9,020 nautical miles (16,710 km; 10,380 mi). UB-57 had a displacement of 516 t (508 long tons) while surfaced and 646 t (636 long tons; 712 short tons) when submerged. Her engines enabled her to travel at 13.4 knots (24.8 km/h; 15.4 mph) when surfaced and 7.8 knots (14.4 km/h; 9.0 mph) when submerged.

Summary of raiding history edit

Date Name Nationality Tonnage[Note 2] Fate[4]
7 October 1917 Alcyone   United Kingdom 116 Sunk
11 October 1917 Joshua   United Kingdom 60 Sunk
20 October 1917 Leander   Norway 2,968 Sunk
20 October 1917 Nitedal   Norway 1,714 Sunk
22 October 1917 Novillo   Denmark 2,336 Sunk
23 October 1917 Seistan   United Kingdom 4,238 Sunk
23 October 1917 Tredegar Hall   United Kingdom 3,764 Sunk
22 November 1917 Krosfond   Norway 1,707 Sunk
24 November 1917 Nyassa   United Kingdom 2,579 Sunk
27 November 1917 Almond Branch   United Kingdom 3,461 Sunk
27 November 1917 Eastfield   United Kingdom 2,145 Sunk
22 December 1917 Mabel Baird   United Kingdom 2,500 Sunk
23 December 1917 Vellore   Norway 1,672 Sunk
26 December 1917 Benito   United Kingdom 4,712 Sunk
26 December 1917 Tregenna   United Kingdom 5,772 Sunk
28 December 1917 Clara   United Kingdom 2,425 Sunk
29 December 1917 Tiro   Norway 1,442 Sunk
5 February 1918 Alamance   United States 4,455 Sunk
6 February 1918 Westmoreland   United Kingdom 9,512 Damaged
7 February 1918 Ardbeg   United Kingdom 227 Sunk
7 February 1918 Ben Rein   United Kingdom 212 Sunk
7 February 1918 Limesfield   United Kingdom 427 Sunk
12 February 1918 Eleanor   United Kingdom 1,980 Sunk
12 February 1918 Polo   United Kingdom 1,383 Sunk
14 February 1918 Carlisle Castle   United Kingdom 4,325 Sunk
14 February 1918 War Monarch   United Kingdom 7,887 Sunk
17 March 1918 Anne Yvonne   France 102 Sunk
17 March 1918 Arvor   France 52 Sunk
17 March 1918 Beata   France 102 Sunk
19 March 1918 Luxor   United Kingdom 3,571 Sunk
23 March 1918 Sequoya   United Kingdom 5,263 Damaged
29 March 1918 India   Portugal 5,990 Damaged
29 March 1918 T. R. Thompson   United Kingdom 3,538 Sunk
31 March 1918 Alcinous   United Kingdom 6,743 Damaged
31 March 1918 Excellence Pleske   United Kingdom 2,059 Sunk
29 April 1918 Australier   United Kingdom 3,687 Sunk
29 April 1918 Broderick   United Kingdom 4,321 Sunk
29 April 1918 La Somme   France 1,477 Sunk
30 April 1918 Ella Sayer   United Kingdom 2,549 Sunk
30 April 1918 Umba   United Kingdom 2,042 Sunk
1 May 1918 Canonesa   United Kingdom 6,683 Damaged
2 May 1918 Unity   United Kingdom 1,091 Sunk
22 May 1918 Red Rose   United Kingdom 423 Sunk
23 May 1918 HMS Moldavia   Royal Navy 9,500 Sunk
26 May 1918 Kyarra   United Kingdom 6,953 Sunk
27 May 1918 Joseph Simone   France 8 Sunk
27 May 1918 Petit Georges   France 10 Sunk
27 May 1918 Souvenir de Ste Marie   France 7 Sunk
30 May 1918 War Panther   United Kingdom 5,260 Damaged
31 May 1918 Galileo   United Kingdom 6,287 Damaged
30 June 1918 Wilton   United Kingdom 4,281 Damaged
2 July 1918 Royal Sceptre   United Kingdom 3,858 Damaged
2 July 1918 Shirala   United Kingdom 5,306 Sunk
6 July 1918 Huntscraft   United Kingdom 5,113 Damaged
5 August 1918 Tuscan Prince   United Kingdom 5,275 Damaged
8 August 1918 Clan Macvey   United Kingdom 5,815 Sunk
9 August 1918 Glenlee   United Kingdom 4,915 Sunk

References edit

Notes edit

  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. ^ Tonnages are in gross register tons

Citations edit

  1. ^ a b c d e f Gröner 1991, pp. 25–30.
  2. ^ Rössler 1979, p. 55.
  3. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boats: UB 57". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 26 July 2014.
  4. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by UB 57". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 5 December 2014.

Bibliography edit

  • Bendert, Harald (2000). Die UB-Boote der Kaiserlichen Marine, 1914-1918. Einsätze, Erfolge, Schicksal (in German). Hamburg: Verlag E.S. Mittler & Sohn GmbH. ISBN 3-8132-0713-7.
  • Gröner, Erich; Jung, Dieter; Maass, Martin (1991). German Warships 1815–1945, U-boats and Mine Warfare Vessels. Vol. 2. Translated by Thomas, Keith; Magowan, Rachel. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-593-4.
  • Rössler, Eberhard (1979). Die deutschen U-Boote und ihre Werften: eine Bilddokumentation über den deutschen U-Bootbau; in zwei Bänden (in German). Vol. I. Munich: Bernard & Graefe. ISBN 3-7637-5213-7.