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SM UC-50

Summary

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.[2]

History
German Empire
NameUC-50
Ordered12 January 1916[1]
BuilderGermaniawerft, Kiel[3]
Yard number266[1]
Launched23 November 1916[1]
Commissioned21 December 1916[1]
FateDepth Charged by HMS Zubian, 4 February 1918[2]
General characteristics [4]
Class and typeGerman 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)

Design edit

A German 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 edit

Date Name Nationality Tonnage[Note 2] Fate[6]
13 March 1917 La Campine   Netherlands 2,557 Sunk
16 March 1917 Gudbrand   Norway 1,860 Sunk
17 March 1917 Caledonia   United Kingdom 161 Sunk
17 March 1917 Expedit   Norway 680 Sunk
17 March 1917 Gowan   United Kingdom 25 Sunk
17 March 1917 Kestrel   United Kingdom 181 Sunk
20 March 1917 Frisk   Norway 1,038 Sunk
22 March 1917 Rio Colorado   United Kingdom 3,565 Sunk
14 April 1917 Venus   Norway 725 Sunk
18 April 1917 Witham   United Kingdom 144 Sunk
20 April 1917 HMT Ruthin Castle   Royal Navy 275 Sunk
24 April 1917 HMT Margate   Royal Navy 162 Sunk
24 April 1917 Mayfly   United Kingdom 199 Sunk
24 April 1917 HMT Gaul   Royal Navy 270 Damaged
26 April 1917 Active   United Kingdom 149 Sunk
26 April 1917 Telefon   Norway 777 Sunk
27 May 1917 Dartmoor   United Kingdom 2,870 Sunk
30 May 1917 HMT Ina William   Royal Navy 337 Sunk
26 July 1917 Carmarthen   United Kingdom 4,262 Sunk
3 September 1917 La Negra   United Kingdom 8,312 Sunk
5 September 1917 Emma   United Kingdom 73 Sunk
5 September 1917 Florence Muspratt[7]   United Kingdom 79 Sunk
5 September 1917 Frances   United Kingdom 89 Sunk
5 September 1917 Theodor   United Kingdom 230 Sunk
6 September 1917 Alesia   France 6,006 Sunk
7 September 1917 Versailles   France 70 Sunk
26 September 1917 HMD Ocean Star   Royal Navy 92 Sunk
11 October 1917 Baychattan   United Kingdom 3,758 Sunk
11 October 1917 Mira   United Kingdom 3,700 Sunk
12 December 1917 Emlyndene   United Kingdom 495 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. ^ Merchant ship tonnages are in gross register tons. Military vessels are listed by tons displacement.

Citations edit

  1. ^ a b c d e 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. ^ a b Messimer, p. 290.
  3. ^ Tarrant, p. 173.
  4. ^ a b c 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 edit

  • 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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