SM UC-50

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]

For other ships with the same name, see German submarine U-50.

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

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
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

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. 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. Messimer, p. 290.
  4. 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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