SM UB-50
![]() UB-148 at sea, a U-boat similar to UB-50.
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History | |
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Name | UB-50 |
Ordered | 20 May 1916[1] |
Builder | Blohm & Voss, Hamburg |
Cost | 3,276,000 German Papiermark |
Yard number | 295 |
Launched | 6 January 1917 |
Commissioned | 12 July 1917 |
Fate | Surrendered 16 January 1919; broken up at Swansea[2] |
General characteristics [2] | |
Class and type | Type UB III submarine |
Displacement | |
Length | 55.30 m (181 ft 5 in) ( o/a )
[2] |
Beam | 5.80 m (19 ft)[2] |
Draught | 3.68 m (12 ft 1 in)[2] |
Propulsion |
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Speed | |
Range | |
Test depth | 50 m (160 ft) |
Complement | 3 officers, 31 men[2] |
Armament |
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Service record | |
Part of: |
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Commanders: | |
Operations: | 7 patrols |
Victories: |
SM UB-50 was a German
The submarine conducted seven patrols and sank 40 ships during the war for a total loss of 97,922
Construction
UB-50 was ordered by the German Imperial Navy on 20 May 1916. She was built by
Service history
First patrol
Soon after she left Pola, UB-50 encountered the William H. Crawford, a 1,593 GRT American sailing ship. It sank after an attack from the U-boat stopped her.[3] Four days later, UB-50 sighted the 800 GRT British barge R.B.40. UB 50 launched a torpedo which instead hit the British tug towing the ship, the 121 GRT H.s.3. The tug sank, but the barge was not sunk.[4] The following day, UB-50 found two Portuguese sailboats Correiro De Sines and Comizianes Da Graca at 32 GRT and 32 GRT respectively.[5] They were sunk 6 nautical miles (11 km; 6.9 mi) north of Cape Sines.[6] A day later, she found the Portuguese 196 GRT ship Sado, which she sank about 16 nautical miles (30 km; 18 mi) south of her prey the day before.[7] Four days later, UB-50 finally encountered and sank a merchant, this being the 3,611 GRT British Polar Prince, carrying coal for Malta.[8] Two days later, she sank the Fabian, a 2,246 GRT British steamer going to Liverpool, killing three.[9] Later that day, she sank the Gioffredo Mameli, a 4,124 GRT ton Italian steamer carrying ore.[10] The 2,464 GRT coal carrying Greek steamer Alkyon was attacked two days later by UB-50, sinking close off Oran.[11] The UB 50 followed up with the sinking of the 1,670 GRT Norwegian steamer John Knudsen, killing one.[12] Four days later, the 296 GRT Italian sailboat Ciro was scuttled after being hit by UB-50,[13] the last ship she would sink before returning to base.
Second patrol
SM UB-50 began her second patrol with the sinking of the Marc Fraissinet, a 3,060 GRT French steamer carrying wood, munitions, and hay to Bizerte. It sank 15 nautical miles (28 km; 17 mi) north of Tabarca after being torpedoed by UB-50.[14] Later that day UB 50 encountered the Senegal, an 845 GRT Italian steamer, sinking her off the coast of Algeria with no casualties.[15] Three days after that, the Margram Abbey, a 4,367 GRT British steamer carrying coal, was found and torpedoed by UB-50. It was beached off the coast of Algeria, but the torpedo damage, which killed two, had wrecked the ship.[16] UB 50 attacked the Antaeus, a 3,061 GRT British steamer, three days later off Cape Bon. There were no casualties, but the captain was taken prisoner. On the following day, UB 50 torpedoed the Amberton, a 4,556 GRT British steamer, but she was only damaged.[17] Four days later, the submarine found her last target of her second patrol, the 2,774 GRT American steamer Rizal, which sank 9 nautical miles (17 km; 10 mi) from Cape Cavallo.[18]
Third patrol
UB-50 started out her third patrol by finding and sinking the 96 GRT Italian sailboat S. Giuseppe B. off the coast of Africa.[19] She sank the 8,293 GRT British steamer City of Lucknow two days later 50 nautical miles (93 km; 58 mi) northeast of the Cani Rocks.[20] On Christmas Day, 1917, UB-50 sank the Sant’ Antonio, an 843 GRT Italian sailing vessel, by gunfire near Bizerte.[21] On New Year's Day, 1918, the Egyptian Transport, a 4,648 GRT British steamer, was damaged during an attack by UB-50, which killed five men. It was later beached but refloated.[22] Two days later, the Allanton, a 4,253 GRT British steamer carrying coal, was sunk by UB-50,[23] which also sunk the Steelville, a 3,649 GRT British steamer also carrying coal later that day.[24] Four days later, UB-50 torpedoed the Arab, a 4,191 GRT British steamer coal off the coast of Cape Serrat, killing 21.[25]
Fourth patrol
UB-50's fourth patrol was very successful. In less than a month, she sank six vessels. The first victim was the 2,457
Fifth patrol
UB-50 began her fifth war patrol by damaging the 3,926 GRT British steamer Elswick Grange carrying coal off the coast of Oran, killing one.[31] Two days later, she ran across the 3,152 GRT British steamer Mavisbrook carrying coal. She was torpedoed south east of Cabo de Gata, killing 18.[32] On that same day, she came upon the 168 GRT Danish three-masted iron-hulled schooner Kirstine Jesen, sinking after being fired upon from UB-50's deck gun with no deaths.[33] Two days later, the New Sweden, a 5,319 GRT Swedish steamer, was hit by UB-50 and sank.[34] Two days later, UB-50 found the 180 GRT Spanish steamer Maria Pia, which sank with no casualties.[35] Three days after that, the 117 GRT French sailboat Animal Lafont and 257 GRT Italian sailboat Santa Teresa were torpedoed by the U-boat with no casualties.[36][37]
Sixth patrol
Shortly before her sixth patrol, Oberleutnant zur See Heinrich Kukat took over command from Kptlt. Becker.[38] On her sixth patrol, UB-50 encountered the Imber, a 2,514 GRT British steamer and torpedoed her south of Cape St. Maria di Leuca, though she survived.[39] Three days later, UB-50 sank the War Swallow, a 5,216 GRT British merchant ship carrying coal from the River Tyne to Port Said.[40] Another three days passed before UB-50 found her next target, the Italian steamer Adria 1, a ship carrying cotton from Palermo to Tunis. It sank, but there were no deaths.[41] Two days later, the 5,257 GRT British steamer Upada was torpedoed by UB-50 killing three, but was only damaged.[42] UB-50 sank the Messidor, a 3,883 GRT British coal steamer two days later, sinking the ship and killing one.[43] The following day, she torpedoed the Rutherglen, a 4,214 GRT British steam merchant carrying coal.[44] That was followed by an attack on the Magellan, a 3,642 GRT British steamer on the following day. She sank with one man.[45] The last ship sunk on the patrol was the Antonio S., a 175 GRT Italian sailboat sunk off the coast of Tunisia.[46]
Seventh patrol
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/de/HMS_Britannia_%281904%29_sinking_on_9_November_1918.jpg/220px-HMS_Britannia_%281904%29_sinking_on_9_November_1918.jpg)
On 9 November 1918, two days before the
Summary of raiding history
Date | Name | Nationality | Tonnage[Note 2] | Fate[48] |
---|---|---|---|---|
8 September 1917 | William H. Clifford | ![]() |
1,593 | Sunk |
12 September 1917 | HS 3 | ![]() |
121 | Sunk |
12 September 1917 | RB 10 | ![]() |
800 | Sunk |
13 September 1917 | Gomizianes Da Graça Odemira | ![]() |
32 | Sunk |
13 September 1917 | Correiro De Sines | ![]() |
32 | Sunk |
14 September 1917 | Sado | ![]() |
196 | Sunk |
18 September 1917 | Polar Prince | ![]() |
3,611 | Sunk |
20 September 1917 | Fabian | ![]() |
2,246 | Sunk |
20 September 1917 | Gioffredo Mameli | ![]() |
4,124 | Sunk |
22 September 1917 | Alkyon | ![]() |
2,464 | Sunk |
22 September 1917 | John Knudsen | ![]() |
1,670 | Sunk |
26 September 1917 | Ciro | ![]() |
296 | Sunk |
28 October 1917 | Marc Fraissinet | ![]() |
3,060 | Sunk |
28 October 1917 | Senegal | ![]() |
845 | Sunk |
1 November 1917 | Margam Abbey | ![]() |
4,367 | Sunk |
4 November 1917 | Antaeus | ![]() |
3,061 | Sunk |
5 November 1917 | Amberton | ![]() |
4,556 | Damaged |
9 November 1917 | Rizal | ![]() |
2,744 | Sunk |
19 December 1917 | S. Giuseppe B. | ![]() |
96 | Sunk |
21 December 1917 | City Of Lucknow | ![]() |
8,293 | Sunk |
25 December 1917 | Sant’ Antonio | ![]() |
843 | Sunk |
1 January 1918 | Egyptian Transport | ![]() |
4,648 | Damaged |
3 January 1918 | Allanton | ![]() |
4,253 | Sunk |
3 January 1918 | Steelville | ![]() |
3,649 | Sunk |
7 January 1918 | Arab | ![]() |
4,191 | Sunk |
22 March 1918 | Saint Jean II | ![]() |
2,457 | Sunk |
22 March 1918 | Shadwell | ![]() |
4,091 | Damaged |
26 March 1918 | Volturno | ![]() |
11,495 | Sunk |
6 April 1918 | Madeleine III | ![]() |
149 | Sunk |
11 April 1918 | Carmela G | ![]() |
41 | Sunk |
11 April 1918 | Highland Prince | ![]() |
3,390 | Sunk |
17 May 1918 | Elswick Grange | ![]() |
3,926 | Damaged |
17 May 1918 | Mavisbrook | ![]() |
3,152 | Sunk |
19 May 1918 | Kirstine Jensen | ![]() |
168 | Sunk |
20 May 1918 | New Sweden | ![]() |
5,319 | Sunk |
22 May 1918 | Maria Pia | ![]() |
180 | Damaged |
25 May 1918 | Amiral Lafont | ![]() |
117 | Sunk |
25 May 1918 | Santa Teresa | ![]() |
257 | Sunk |
13 July 1918 | Imber | ![]() |
2,514 | Damaged |
16 July 1918 | War Swallow | ![]() |
5,216 | Sunk |
19 July 1918 | Adria 1 | ![]() |
1,809 | Sunk |
21 July 1918 | Upada | ![]() |
5,257 | Damaged |
23 July 1918 | Messidor | ![]() |
3,883 | Sunk |
24 July 1918 | Rutherglen | ![]() |
4,214 | Sunk |
25 July 1918 | Magellan | ![]() |
3,642 | Sunk |
27 July 1918 | Antonio S. | ![]() |
175 | Sunk |
9 November 1918 | HMS Britannia | ![]() |
16,350 | Sunk |
References
Notes
- ^ "SM" stands for "Seiner Majestät" (English: His Majesty's) and combined with the U for Unterseeboot would be translated as His Majesty's Submarine.
- gross register tons. Military vessels are listed by tons displacement.
Citations
- ^ a b c d e Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boats: UB 50". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 29 April 2010.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Gröner 1991, pp. 25–30.
- ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit during WWI: William H. Clifford". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 2 May 2010.
- ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit during WWI: Tug H.s.3". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 2 May 2010.
- ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit during WWI: Correiro De Sines". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 2 May 2010.
- ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit during WWI: Comizianes Da Graca". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 2 May 2010.
- ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit during WWI: Sado". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 2 May 2010.
- ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit during WWI: Steamer Polar Prince". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 2 May 2010.
- ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit during WWI: Steamer Fabian". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 2 May 2010.
- ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit during WWI: Steamer Gioffredo Mameli". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 2 May 2010.
- ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit during WWI: Steamer Alkyon". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 2 May 2010.
- ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit during WWI: Steamer John Knudsen". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 2 May 2010.
- ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit during WWI: Sailing vessel Ciro". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 2 May 2010.
- ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit during WWI: Steamer Marc Fraissinet". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 3 May 2010.
- ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit during WWI: Steamer Senegal". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 3 May 2010.
- ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit during WWI: Steamer Margam Abbey". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 3 May 2010.
- ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit during WWI: Steamer Amberton". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 3 May 2010.
- ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit during WWI: Steamer Rizal". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 3 May 2010.
- ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit during WWI: Sailing vessel S. Giuseppe B." German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 3 May 2010.
- ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit during WWI: Steamer City Of Lucknow". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 3 May 2010.
- ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit during WWI: Sailing vessel Sant' Antonio". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 3 May 2010.
- ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit during WWI: Steamer Egyptian Transport". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 3 May 2010.
- ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit during WWI: Steamer Allanton". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 3 May 2010.
- ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit during WWI: Steamer Steelville". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 3 May 2010.
- ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit during WWI: Steamer Arab". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 3 May 2010.
- ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit during WWI: Steamer Saint Jean Ii". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 3 May 2010.
- ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit during WWI: Steamer Shadwell". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 3 May 2010.
- ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit during WWI: Steamer Volturno". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 3 May 2010.
- ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit during WWI: Sailing vessel Carmela G". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 10 May 2010.
- ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit during WWI: Q-ship Madeleine III". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 10 May 2010.
- ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit during WWI: Elswick Grange". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 5 May 2010.
- ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit during WWI: Mavisbrook". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 5 May 2010.
- ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit during WWI: Kirstine Jensen". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 5 May 2010.
- ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit during WWI: New Sweden". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 5 May 2010.
- ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit during WWI: Maria Pia". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 5 May 2010.
- ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit during WWI: Animal Lafont". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 5 May 2010.
- ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit during WWI: Santa Teresa". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 5 May 2010.
- ^ Bendert 2000, p. 130.
- ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit during WWI: Steamer Imber". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 3 May 2010.
- ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit during WWI: Steamer War Swallow". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 3 May 2010.
- ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit during WWI: steamer Adria 1". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 3 May 2010.
- ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit during WWI: Steamer Upada". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 3 May 2010.
- ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit during WWI: Steamer Messidor". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 3 May 2010.
- ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit during WWI: Steamer Rutherglen". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 3 May 2010.
- ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit during WWI: Steamer Magellan". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 3 May 2010.
- ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit during WWI: Sailing vessel Antonio S." German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 3 May 2010.
- ^ a b Burt, p. 253, says that Britannia listed 10 degrees within "minutes" of the first explosion, then held that list for 2½ hours before sinking, while Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1906–1921, p. 9, claims that she stayed afloat for a total of 3½ hours before sinking, making the length of time it took her to sink ambiguous
- ^ a b Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by UB-50". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 29 April 2010.
Bibliography
- Burt, R. A (1988). British Battleships 1889–1904. ISBN 0-87021-061-0.
- Gardiner, Robert; Gray, Randal, eds. (1985). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1906–1921. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. OCLC 12119866.
- Bendert, Harald (2000). Die UB-Boote der Kaiserlichen Marine, 1914-1918. Einsätze, Erfolge, Schicksal (in German). 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. ISBN 3-7637-5213-7.