SM UC-50

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
For other ships with the same name, see German submarine U-50.

History
German Empire
NameUC-50
Ordered12 January 1916[1]
Builder
Germaniawerft, Kiel[2]
Yard number266[1]
Launched23 November 1916[1]
Commissioned21 December 1916[1]
FateMissing since 7 January 1918
General characteristics [3]
Class and typeType UC II submarine
Displacement
  • 434 t (427 long tons), surfaced
  • 511 t (503 long tons), submerged
Length
  • 52.69 m (172 ft 10 in)
    o/a
  • 40.96 m (134 ft 5 in)
    pressure hull
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
  • 2 ×
    propeller shafts
  • 2 × 6-cylinder, 4-stroke diesel engines, 580–600 PS (430–440 kW; 570–590 shp)
  • 2 × electric motors, 620 PS (460 kW; 610 shp)
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

mines laid.[1]
UC-50 went missing after 7 January 1918 while sailing for the Bay of Biscay.

Design

A

propeller shafts. She had a dive time of 48 seconds and was capable of operating at a depth of 50 metres (160 ft).[3]

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.[3]

Previously recorded fate

UC-50 was thought to have been rammed and depth charged by HMS Zubian,[5] but this attack actually damaged the UC-79.[1]

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. gross register tons. Military vessels are listed by tons displacement
    .

Citations

  1. ^ a b c d e f 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. ^ a b c Gröner 1991, pp. 31–32.
  4. ^ 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.
  5. ^ Messimer, p. 290.
  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

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