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.[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

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

DateNameNationalityTonnage[Note 2]Fate[6]
13 March 1917La Campine  Netherlands2,557Sunk
16 March 1917Gudbrand  Norway1,860Sunk
17 March 1917Caledonia  United Kingdom161Sunk
17 March 1917Expedit  Norway680Sunk
17 March 1917Gowan  United Kingdom25Sunk
17 March 1917Kestrel  United Kingdom181Sunk
20 March 1917Frisk  Norway1,038Sunk
22 March 1917Rio Colorado  United Kingdom3,565Sunk
14 April 1917Venus  Norway725Sunk
18 April 1917Witham  United Kingdom144Sunk
20 April 1917HMT Ruthin Castle  Royal Navy275Sunk
24 April 1917HMT Margate  Royal Navy162Sunk
24 April 1917Mayfly  United Kingdom199Sunk
24 April 1917HMT Gaul  Royal Navy270Damaged
26 April 1917Active  United Kingdom149Sunk
26 April 1917Telefon  Norway777Sunk
27 May 1917Dartmoor  United Kingdom2,870Sunk
30 May 1917HMT Ina William  Royal Navy337Sunk
26 July 1917Carmarthen  United Kingdom4,262Sunk
3 September 1917La Negra  United Kingdom8,312Sunk
5 September 1917Emma  United Kingdom73Sunk
5 September 1917Florence Muspratt[7]  United Kingdom79Sunk
5 September 1917Frances  United Kingdom89Sunk
5 September 1917Theodor  United Kingdom230Sunk
6 September 1917Alesia  France6,006Sunk
7 September 1917Versailles  France70Sunk
26 September 1917HMD Ocean Star  Royal Navy92Sunk
11 October 1917Baychattan  United Kingdom3,758Sunk
11 October 1917Mira  United Kingdom3,700Sunk
12 December 1917Emlyndene  United Kingdom495Sunk

References

Notes

Citations

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