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SM U-83

Coordinates: 51°34′N 11°23′W / 51.567°N 11.383°W / 51.567; -11.383
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For other ships with the same name, see German submarine U-83.
History
German Empire
NameU-83
Ordered23 June 1915
BuilderGermaniawerft, Kiel
Yard number253
Laid down23 October 1915
Launched13 July 1916
Commissioned6 September 1916
FateSunk by gunfire of Q-Ship Farnborough SW of Ireland at 51°34′N 11°23′W / 51.567°N 11.383°W / 51.567; -11.383, 17 February 1917. 35 dead and 2 survivors.[1]
General characteristics [2]
Displacement
  • 808 t (795 long tons) surfaced
  • 946 t (931 long tons) submerged
Length
Beam
  • 6.30 m (20 ft 8 in) (oa)
  • 4.15 m (13 ft 7 in) (pressure hull)
Height8.00 m (26 ft 3 in)
Draught4.02 m (13 ft 2 in)
Installed power
  • 2 × 2,400 PS (1,765 kW; 2,367 shp) surfaced
  • 2 × 1,200 PS (883 kW; 1,184 shp) submerged
Propulsion2 shafts, 2 × 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in) propellers
Speed
  • 16.8 knots (31.1 km/h; 19.3 mph) surfaced
  • 9.1 knots (16.9 km/h; 10.5 mph) submerged
Range
  • 11,220 nmi (20,780 km; 12,910 mi) at 8 knots (15 km/h; 9.2 mph) surfaced
  • 56 nmi (104 km; 64 mi) at 5 knots (9.3 km/h; 5.8 mph) submerged
Test depth50 m (160 ft)
Complement4 officers, 31 enlisted
Armament
Service record
Part of:
  • IV Flotilla
  • 31 October 1916 – 17 February 1917
Commanders:
Operations: 2 patrols
Victories:
  • 6 merchant ships sunk
    (6,450 GRT)
  • 1 auxiliary warship damaged
    (3,207 GRT)

SM U-83 was a Type U 81 U-boat of the German Imperial Navy (Template:Lang-de) during the First World War. She had been commissioned and deployed to operate off the coast of the British Isles and attack coastal shipping as part of the German U-boat campaign.[1]

In a six-month career, U-83 made two combat patrols into the South-Western Approaches during the Atlantic campaign. In these patrols she sank six merchant ships for 6,450 gross register tons (GRT). On 17 February 1917, she torpedoed the British Q-ship HMS Farnborough off the Irish coast, but was sunk by Farnborough's hidden armaments when she approached too close. There were just 2 survivors, picked up by Farnborough; 35 of her crew perished. Farnborough was commanded by the submarine hunter Gordon Campbell and had on board later Victoria Cross recipients Ronald Niel Stuart and William Williams.

Design

German Type U 81 submarines were preceded by the shorter Type UE I submarines. U-83 had a displacement of 808 tonnes (795 long tons) when at the surface and 946 tonnes (931 long tons) while submerged.[2] She had a total length of 70.06 m (229 ft 10 in), a pressure hull length of 55.55 m (182 ft 3 in), a beam of 6.30 m (20 ft 8 in), a height of 8 m (26 ft 3 in), and a draught of 4.02 m (13 ft 2 in). The submarine was powered by two 2,400 metric horsepower (1,800 kW; 2,400 shp) engines for use while surfaced, and two 1,200 metric horsepower (880 kW; 1,200 shp) engines for use while submerged. She had two propeller shafts. She was capable of operating at depths of up to 50 metres (160 ft).[2]

The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 16.8 knots (31.1 km/h; 19.3 mph) and a maximum submerged speed of 9.1 knots (16.9 km/h; 10.5 mph).[2] When submerged, she could operate for 56 nautical miles (104 km; 64 mi) at 5 knots (9.3 km/h; 5.8 mph); when surfaced, she could travel 11,220 nautical miles (20,780 km; 12,910 mi) at 8 knots (15 km/h; 9.2 mph). U-83 was fitted with four 50 centimetres (20 in) torpedo tubes (two at the bow and two at the stern), twelve to sixteen torpedoes, and one 10.5 cm (4.1 in) SK L/45 deck gun. She had a complement of thirty-five (thirty-one crew members and four officers).[2]

Summary of raiding history

Date Name Nationality Tonnage[Note 1] Fate[4]
17 December 1916 Niord  Sweden 123 Sunk
4 February 1917 Anna Maria  France 141 Sunk
4 February 1917 Coquette  France 167 Sunk
6 February 1917 Crown Point  United Kingdom 5,218 Sunk
7 February 1917 Diaz  Russian Empire 637 Sunk
10 February 1917 Paquerette  France 164 Sunk
17 February 1917 HMS Farnborough  Royal Navy 3,207 Damaged

References

Notes

  1. ^ Merchant ship tonnages are in gross register tons. Military vessels are listed by tons displacement.

Citations

  1. ^ a b Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boats: U 83". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 29 September 2010.
  2. ^ a b c d e Gröner 1991, pp. 12–14.
  3. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Kptlt. Bruno Hoppe". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 29 September 2010.
  4. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U 83". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 20 January 2015.

Bibliography

  • Gröner, Erich; Jung, Dieter; Maass, Martin (1991). U-boats and Mine Warfare Vessels. Vol. 2. Translated by Thomas, Keith; Magowan, Rachel. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-593-4. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)

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