SM UC-63 was a German Type UC IIminelayingsubmarine or U-boat in the German Imperial Navy (German: Kaiserliche Marine) during World War I. The U-boat was ordered on 12 January 1916, laid down on 3 April 1916, and was launched on 6 January 1917. She was commissioned into the German Imperial Navy on 30 January 1917 as SM UC-63.[Note 1] In nine patrols UC-63 was credited with sinking 36 ships, either by torpedo or by mines laid. UC-63 was torpedoed and sunk by HMS E52 off Goodwin Sands on 1 November 1917; only one crewman survived the sinking.[1]
A German Type UC II submarine, UC-63 had a displacement of 422 tonnes (415 long tons) when at the surface and 504 tonnes (496 long tons) while submerged. She had a length overall of 51.85 m (170 ft 1 in), a beam of 5.22 m (17 ft 2 in), and a draught of 3.67 m (12 ft 0 in). The submarine was powered by two six-cylinder four-stroke diesel engines each producing 300 metric horsepower (220 kW; 300 shp) (a total of 1,000 metric horsepower (740 kW; 990 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).[3]
The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 11.9 knots (22.0 km/h; 13.7 mph) and a submerged speed of 7.2 knots (13.3 km/h; 8.3 mph). When submerged, she could operate for 59 nautical miles (109 km; 68 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph); when surfaced, she could travel 8,000 nautical miles (15,000 km; 9,200 mi) at 7 knots (13 km/h; 8.1 mph). UC-63 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/30deck gun. Her complement was twenty-six crew members.[3]
Service careeredit
UC-63 entered service on 30 January 1917, under the command of Oblt Karsten von Heydebreck. She was assigned to the Flanders U-boat Flotilla, based at Bruges in occupied Belgium.
UC-63 carried out nine war patrols, operating mainly in the North Sea against British fishing trawlers. She had considerable success, sinking seven and damaging two more in a single day in June 1917. In August 1917 she fought an action against two armed trawlers, HMS Nelson and HMS Boy Alfred. Both of these were sunk, and the crew of Ethel & Millie were picked up by the U-boat, after which they were not seen again. The suspicion then, and subsequently, is that they were disposed of by the U-boat commander, perhaps by being left to drown while the U-boat submerged.[5] The German government had made it clear they regarded the crews of merchant ships who fought back against U-boat attacks as francs-tireurs, and thus liable to execution.[6]
Before her loss in November 1917, UC-63 sank 36 ships, totalling 35,900 GRT, and damaged four more, in a nine month career.[1]
Fateedit
On 1 November 1917, while operating off the Goodwin Sands, UC-63 was sighted by British submarine HMS E52. She was torpedoed and sunk with the loss of all but one of her 27 crew.
^ abcdefghHelgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boats: UC 63". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 23 February 2009.
^Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Karsten von Heydebreck". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 3 March 2015.
Tarrant, V.E. (1989). The U-Boat Offensive: 1914–1945. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN978-0-87021-764-7. OCLC 20338385.
November 24, 2023
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For other ships with the same name see German submarine U 63 SM UC 63 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 12 January 1916 laid down on 3 April 1916 and was launched on 6 January 1917 She was commissioned into the German Imperial Navy on 30 January 1917 as SM UC 63 Note 1 In nine patrols UC 63 was credited with sinking 36 ships either by torpedo or by mines laid UC 63 was torpedoed and sunk by HMS E52 off Goodwin Sands on 1 November 1917 only one crewman survived the sinking 1 HistoryGerman EmpireNameUC 63Ordered12 January 1916 1 BuilderAG Weser Bremen 2 Yard number261 1 Laid down3 April 1916 1 Launched6 January 1917 1 Commissioned30 January 1917 1 FateTorpedoed and sunk by HMS E52 on 1 November 1917 1 General characteristics 3 Class and typeGerman Type UC II submarineDisplacement422 t 415 long tons surfaced 504 t 496 long tons submergedLength51 85 m 170 ft 1 in o a 40 30 m 132 ft 3 in pressure hullBeam5 22 m 17 ft 2 in o a 3 65 m 12 ft pressure hullDraught3 67 m 12 ft 0 in Propulsion2 propeller shafts 2 6 cylinder 4 stroke diesel engines 600 PS 440 kW 590 shp 2 electric motors 620 PS 460 kW 610 shp Speed11 9 knots 22 0 km h 13 7 mph surfaced 7 2 knots 13 3 km h 8 3 mph submergedRange8 000 nmi 15 000 km 9 200 mi at 7 knots 13 km h 8 1 mph surfaced 59 nmi 109 km 68 mi at 4 knots 7 4 km h 4 6 mph submergedTest depth50 m 160 ft Complement26Armament6 100 cm 39 4 in mine tubes 18 UC 200 mines 3 50 cm 19 7 in torpedo tubes 2 bow external one stern 7 torpedoes 1 8 8 cm 3 5 in Uk L 30 deck gunNotes30 second diving timeService recordPart of Flandern Flotilla 27 April 1 November 1917Commanders Oblt z S Karsten von Heydebreck 4 30 January 1 November 1917Operations 9 patrolsVictories 33 merchant ships sunk 35 526 GRT 3 auxiliary warships sunk 374 GRT 4 merchant ships damaged 4 639 GRT Contents 1 Design 2 Service career 3 Fate 4 Summary of raiding history 5 References 5 1 Notes 5 2 Citations 5 3 BibliographyDesign editA German Type UC II submarine UC 63 had a displacement of 422 tonnes 415 long tons when at the surface and 504 tonnes 496 long tons while submerged She had a length overall of 51 85 m 170 ft 1 in a beam of 5 22 m 17 ft 2 in and a draught of 3 67 m 12 ft 0 in The submarine was powered by two six cylinder four stroke diesel engines each producing 300 metric horsepower 220 kW 300 shp a total of 1 000 metric horsepower 740 kW 990 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 3 The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 11 9 knots 22 0 km h 13 7 mph and a submerged speed of 7 2 knots 13 3 km h 8 3 mph When submerged she could operate for 59 nautical miles 109 km 68 mi at 4 knots 7 4 km h 4 6 mph when surfaced she could travel 8 000 nautical miles 15 000 km 9 200 mi at 7 knots 13 km h 8 1 mph UC 63 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 Service career editUC 63 entered service on 30 January 1917 under the command of Oblt Karsten von Heydebreck She was assigned to the Flanders U boat Flotilla based at Bruges in occupied Belgium UC 63 carried out nine war patrols operating mainly in the North Sea against British fishing trawlers She had considerable success sinking seven and damaging two more in a single day in June 1917 In August 1917 she fought an action against two armed trawlers HMS Nelson and HMS Boy Alfred Both of these were sunk and the crew of Ethel amp Millie were picked up by the U boat after which they were not seen again The suspicion then and subsequently is that they were disposed of by the U boat commander perhaps by being left to drown while the U boat submerged 5 The German government had made it clear they regarded the crews of merchant ships who fought back against U boat attacks as francs tireurs and thus liable to execution 6 Before her loss in November 1917 UC 63 sank 36 ships totalling 35 900 GRT and damaged four more in a nine month career 1 Fate editOn 1 November 1917 while operating off the Goodwin Sands UC 63 was sighted by British submarine HMS E52 She was torpedoed and sunk with the loss of all but one of her 27 crew Summary of raiding history editDate Name Nationality Tonnage Note 2 Fate 7 26 April 1917 Amsteldjik nbsp Netherlands 186 Sunk10 May 1917 Gruno nbsp Netherlands 171 Sunk27 June 1917 Longbenton nbsp United Kingdom 924 Sunk28 June 1917 Frigate Bird nbsp United Kingdom 20 Sunk28 June 1917 Elsie nbsp United Kingdom 20 Sunk28 June 1917 Frances nbsp United Kingdom 20 Sunk28 June 1917 Glenelg nbsp United Kingdom 32 Sunk28 June 1917 Harbinger nbsp United Kingdom 39 Sunk28 June 1917 Rose of June nbsp United Kingdom 20 Sunk28 June 1917 William And Betsy nbsp United Kingdom 21 Sunk28 June 1917 Frank nbsp United Kingdom 21 Damaged28 June 1917 Diligence nbsp United Kingdom 20 Damaged30 June 1917 Markersdal nbsp Denmark 1 640 Sunk1 July 1917 Advance nbsp United Kingdom 44 Sunk1 July 1917 Gleam nbsp United Kingdom 54 Sunk1 July 1917 Radiance nbsp United Kingdom 57 Sunk31 July 1917 Empress nbsp United Kingdom 2 914 Sunk2 August 1917 Young Bert nbsp United Kingdom 59 Sunk6 August 1917 Alfred nbsp France 107 Sunk6 August 1917 Fane nbsp Norway 1 119 Sunk6 August 1917 Zamora nbsp United Kingdom 3 639 Damaged7 August 1917 Onesta nbsp Kingdom of Italy 2 674 Sunk8 August 1917 Marie Jesus Protegez Nous nbsp France 46 Sunk14 August 1917 Thames nbsp United Kingdom 403 Sunk14 August 1917 Costanza nbsp Kingdom of Italy 2 545 Sunk14 August 1917 Luna nbsp Norway 959 Damaged15 August 1917 HMS Ethel And Millie as HMS Boy Alfred nbsp Royal Navy 58 Sunk15 August 1917 HMS G amp E as HMS Nelson nbsp Royal Navy 61 Sunk15 August 1917 Alice nbsp United Kingdom 25 Sunk22 September 1917 Italia nbsp France 627 Sunk24 September 1917 Perseverance nbsp France 2 873 Sunk24 September 1917 Europe nbsp France 2 839 Sunk25 September 1917 Dinorah nbsp France 4 208 Sunk25 September 1917 HMT James Seckar nbsp Royal Navy 255 Sunk24 October 1917 Ulfsborg nbsp Denmark 2 040 Sunk28 October 1917 Baron Garioch nbsp United Kingdom 1 831 Sunk29 October 1917 Marne nbsp France 979 Sunk4 November 1917 Lyra nbsp Norway 1 141 Sunk25 November 1917 Oriflamme nbsp United Kingdom 3 764 Sunk4 December 1917 Brigitta nbsp United Kingdom 2 084 SunkReferences editNotes edit SM stands for Seiner Majestats English His Majesty s and combined with U for Unterseeboot translates as His Majesty s Submarine Merchant ship tonnages are in gross register tons Military vessels are listed by tons displacement Citations edit a b c d e f g h Helgason Gudmundur WWI U boats UC 63 German and Austrian U boats of World War I Kaiserliche Marine Uboat net Retrieved 23 February 2009 Tarrant p 173 a b c Groner 1991 pp 31 32 Helgason Gudmundur WWI U boat commanders Karsten von Heydebreck German and Austrian U boats of World War I Kaiserliche Marine Uboat net Retrieved 3 March 2015 Ritchie p125 Ritchie p159 Helgason Gudmundur Ships hit by UC 63 German and Austrian U boats of World War I Kaiserliche Marine Uboat net Retrieved 3 March 2015 Bibliography edit Groner 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 ed 1985 Conway s All the World s Fighting Ships 1906 1921 Annapolis Maryland Naval Institute Press ISBN 978 0 87021 907 8 OCLC 12119866 Ritchie Carson Q Ships 1985 ISBN 0 86138 011 8 Tarrant V E 1989 The U Boat Offensive 1914 1945 Annapolis Maryland Naval Institute Press ISBN 978 0 87021 764 7 OCLC 20338385 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title SM UC 63 amp 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