SM U-83

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 (German: Kaiserliche Marine) 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.

  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. ^ 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.