SM U-61

For other ships with the same name, see German submarine U-61.
History
German Empire
NameU-61
Ordered6 October 1914
BuilderAG Weser, Bremen
Yard number216
Laid down22 June 1915
Launched22 July 1916
Commissioned2 December 1916
FateSunk in a depth charge attack by PC51 at coordinates 51°48′N 05°32′W / 51.800°N 5.533°W / 51.800; -5.533 on 26 March 1918. 36 dead (all hands lost).[1]
General characteristics [2]
Class and typeType U 57 submarine
Displacement
  • 768 t (756 long tons) surfaced
  • 956 t (941 long tons) submerged
Length
Beam
  • 6.32 m (20 ft 9 in) (oa)
  • 4.05 m (13 ft 3 in) (pressure hull)
Height8.05 m (26 ft 5 in)
Draught3.79 m (12 ft 5 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
Speed
  • 16.5 knots (30.6 km/h; 19.0 mph) surfaced
  • 8.4 knots (15.6 km/h; 9.7 mph) submerged
Range
  • 11,400 nmi (21,100 km; 13,100 mi) at 8 knots (15 km/h; 9.2 mph) surfaced
  • 49 nmi (91 km; 56 mi) at 5 knots (9.3 km/h; 5.8 mph) submerged
Test depth50 m (164 ft 1 in)
Complement36
Armament
Service record
Part of:
  • II Flotilla
  • 15 February 1917 – 26 March 1918
Commanders:
  • Kptlt. Victor Dieckmann[3]
  • 2 December 1916 – 26 March 1918
Operations: 9 patrols
Victories:
  • 32 merchant ships sunk
    (83,291 GRT)
  • 1 auxiliary warship sunk
    (1,273 GRT)
  • 6 merchant ships damaged
    (21,054 GRT)
  • 1 warship damaged
    (1,020 tons)
  • 2 auxiliary warships damaged
    (3,424 GRT)

SM U-61 was a German Type U 57 U-boat commissioned and deployed to operate off the coast of the British Isles and attack coastal shipping as part of the U-boat Campaign during World War I.

In a 15-month career spanning nine war patrols, U-61 plagued allied shipping in the Atlantic Ocean during the German war on Allied trade (Handelskrieg). She sank 33 Allied ships, totalling 84,564 gross register tons (GRT). She also damaged six merchant ships of 21,054 GRT, two auxiliary warships of 3,424 GRT and one warship of 1,020 tons (the US Navy destroyer USS Cassin before fleeing the fight). She went missing some time after March 23, 1918.

  1. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boats: U 61". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 12 January 2015.
  2. ^ Gröner 1991, pp. 8–10.
  3. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Victor Dieckmann (Royal House Order of Hohenzollern)". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 12 January 2015.