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.

Summary of raiding history

Date Name Nationality Tonnage[Note 1] Fate[4]
2 March 1917 Edvard Grieg  Norway 989 Sunk
3 March 1917 Rosborg  Denmark 1,877 Sunk
9 March 1917 Spartan  Norway 2,287 Sunk
10 March 1917 Angola  Portugal 4,297 Sunk
13 March 1917 Luciline  United Kingdom 3,765 Damaged
13 March 1917 Northwaite  United Kingdom 3,626 Sunk
13 March 1917 HMS Warner  Royal Navy 1,273 Sunk
17 April 1917 Aburi  United Kingdom 3,730 Sunk
18 April 1917 Castilian  United Kingdom 1,923 Sunk
21 April 1917 Skjold  Norway 1,592 Sunk
21 April 1917 Telena  United Kingdom 4,778 Sunk
23 April 1917 Calluna  Denmark 1,405 Sunk
23 April 1917 Lena  United Kingdom 2,463 Sunk
24 April 1917 Metropolis  Norway 1,811 Sunk
24 April 1917 Thirlby  United Kingdom 2,009 Damaged
30 April 1917 Jarstein  Norway 198 Sunk
9 June 1917 Ada  Sweden 2,370 Sunk
9 June 1917 Dana  Denmark 1,590 Sunk
10 June 1917 Betty  Russia 2,683 Sunk
10 June 1917 Ribera  United Kingdom 3,511 Sunk
14 June 1917 Widwud  Russia 299 Damaged
16 June 1917 Fallodon  United Kingdom 3,012 Damaged
17 June 1917 Raloo  United Kingdom 1,012 Sunk
19 June 1917 Batoum  United Kingdom 4,054 Sunk
20 June 1917 Nitonian  United Kingdom 6,381 Damaged
28 July 1917 Comanchee  United Kingdom 5,588 Damaged
2 August 1917 Libia  France 2,416 Sunk
4 August 1917 Countess Of Mar  United Kingdom 2,234 Sunk
5 August 1917 Sauternes  France 902 Sunk
5 August 1917 Campo Libre  Spain 50 Sunk
6 August 1917 Campana  United States 3,675 Sunk
6 August 1917 Jeanne Et Genevieve  French Navy 695 Damaged
7 August 1917 Trento  Italy 3,276 Sunk
29 September 1917 Elmsgarth  United Kingdom 3,503 Sunk
11 October 1917 Rhodesia  United Kingdom 4,313 Sunk
16 October 1917 USS Cassin  United States Navy 1,020 Damaged
27 December 1917 USS Santee  United States Navy 2,729 Damaged
3 January 1918 Birchwood  United Kingdom 2,756 Sunk
5 January 1918 Rose Marie  United Kingdom 2,220 Sunk
6 January 1918 Halberdier  United Kingdom 1,049 Sunk
6 January 1918 Spenser  United Kingdom 4,186 Sunk
23 March 1918 Etonian  United Kingdom 6,515 Sunk

References

Notes

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

Citations

  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.
  4. ↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U 61". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 12 January 2015.

Bibliography

  • Gröner, 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.

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