SM UB-63

SM UB-63 was a German Type UB III submarine or U-boat in the German Imperial Navy (German: Kaiserliche Marine) during World War I. She was commissioned into the German Imperial Navy on 23 July 1917 as SM UB-63.[Note 1]

For other ships with the same name, see German submarine U-63.
UB-148 at sea, a U-boat similar to UB-63.
History
German Empire
NameUB-63
Ordered20 May 1916[1]
BuilderAG Vulcan, Hamburg
Cost3,279,000 German Papiermark
Yard number88
Launched26 May 1917[2]
Commissioned23 July 1917[2]
FateSunk 28 January 1918 by British warships at 56°10′N 2°0′E[2]
General characteristics [2]
Class and typeGerman Type UB III submarine
Displacement
  • 508 t (500 long tons) surfaced
  • 639 t (629 long tons) submerged
Length55.52 m (182 ft 2 in) (o/a)
Beam5.76 m (18 ft 11 in)
Draught3.70 m (12 ft 2 in)
Propulsion
Speed
  • 13.3 knots (24.6 km/h; 15.3 mph) surfaced
  • 7.8 knots (14.4 km/h; 9.0 mph) submerged
Range
  • 8,420 nmi (15,590 km; 9,690 mi) at 6 knots (11 km/h; 6.9 mph) surfaced
  • 55 nmi (102 km; 63 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph) submerged
Test depth50 m (160 ft)
Complement3 officers, 31 men[2]
Armament
Service record
Part of:
  • II Flotilla
  • 4 – 30 September 1917
  • V Flotilla
  • 30 September 1917 – 28 January 1918
Commanders:
  • Kptlt. Rudolf Gebeschus[3]
  • 23 July 1917 – 28 January 1918
Operations: 3 patrols
Victories:
  • 2 merchant ships sunk
    (4,481 GRT)
  • 1 merchant ship damaged
    (1,113 GRT)
  • 1 merchant ship taken as prize
    (3,290 GRT)

UB-63 was sunk on 28 January 1918 by British warships HMS W.S. Bailey and HMS Fort George at 56°10′N 2°0′E with depth charges. All 33 crew members perished in the attack.[2]

Construction
Main article: German Type UB III submarine

UB-63 was ordered by the GIN on 20 May 1916.

She was built by AG Vulcan of Hamburg and following just under a year of construction, launched at Hamburg on 26 May 1917. UB-63 was commissioned later that same year . Like all Type UB III submarines, UB-63 carried 10 torpedoes and was armed with a 8.8 cm (3.46 in) deck gun. UB-63 would carry a crew of up to 3 officer and 31 men and had a cruising range of 8,420 nautical miles (15,590 km; 9,690 mi). UB-63 had a displacement of 508 t (500 long tons) while surfaced and 639 t (629 long tons) when submerged. Her engines enabled her to travel at 13.3 knots (24.6 km/h; 15.3 mph) when surfaced and 8 knots (15 km/h; 9.2 mph) when submerged.

Summary of raiding history
Date Name Nationality Tonnage[Note 2] Fate[4]
15 September 1917 Santaren  United Kingdom 4,256 Sunk
3 November 1917 Haelen  Belgium 3,290 Captured as prize
8 November 1917 Lindhardt  Denmark 225 Sunk
15 November 1917 Stargard  Norway 1,113 Damaged

References

Notes
  1. "SM" stands for "Seiner Majestät" (English: His Majesty's) and combined with the U for Unterseeboot would be translated as His Majesty's Submarine.
  2. Tonnages are in gross register tons

Citations
  1. Rössler 1979, p. 60.
  2. Gröner 1991, pp. 25–30.
  3. Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Rudolf Gebeschus". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 4 February 2015.
  4. Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by UB 63". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 4 February 2015.

Bibliography
  • Bendert, Harald (2000). Die UB-Boote der Kaiserlichen Marine, 1914-1918. Einsätze, Erfolge, Schicksal (in German). Hamburg: Verlag E.S. Mittler & Sohn GmbH. ISBN 3-8132-0713-7.
  • 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.
  • Rössler, Eberhard (1979). U-Bootbau bis Ende des 1. Weltkrieges, Konstruktionen für das Ausland und die Jahre 1935 – 1945. ISBN 3-7637-5213-7. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)

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