SM U-62

For other ships with the same name, see German submarine U-62.
Battle damage to the deck of German submarine U62 - Oct 31 1917
History
German Empire
NameU-62
Ordered6 October 1914
BuilderAG Weser, Bremen
Yard number217
Laid down22 June 1915
Launched2 August 1916
Commissioned30 December 1916
Fate22 November - Surrendered. Broken up at Bo'ness in 1919-20
General characteristics [1]
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 – 11 November 1918
Commanders:
  • Kptlt. Ernst Hashagen[2]
  • 30 December 1916 – 24 December 1917
  • Kptlt. Otto Wiebalck[3]
  • 25 December 1917 – 9 March 1918
  • Kptlt. Ernst Hashagen[4]
  • 10 March – 11 November 1918
Operations: 9 patrols
Victories:
  • 45 merchant ships sunk
    (109,117 GRT)
  • 2 warships sunk
    (10,767 tons)[5]
  • 1 auxiliary warship sunk
    (12,927 GRT)
  • 5 merchant ships damaged
    (16,483 GRT)

SM U-62 was one of the 329 submarines serving in the Imperial German Navy in World War I. U-62 was engaged in the naval warfare and took part in the First Battle of the Atlantic.

On 8 March 1917, SM U-62 sank the coal freighter Storstad, the ship that had rammed and sunk the RMS Empress of Ireland ocean liner in one of the deadliest peacetime maritime disasters in modern history.

On 7 August 1918, she torpedoed the French armoured cruiser Dupetit-Thouars, which sank with the loss of 13 of her crew.

Summary of raiding history

Date Name Nationality Tonnage[Note 1] Fate[6]
8 March 1917 Storstad  Norway 6,028 Sunk
8 March 1917 Vega  Russia 452 Sunk
10 March 1917 Marie  France 127 Sunk
11 March 1917 Thrift  United Kingdom 40 Sunk
12 March 1917 Algonquin  United States 1,806 Sunk
12 March 1917 Collingwood  Norway 1,042 Sunk
12 March 1917 Jules Gommes  France 2,595 Sunk
13 March 1917 Dag  Sweden 250 Sunk
14 March 1917 Rose Lea  United Kingdom 2,830 Sunk
23 March 1917 Tres Fratres  Netherlands 297 Sunk
27 April 1917 Dunmore Head  United Kingdom 2,293 Sunk
27 April 1917 Inveramsay  United Kingdom 1,438 Sunk
30 April 1917 Fortunata  Italy 3,348 Sunk
30 April 1917 HMS Tulip  Royal Navy 1,250 Sunk
3 May 1917 Frederick Knight  United Kingdom 3,604 Sunk
4 May 1917 Jörgen Olsen  Denmark 310 Damaged
7 May 1917 Polamhall  United Kingdom 4,010 Sunk
10 May 1917 Berangere  France 2,851 Sunk
10 May 1917 Gazelle  Norway 288 Sunk
13 June 1917 Candace  Norway 395 Sunk
13 June 1917 Sylvia  Norway 148 Sunk
16 June 1917 Kornsø  Denmark 115 Sunk
20 June 1917 Bengore Head  United Kingdom 2,490 Sunk
21 June 1917 Lord Roberts  United Kingdom 4,166 Sunk
24 June 1917 South Wales  United Kingdom 3,668 Sunk
25 June 1917 Guildhall  United Kingdom 2,609 Sunk
26 June 1917 Gorsemore  United Kingdom 3,079 Damaged
26 June 1917 Cattaro  United Kingdom 2,908 Sunk
26 June 1917 Manistee  United Kingdom 3,869 Sunk
10 August 1917 Orion I  Norway 322 Sunk
15 August 1917 Albertha  Denmark 170 Sunk
24 August 1917 Henriette  France 2,005 Sunk
30 August 1917 Eastern Prince  United Kingdom 2,885 Sunk
30 August 1917 Grelhame  United Kingdom 3,740 Sunk
30 August 1917 Noya  United Kingdom 4,282 Sunk
13 October 1917 Woodburn  United Kingdom 2,360 Damaged
17 October 1917 Adams  United Kingdom 2,223 Sunk
18 October 1917 Madura  United Kingdom 4,484 Sunk
19 October 1917 J. L. Luckenbach  United States 4,920 Damaged
19 October 1917 HMS Orama  Royal Navy 12,927 Sunk
11 December 1917 Oldfield Grange  United Kingdom 4,653 Sunk
14 December 1917 Hare  United Kingdom 774 Sunk
15 December 1917 Formby  United Kingdom 1,282 Sunk
17 December 1917 Coningbeg  United Kingdom 1,279 Sunk
16 May 1918 Heron Bridge  United Kingdom 2,422 Sunk
16 May 1918 Llancarvan  United Kingdom 4,749 Sunk
24 May 1918 Ruth Hickman  United Kingdom 417 Sunk
27 May 1918 Merionethshire  United Kingdom 4,308 Sunk
28 May 1918 Cairnross  United Kingdom 4,016 Sunk
30 May 1918 Ausonia  United Kingdom 8,153 Sunk
7 August 1918 Dupetit-Thouars  French Navy 9,517 Sunk
7 August 1918 Lorna  Norway 3,286 Sunk
8 August 1918 Westward Ho  United States 5,814 Damaged

References

Notes

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

Citations

  1. ^ Gröner 1991, pp. 8–10.
  2. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Ernst Hashagen". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 17 December 2014.
  3. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Otto Wiebalck". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 17 December 2014.
  4. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Ernst Hashagen". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 17 December 2014.
  5. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boats: U 62". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 17 December 2014.
  6. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U 62". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 17 December 2014.

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.