SM UC-61

Remains of the shipwreck of SM UC-61 revealed by low tide at Wissant beach (50°53'34.9"N 1°39'52.0"E), in France (December 2018)
History
German Empire
Name	UC-61
Ordered	12 January 1916
Builder	AG Weser, Bremen
Yard number	259
Laid down	3 April 1916
Launched	11 November 1916
Commissioned	13 December 1916
Fate	Stranded at Wissant near Calais; flooded and scuttled, 26 July 1917
General characteristics
Class and type	German Type UC II submarine
Displacement	422 t (415 long tons), surfaced 504 t (496 long tons), submerged
Length	51.85 m (170 ft 1 in) o/a 40.40 m (132 ft 7 in) pressure hull
Beam	5.22 m (17 ft 2 in) o/a 3.65 m (12 ft) pressure hull
Draught	3.67 m (12 ft 0 in)
Propulsion	2× propeller shafts 2× 6-cylinder, 4-stroke diesel engines, 600 PS (440 kW; 590 shp) 2× electric motors, 620 PS (460 kW; 610 shp)
Speed	11.9 knots (22.0 km/h; 13.7 mph), surfaced*7.2 knots (13.3 km/h; 8.3 mph), submerged
Range	8,000 nmi (15,000 km; 9,200 mi) at 7 knots (13 km/h; 8.1 mph) surfaced 59 nmi (109 km; 68 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph) submerged
Test depth	50 m (160 ft)
Complement	26
Armament	6× 100 cm (39.4 in) mine tubes 18× UC 200 mines 3× 50 cm (19.7 in) torpedo tubes (2 bow/external; one stern) 7× torpedoes 1× 8.8 cm (3.5 in) Uk L/30 deck gun
Notes	30-second diving time
Service record
Part of:	Flandern Flotilla 27 February – 26 July 1917
Commanders:	Oblt.z.S. / Kptlt. Georg Gerth 13 December 1916 – 26 July 1917
Operations:	5 patrols
Victories:	10 merchant ships sunk (13,594 GRT) 1 warship sunk (7,578 tons) 1 auxiliary warship sunk (227 GRT) 2 merchant ships damaged (3,476 GRT) 1 warship damaged (570 tons)

SM UC-61 was a German Type UC II minelaying submarine or U-boat in the German Imperial Navy (German: Kaiserliche Marine) during World War I. The U-boat was ordered on 12 January 1916, laid down on 3 April 1916, and was launched on 11 November 1916. She was commissioned into the German Imperial Navy on 13 December 1916 as SM UC-61. In five patrols UC-61 was credited with sinking or damaging 12 ships, either by torpedo or by mines laid. UC-61 was stranded at Wissant, south of Calais on 26 July 1917 on her way to mine Newhaven. The U-boat's crew flooded and scuttled their ship before surrendering to French authorities. The wreckage silted up but in some years becomes visible at low tide offshore in Wissant. As of 24 January 2019, the submarine had been partially visible since December 2018, and some locals were hopeful that due to shifting winds and tides, the submarine would be visible more often.

Design

A German Type UC II submarine, UC-61 had a displacement of 422 tonnes (415 long tons) when at the surface and 504 tonnes (496 long tons) while submerged. She had a length overall of 50.35 m (165 ft 2 in), a beam of 5.22 m (17 ft 2 in), and a draught of 3.67 m (12 ft 0 in). The submarine was powered by two six-cylinder four-stroke diesel engines each producing 300 metric horsepower (220 kW; 300 shp) (a total of 600 metric horsepower (440 kW; 590 shp)), two electric motors producing 620 metric horsepower (460 kW; 610 shp), and two propeller shafts. She had a dive time of 48 seconds and was capable of operating at a depth of 50 metres (160 ft).

The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 11.9 knots (22.0 km/h; 13.7 mph) and a submerged speed of 7.2 knots (13.3 km/h; 8.3 mph). When submerged, she could operate for 59 nautical miles (109 km; 68 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph); when surfaced, she could travel 8,000 nautical miles (15,000 km; 9,200 mi) at 7 knots (13 km/h; 8.1 mph). UC-61 was fitted with six 100 centimetres (39 in) mine tubes, eighteen UC 200 mines, three 50 centimetres (20 in) torpedo tubes (one on the stern and two on the bow), seven torpedoes, and one 8.8 cm (3.5 in) Uk L/30 deck gun. Her complement was twenty-six crew members.

Summary of raiding history