SM UC-61 was a German Type UC II minelaying submarine or U-boat in the German Imperial Navy 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 Type UC II submarine, UC-61 had a displacement of 422 t when at the surface and 504 t while submerged. She had a length overall of 50.35 m, a beam of 5.22 m, and a draught of 3.67 m. The submarine was powered by two six-cylinder four-stroke diesel engines each producing 300 PS (a total of 600 PS), two electric motors producing 620 PS, and two propeller shafts. She had a dive time of 48 seconds and was capable of operating at a depth of 50 m. The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 11.9 kn and a submerged speed of 7.2 kn. When submerged, she could operate for 59 nmi at 4 kn; when surfaced, she could travel 8000 nmi at 7 kn. UC-61 was fitted with six 100 cm mine tubes, eighteen UC 200 mines, three 50 cm torpedo tubes (one on the stern and two on the bow), seven torpedoes, and one 8.8 cm Uk L/30 deck gun. Her complement was twenty-six crew members.

Summary of raiding history

Citations