SM UB-62 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 9 July 1917 as SM UB-62.[Note 1]

UB-148 at sea, a U-boat similar to UB-62.
History
German Empire
NameUB-62
Ordered20 May 1916[1]
BuilderAG Vulcan, Hamburg
Cost3,279,000 German Papiermark
Yard number87
Launched11 May 1917[2]
Commissioned9 July 1917[2]
FateSurrendered 21 November 1918, broken up in Swansea in 1921[2]
General characteristics [2]
Class and typeType 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
Armament
Service record
Part of:
  • V Flotilla
  • 24 August 1917 – 20 April 1918
  • II Flotilla
  • 20 April – 11 November 1918
Commanders:
  • Kptlt. Bernhard Putzier[3]
  • 9 July 1917 – 8 July 1918
  • Oblt.z.S. Günther Sperling[4]
  • 9 July – 11 November 1918
Operations: 7 patrols
Victories:
  • 8 merchant ships sunk
    (17,226 GRT)
  • 1 merchant ship damaged
    (7,300 GRT)

UB-62 was surrendered 21 November 1918 in accordance with the requirements of the Armistice with Germany and broken up in Swansea in 1921.[2]

Construction

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UB-62 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 11 May 1917. UB-62 was commissioned later that same year . Like all Type UB III submarines, UB-62 carried 10 torpedoes and was armed with a 8.8 cm (3.46 in) deck gun. UB-62 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-62 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

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Date Name Nationality Tonnage[Note 2] Fate[5]
6 September 1917 Hammar II   Sweden 206 Sunk
17 September 1917 Australia   Russian Empire 3,592 Sunk
17 September 1917 Queen Amelia   United Kingdom 4,278 Sunk
18 September 1917 Joseph Chamberlain   United Kingdom 3,709 Sunk
6 November 1917 Benor   Russian Empire 394 Sunk
14 January 1918 Alster   United Kingdom 964 Sunk
12 March 1918 Oswin   Sweden 1,743 Sunk
19 March 1918 Burnstone   United Kingdom 2,340 Sunk
25 July 1918 Indore   United Kingdom 7,300 Damaged

References

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Notes

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  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

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  1. ^ Rössler 1979, p. 60.
  2. ^ a b c d e Gröner 1991, pp. 25–30.
  3. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Bernhard Putzier". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 4 February 2015.
  4. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Günther Sperling". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 4 February 2015.
  5. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by UB 62". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 4 February 2015.

Bibliography

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