SM U-50 was one of 329 submarines in the Imperial German Navy in World War I. She took part in the First Battle of the Atlantic.

U-50 is most notable for sinking the Laconia, formerly an armed merchant cruiser which had returned to passenger service, killing two Americans before the United States had entered the war. Laconia was also the 15th largest ship destroyed by submarine in the war.

Summary of raiding history

DateNameNationalityTonnageFate
10 November 1916BogotaUnited Kingdom4,577Sunk
11 November 1916LøkkenNorway1,954Sunk
11 November 1916MorazanUnited Kingdom3,486Sunk
11 November 1916Sarah RadcliffeUnited Kingdom3,333Sunk
12 November 1916San GiovanniKingdom of Italy1,315Sunk
12 November 1916Stylinai BebisGreece3,603Sunk
12 November 1916IoannisGreece3,828Sunk
13 November 1916LelaKingdom of Italy2,987Sunk
14 November 1916HatsuseUnited Kingdom282Sunk
18 February 1917Jean PierreFrance449Sunk
22 February 1917BlenheimNorway1,144Sunk
24 February 1917FalconUnited Kingdom2,244Sunk
25 February 1917AriesUnited Kingdom3,071Sunk
25 February 1917HuntsmanUnited Kingdom7,460Sunk
25 February 1917LaconiaUnited Kingdom18,099Sunk
11 April 1917SarvsfosNorway1,462Sunk
19 April 1917AvocetUnited Kingdom1,219Sunk
20 April 1917EmmaUnited Kingdom2,520Sunk
21 April 1917DiademUnited Kingdom4,307Sunk
23 April 1917DyklandUnited Kingdom4,291Sunk
23 April 1917OswaldUnited Kingdom5,185Sunk
25 April 1917SwanmoreUnited Kingdom6,373Sunk
7 June 1917YubaNorway1,458Sunk
11 June 1917SigrunNorway2,538Sunk
16 June 1917Carrie HerveyUnited Kingdom111Sunk
21 June 1917OrtonaUnited Kingdom5,524Sunk
26 June 1917VoninDenmark104Sunk

Notes

Citations

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.
  • Rössler, Eberhard (1981). The U-boat : the evolution and technical history of German submarines. London: Cassell. ISBN 0304361208.

55°25′00″N 04°17′00″E/55.41667°N 4.28333°E/ 55.41667; 4.28333