SM U-83


SM U-83 was a Type U 81 u-boat of the German Imperial Navy during the First World War. She had been commissioned and deployed to operate off the coast of the British Isles and attack coastal shipping as part of the German U-boat campaign.
In a six-month career, U-83 made two combat patrols into the South-Western Approaches during the Atlantic campaign. In these patrols she sank five allied merchant ships for. On 17 February 1917, she torpedoed the British Q-ship off the Irish coast, but was sunk by Farnboroughs hidden armaments when she approached too close. There were just 2 survivors, picked up by Farnborough; 35 of her crew perished. Farnborough was commanded by the submarine hunter Gordon Campbell and had on board later Victoria Cross recipients Ronald Niel Stuart and William Williams.

Design

s were preceded by the shorter Type UE I submarines. U-83 had a displacement of when at the surface and while submerged. She had a total length of, a pressure hull length of, a beam of, a height of, and a draught of. The submarine was powered by two engines for use while surfaced, and two engines for use while submerged. She had two propeller shafts. She was capable of operating at depths of up to.
The submarine had a maximum surface speed of and a maximum submerged speed of. When submerged, she could operate for at ; when surfaced, she could travel at. U-83 was fitted with six torpedo tubes, twelve to sixteen torpedoes, and one SK L/45 deck gun. She had a complement of thirty-five.

Summary of raiding history

Citations