SM U-61 was a German Type U 57 U-boat commissioned and deployed to operate off the coast of the British Isles and attack coastal shipping as part of the U-boat Campaign during World War I.
In a 15-month career spanning nine war patrols, U-61 plagued allied shipping in the Atlantic Ocean during the German war on Allied trade (Handelskrieg). She sank 33 Allied ships, totalling . She also damaged six merchant ships of , two auxiliary warships of and one warship of 1,020 tons (the US Navy destroyer before fleeing the fight). She went missing some time after March 23, 1918.
Previously recorded fate U-61 was originally thought to have been sunk in a depth charge attack by PC51 on 26 March 1918. This attack was actually against , which was able to continue on patrol despite the attack.
Summary of raiding history DateNameNationalityTonnageMerchant ship tonnages are in gross register tons. Military vessels are listed by tons displacement.Fate2 March 1917Edvard Grieg989Sunk3 March 1917Rosborg1,877Sunk9 March 1917Spartan (ex-Earl of Dunmore)2,287Sunk10 March 1917Angola4,297Sunk13 March 1917Luciline3,765Damaged13 March 1917Northwaite3,626Sunk13 March 1917HMS Warner1,273Sunk17 April 1917Aburi3,730Sunk18 April 1917Castilian1,923Sunk21 April 1917Skjold1,592Sunk21 April 1917Telena4,778Sunk23 April 1917Calluna1,405Sunk23 April 1917Lena2,463Sunk24 April 1917Metropolis1,811Sunk24 April 1917Thirlby2,009Damaged30 April 1917Jarstein198Sunk9 June 1917Ada2,370Sunk9 June 1917Dana1,590Sunk10 June 1917Betty2,683Sunk10 June 1917Ribera3,511Sunk14 June 1917Widwud299Damaged16 June 1917Fallodon3,012Damaged17 June 1917Raloo1,012Sunk19 June 1917Batoum4,054Sunk20 June 1917Nitonian6,381Damaged28 July 1917Comanchee5,588Damaged2 August 1917Libia2,416Sunk4 August 1917Countess Of Mar2,234Sunk5 August 1917Sauternes902Sunk5 August 1917Campo Libre50Sunk6 August 1917Campana3,675Sunk6 August 1917Jeanne Et Genevieve695Damaged7 August 1917Trento3,276Sunk29 September 1917Elmsgarth3,503Sunk11 October 1917Rhodesia4,313Sunk16 October 19171,020Damaged27 December 19172,729Damaged3 January 1918Birchwood2,756Sunk5 January 1918Rose Marie2,220Sunk6 January 1918Halberdier1,049Sunk6 January 1918Spenser4,186Sunk23 March 1918Etonian6,515Sunk
References
Notes
Citations
Bibliography