SM ''U-61'' was a

German German(s) may refer to: * Germany (of or related to) **Germania (historical use) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law **Ger ...

Type U 57

U-boat U-boats were naval submarines operated by Germany, particularly in the First and Second World Wars. Although at times they were efficient fleet weapons against enemy naval warships, they were most effectively used in an economic warfare role ...

commissioned and deployed to operate off the coast of the

British Isles The British Isles are a group of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean off the north-western coast of continental Europe, consisting of the islands of Great Britain, Ireland, the Isle of Man, the Inner and Outer Hebrides, the Northern Isles, ...

and attack coastal shipping as part of the

U-boat Campaign The U-boat Campaign from 1914 to 1918 was the World War I naval campaign fought by German U-boats against the trade routes of the Allies. It took place largely in the seas around the British Isles and in the Mediterranean. The German Empire r ...

during

World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

. In a 15-month career spanning nine war patrols, ''U-61'' plagued allied shipping in the

Atlantic Ocean The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's five oceans, with an area of about . It covers approximately 20% of Earth's surface and about 29% of its water surface area. It is known to separate the " Old World" of Africa, Europe ...

during the German war on Allied trade (''

Handelskrieg The U-boat Campaign from 1914 to 1918 was the World War I naval campaign fought by German U-boats against the trade routes of the Allies. It took place largely in the seas around the British Isles and in the Mediterranean. The German Empire r ...

''). 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 In naval terminology, a destroyer is a fast, manoeuvrable, long-endurance warship intended to escort larger vessels in a fleet, convoy or battle group and defend them against powerful short range attackers. They were originally developed in ...

before fleeing the fight). She went missing some time after March 23, 1918.

Summary of raiding history

References

Notes

Citations

Bibliography

* {{DEFAULTSORT:U0061 World War I submarines of Germany Type U 57 submarines Ships built in Bremen (state) 1916 ships U-boats commissioned in 1916 Maritime incidents in 1918 U-boats sunk in 1918 U-boats sunk by unknown causes World War I shipwrecks in the Atlantic Ocean