SM U-83

SM U-83 was a Type U 81 U-boat of the German Imperial Navy (Kaiserliche Marine) 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 six merchant ships for. On 17 February 1917, she torpedoed the British Q-ship HMS Farnborough off the Irish coast, but was sunk by Farnborough's 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
Type U 81 submarines were preceded by the shorter Type UE I submarines. U-83 had a displacement of 808 t when at the surface and 946 t while submerged. She had a total length of 70.06 m, a pressure hull length of 55.55 m, a beam of 6.30 m, a height of 8 m, and a draught of 4.02 m. The submarine was powered by two 2400 PS engines for use while surfaced, and two 1200 PS engines for use while submerged. She had two propeller shafts. She was capable of operating at depths of up to 50 m.

The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 16.8 kn and a maximum submerged speed of 9.1 kn. When submerged, she could operate for 56 nmi at 5 kn; when surfaced, she could travel 11220 nmi at 8 kn. U-83 was fitted with four 50 cm torpedo tubes (two at the bow and two at the stern), twelve to sixteen torpedoes, and one 10.5 cm SK L/45 deck gun. She had a complement of thirty-five (thirty-one crew members and four officers).