Type | VIIB | |||||||||
| Ordered | 21 Nov 1936 | |||||||||
| Laid down | 3 Nov 1938 | F. Krupp Germaniawerft AG, Kiel (werk 585) | ||||||||
| Launched | 1 Nov 1939 | |||||||||
| Commissioned | 12 Dec 1939 | Kptlt. Max-Hermann Bauer | ||||||||
| Commanders |
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| Career 2 patrols |
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| Successes | 4 ships sunk, total tonnage 16,089 GRT | |||||||||
| Fate |
Sunk on or around 6 April 1940 in the North Sea north of Terschelling, in approx. position 54.14N, 05.07E, by a mine in the British barrage Field No. 7, laid by the British destroyers HMS Express, HMS Esk, HMS Icarus and HMS Impulsive. 44 dead (all hands lost). (FDS/NHB, December 1993). | |||||||||
| Loss position | ||||||||||
U-50 sent no radio messages after sailing from Wilhelmshaven to operate north-east of the Shetland Islands and was reported missing on 13 April 1940. It is likely that the boat was mined and sunk in the barrage laid by British destroyers on its exit route on 3 March 1940. This mine field probably accounted for several U-boats on their outbound or return journey.
Previously recorded fate
- Sunk the British destroyer HMS Hero on 10 April, 1940 in position 62.54N, 01.56W. (Postwar assessment)
Notes. This attack was most probably against a nonsub target.
Men lost from U-boats
Unlike many other U-boats, which during their service lost men due to accidents and various other causes, U-50 did not suffer any casualties (we know of) until the time of her loss.
U-boat Emblems
We have 1 emblem entry for this boat. See the emblem page for this boat or view emblems individually below.
 Dolphin |
Media links
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There was another U-50 in World War One
That boat was launched from its shipyard on 31 Dec 1915 and commissioned into the Imperial Navy on 4 Jul 1916. The Naval war in WWI was brought to an end with the Armistice signed on 11 Nov, 1918. Read about SM U 50 during WWI.
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