"UB-53" 1917-1918: Is There A WW1 Website Like The WW2 "U-Boat Net?"

[Rick Research]

I am looking for information on the specific war cruises of German Submarine "UB-53" (operating out of Pola under Austro-Hungarian flag with original German crew as "U-84"). Launched 21 August 1917, her commander was Kapitänleutnant zur See Robert Sprenger, who received the HHOX for his successes with this boat.

At 5 PM on 3 August 1918 in the Strait of Otranto at 39º41'N 18º40'E, Sprenger surfaced too soon and came up under a freshly laid extension of the mine barrier, which blew off the stern of the submarine. Able to surface, he and 26 other crew members were still alive (10 died) to be picked up at 8:30 PM by the destroyer HMS "Martin" and taken to POW camp in England.

After the war Sprenger ran a family roofing business, only being recalled to naval service for WW2.

Wrong Submarine ID-- see page 2!!!!

[Tim B.]

Rick,

Not that I know of either. The information you listed is also found in the book "U-Boats Destroyed" by Paul Kemp.

Have you tried to contact the U-boot Archiv on the subject?
Tim

[Dez H]

Rick uboat.net also has infomation on WW1 Boats, most of this infomation you already know but here is what they have:


UB 53
Type UB III
Shipyard Blohm & Voss, Hamburg (Werk 298)
Ordered 20 May, 1916 Laid down
Launched 9 Mar, 1917 Commissioned 21 Aug, 1917
Commanders 21 Aug, 1917 - 3 Aug, 1918 Robert Sprenger

Career 5 patrols 1 Nov, 1917 - 3 Aug, 1918 Pola/Mittelmeer I Flotilla

Successes 20 ships sunk for a total of 51.184 tons (warships excluded).
Fate 3 Aug, 1918 - Hit 2 mines in Otranto Barrage and sank at 3940N 1840E. 10 dead, unknown number of survivors.

The link on thier page is:
http://www.uboat.net/wwi/boats/index.html?boat=UB+53

[François SAEZ]

crew of UB-53

[François SAEZ]

2

(RL's translation added: "Submarine 'C 53' in the harbor from the cutter 5th May 1917")

[François SAEZ]

3

[François SAEZ]

4

[François SAEZ]

5

[François SAEZ]

6 - I suppose the guy survived as the picture is dated 1922

Could somebody read the tally ribbon (on previous pics) or tell what flotilla was attached UB-53 (sic-- actually UC 53)

(RL's translation "Berlin Grunewald 1922")

[François SAEZ]

I also have a diary of this boat by one of the crw members (pictures above)

I don't speak german, but even if I would, it would be VERY difficult -maybe Rick

I will share page by page, knowing that the pics on page 3 go with comments on page 4, page 5 with page 6 and so on

Translation will be a big help

page 1

[François SAEZ]

page 2

(RL's translation--

"My 4th distant voyage ("Fernfahrt") on U.'C. 53.' from 4th to 17th Dec.

4. Dec. Tuesday 4 PM ..... the distant voyage. Heavy seas 5

5. Dec. Wednesday passed Otranto {i.e. escaped the Allied mine barrier across the southern Adriatic, into the Aegean and Mediterranean seas}, sighted 4 {some type of ship I can't find in German dictionary, appears to be "Bewacher" so I guess a generic name for patrol craft?} proceeded on the surface 730 AM 930 PM dived due to bad weather and stayed submerged until--

6. Dec. Thursday 0640 surfaced, proceeded on the surface again. Nothing of any significance.

7. Dec. Friday sighted 4 PM 2 {steamers, I think, off page} and 4 {same whatever "Bewacher" types of "wuzzit" ships as on the 5th}, made attack.... abandoned attack

8. Dec. Saturday... 930 sank sailing ship with explosive ammunition {i.e. the sub shelled the ship with its deck gun} .... 108 T... 350 PM aircraft alarm..." )

[François SAEZ]

page 3

[François SAEZ]

page 4

(RL translation:

"9 Dec. Sunday 630 dived to lay mines. released 7 pieces. 1030 sighted 3 steamers and 3 {same I can't translate ship type}. Made attack. Hit in a 4000 T steamer. Others allowed to go. Whereupon one of the {wuzzits} ran onto a mine. 230 sighted 1 steamer with 2 {wuzzits} and 1 torpedoboat, achieved stern torpedo hit. 3500 T. Torpedoboat chased after us and dropped 2 depthcharges. heavy explosion.

10. Dec. Monday early 625 dived to lay mines. 435 surfaced, bombarded {a place name}, 500 Alarm Dive, fired on by shore batteries. 512 surfaced, again another alarm because ... bombardment. 520 surfaced and proceeded on the surface.

11. Dec. Tuesday 130 PM sank sailing vessel Antonia Mxgxxx carrying ... from Algiers. 1150 attack on steamer. Torpedo went wrong.

12. Dec. Wednesday 1020 sighted 1 {wuzzit}. 1050 a second. 1105 surfaced.")

[François SAEZ]

page 5

[François SAEZ]

page 6

(RL translation:

"17. Jan. Thursday. Nothing of significance.

18. Jan. Friday. Nothing of significance. 300 on "B.B." {? "Backbord" maybe, i.e. port side?} 2 brigs sighted.

19. Jan. Saturday. Nothing of significance.

20. Jan. Sunday. 1020 rudder...... lay stopped until 130 PM. 9xx to 94x 6 mines laid. Otherwise nothing of significance.

21. Jan. Monday early 503 to 535 6 mines laid. 655 dived, ran along the landbecause of heavy seas ... good weather, Xxx PM .. heavy seas 6. Wind strength 5-6

22. Jan. Tuesday 70x dived... along the coast ... to snow 610 PM surfaced, still having heavy seas.

23. Jan. Wednesday. early 424 to 445 6 mines laid ... Calm wind.)