SM UC-55
UC II Class U boat.
SM UC-55. 29/09/1917
UC II Class U boat.
Displacement: 691t disp (surf)
Length: 52.68m. Beam: 5.22m. Draught: 3.61 m.
Propulsion: 2 × 6-cylinder, 4-stroke diesel engines -2 × electric motors .
Complement: 29 officers and men.
Crew Lost: 11
Armament: 6 × 100 cm (39.4 in) mine tubes
18 × UC 200 mines
3 × 50 cm (19.7 in) torpedo tubes (2 bow/external; one stern)
7 × torpedoes
1 × 8.8 cm (3.5 in) Uk L/30 deck gun
On the 29 September 1917 while attempting to lay mines off Lerwick, Shetland UC 55 suffered a loss of trim and went below her maximum diving depth which resulted in several leaks. The battery compartment flooded which produced chlorine gas. The U boat was forced to surface to ventilate the compartments but it was then found the helm would not respond.
The U Boat had been seen to surface & the two British destroyers HMS Tirade & HMS Sylvia and the armed trawler Moravia were ordered to the area. The U boat was soon located and HMS Tirade offered a challenge by searchlight to establish if this was in fact a friendly submarine. No response was received and the vessels started firing when within 3 to 4 miles of the helpless U Boat.
On seeing the approaching destroyers Oblt. Horst Rühle von Lilienstern ordered secret papers destroyed and scuttling charges set and then ordered the crew to abandon the U boat.
A 12-pdr shell from HMS Sylvia hit the base of the conning tower killing Oblt.z.S. Horst Rühle von Lilienstern.
Several other shells hit the hull and UC 55 began to sink.
Two depth charges were then dropped alongside the U boat while the U Boat crew were in the water. This was followed by more shells and one depth charge from HMT Moravia. 11 of the crew were killed and 17 were taken prisoner.
UC 55 sank in position 60°03.186'N 00°05.067'W, 8 miles SE of Lerwick, in 103m of water.
The U Boat had been seen to surface & the two British destroyers HMS Tirade & HMS Sylvia and the armed trawler Moravia were ordered to the area. The U boat was soon located and HMS Tirade offered a challenge by searchlight to establish if this was in fact a friendly submarine. No response was received and the vessels started firing when within 3 to 4 miles of the helpless U Boat.
On seeing the approaching destroyers Oblt. Horst Rühle von Lilienstern ordered secret papers destroyed and scuttling charges set and then ordered the crew to abandon the U boat.
A 12-pdr shell from HMS Sylvia hit the base of the conning tower killing Oblt.z.S. Horst Rühle von Lilienstern.
Several other shells hit the hull and UC 55 began to sink.
Two depth charges were then dropped alongside the U boat while the U Boat crew were in the water. This was followed by more shells and one depth charge from HMT Moravia. 11 of the crew were killed and 17 were taken prisoner.
UC 55 sank in position 60°03.186'N 00°05.067'W, 8 miles SE of Lerwick, in 103m of water.
HMS Sylvia ,HMS Tirade(1918) HMT Moravia (Photos LIWD Collection)
UC 55. Interrogation of Survivors -- ADM 137/3060/9
The last cruise of U.C.55
U.C.55 started on her last cruise on 24th September 1917, 18 mines and six torpedoes again being on board. On arriving off the Shetlands on the morning of the 29th September, she was compelled to dive by the appearance of a British trawler. At about 3pm when the boat was at a depth of 65 feet, and preparations had just been made to lay mines, she suddenly lost her trim and began to sink, nose first. Her Commanding Officer tried to get her on an even keel by rushing the crew aft, and when the boat had reached a depth of 165 feet, the descent was stopped by blowing water down and the tanks vented to prevent her breaking surface violently. But as soon as the vents were opened the boat again began to sink and could not be stopped until the control room was at a depth of 300 feet, the bows having reached a depth of 345 to 360 feet.
The hull plating was apparently unable to sustain the pressure at that depth and water rushed in, forming chlorine gas. At the same time the battery caught fire, probably being short-circuited by the water. By again blowing her tanks with compressed air, however, the submarine managed to rise to the surface. Proceeding slow ahead she then tried to compress air to replenish the supply of the air bottles. Several trawlers were in sight.
She had been on the surface about 10 minutes when one of the trawlers altered course towards her. Shortly afterwards several destroyers appeared and opened fire. Seeing that escape was impossible the Commanding Officer of U.C.55 then gave orders to abandon ship.
Owing to the excitement prevailing on board the submarine at the time it is impossible to arrive at a definite conclusion as to the cause of the sinking of the boat or the extent to which the order to abandon ship was carried out. It appears that the vents had been opened (tank No.1 situated right aft remained closed) and that explosive charges had been fixed to vital parts of the submarine by her crew, but not fired, before she was abandoned.
Her Commanding Officer and at least one seaman remained on board her until she went under. Several men were killed by gunfire.
There seems to be little doubt that H.M.S. Sylvia fired the first shot, which fell short, and most witnesses seem certain that no shots from that vessel hit the submarine. The first shot to hit the conning tower was undoubtedly fired by H.M.S. Tirade. Another shot struck the nose of one of the bow torpedoes, after the stern was submerged and caused the torpedo to explode. Before the hit on the conning tower, Sub_Lieut. Sauer, the senior survivor of U.C.55 saw a shell strike the stern of the submarine below the waterline; he himself was in the water at the time.
Leading Seaman Taffelt stated that the hit in the stern also came from the Tirade. The Able Seaman who was helmsman in the control room at the time suddenly found the helm had jammed, presumably owing to a hit. An Engine Room Petty Officer, who was in the engine room, saw water enter suddenly from the P.O’s mess aft, but neither of these men felt any concussion.
Whereas most of the crew seem to think that the submarine sank ultimately on account of the hit in her stern, the Officer and Warrant Officers are of the opinion that she sank on account of the vent valves having been opened. They think that the water in the fore part of the boat must have rushed aft and caused her to sink stern first. This attitude is probably due to reluctance to concede any success to their enemies.
Witnesses were all unaware that depth charges had been dropped.
The only hit which could have caused the submarine to sink would appear to be the one received aft below the water line and the balance of opinion is that Tirade was responsible for this.
Of the crew of 29, 19 officers and men were rescued, the remainder having either been killed by gunfire or drowned.
From research by Wayne Allen
The last cruise of U.C.55
U.C.55 started on her last cruise on 24th September 1917, 18 mines and six torpedoes again being on board. On arriving off the Shetlands on the morning of the 29th September, she was compelled to dive by the appearance of a British trawler. At about 3pm when the boat was at a depth of 65 feet, and preparations had just been made to lay mines, she suddenly lost her trim and began to sink, nose first. Her Commanding Officer tried to get her on an even keel by rushing the crew aft, and when the boat had reached a depth of 165 feet, the descent was stopped by blowing water down and the tanks vented to prevent her breaking surface violently. But as soon as the vents were opened the boat again began to sink and could not be stopped until the control room was at a depth of 300 feet, the bows having reached a depth of 345 to 360 feet.
The hull plating was apparently unable to sustain the pressure at that depth and water rushed in, forming chlorine gas. At the same time the battery caught fire, probably being short-circuited by the water. By again blowing her tanks with compressed air, however, the submarine managed to rise to the surface. Proceeding slow ahead she then tried to compress air to replenish the supply of the air bottles. Several trawlers were in sight.
She had been on the surface about 10 minutes when one of the trawlers altered course towards her. Shortly afterwards several destroyers appeared and opened fire. Seeing that escape was impossible the Commanding Officer of U.C.55 then gave orders to abandon ship.
Owing to the excitement prevailing on board the submarine at the time it is impossible to arrive at a definite conclusion as to the cause of the sinking of the boat or the extent to which the order to abandon ship was carried out. It appears that the vents had been opened (tank No.1 situated right aft remained closed) and that explosive charges had been fixed to vital parts of the submarine by her crew, but not fired, before she was abandoned.
Her Commanding Officer and at least one seaman remained on board her until she went under. Several men were killed by gunfire.
There seems to be little doubt that H.M.S. Sylvia fired the first shot, which fell short, and most witnesses seem certain that no shots from that vessel hit the submarine. The first shot to hit the conning tower was undoubtedly fired by H.M.S. Tirade. Another shot struck the nose of one of the bow torpedoes, after the stern was submerged and caused the torpedo to explode. Before the hit on the conning tower, Sub_Lieut. Sauer, the senior survivor of U.C.55 saw a shell strike the stern of the submarine below the waterline; he himself was in the water at the time.
Leading Seaman Taffelt stated that the hit in the stern also came from the Tirade. The Able Seaman who was helmsman in the control room at the time suddenly found the helm had jammed, presumably owing to a hit. An Engine Room Petty Officer, who was in the engine room, saw water enter suddenly from the P.O’s mess aft, but neither of these men felt any concussion.
Whereas most of the crew seem to think that the submarine sank ultimately on account of the hit in her stern, the Officer and Warrant Officers are of the opinion that she sank on account of the vent valves having been opened. They think that the water in the fore part of the boat must have rushed aft and caused her to sink stern first. This attitude is probably due to reluctance to concede any success to their enemies.
Witnesses were all unaware that depth charges had been dropped.
The only hit which could have caused the submarine to sink would appear to be the one received aft below the water line and the balance of opinion is that Tirade was responsible for this.
Of the crew of 29, 19 officers and men were rescued, the remainder having either been killed by gunfire or drowned.
From research by Wayne Allen
The Wreck
UKHO wreck card 137 created in 1985.
The wreck was located in 1985 with side scan sonar during a survey for UKHO in position 60°03.186'N 00°05.067'W.
LEAST E/S DEPTH 97MTRS IN GEN DEPTH 103MTRS. NO SCOUR. DCS3 HT 5.6MTRS, LENGTH 50MTRS, BEAM 10MTRS. LYING 015/195DEG. SONAR TRACE INDICATES APPARENTLY A SUBMARINE. SEABED ROCK OUTCROPS IN SAND & GRAVEL
The wreck was located in 1985 with side scan sonar during a survey for UKHO in position 60°03.186'N 00°05.067'W.
LEAST E/S DEPTH 97MTRS IN GEN DEPTH 103MTRS. NO SCOUR. DCS3 HT 5.6MTRS, LENGTH 50MTRS, BEAM 10MTRS. LYING 015/195DEG. SONAR TRACE INDICATES APPARENTLY A SUBMARINE. SEABED ROCK OUTCROPS IN SAND & GRAVEL
Side Scan image UC-55 from 1985 survey (UKHO)
The Dive
The wreck of UC 55 was dived on 21st July 2023 by divers off the MV Valhalla.
The dive team. Photo: Tracy Timperley
Photos taken by Martin Mako Janeček
Video of dive on UC 55 taken by Jacob Mackenzie
SM UC-55 Crew Lost. † 29/09/1917
RÜHLE VON LILIENSTERN, HORST (27), Oberleutnant zur See, Iron Cross 2nd class.
KIRST, ALFRED , Marine-Ingenieur ObAsp.
KEßBERG, ERICH , Matrose.
LANGE, FELIX , Maschinenmaat,
MOURITZ, ERNST , Obermaschinistenmaat d. Re,
OFENBECK, KARL , Heizer.
REBUSCHATIS, JOHANNES , Maschinenmaat.
SCHACHT, ALBERT , Oberbootsmannmaat d. Res.
SCHUSCHEL, WILHELM , Matrose.
THEIS, HEINRICH , Heizer.
WILKENING, WILHELM , Matrose.
RÜHLE VON LILIENSTERN, HORST (27), Oberleutnant zur See, Iron Cross 2nd class.
KIRST, ALFRED , Marine-Ingenieur ObAsp.
KEßBERG, ERICH , Matrose.
LANGE, FELIX , Maschinenmaat,
MOURITZ, ERNST , Obermaschinistenmaat d. Re,
OFENBECK, KARL , Heizer.
REBUSCHATIS, JOHANNES , Maschinenmaat.
SCHACHT, ALBERT , Oberbootsmannmaat d. Res.
SCHUSCHEL, WILHELM , Matrose.
THEIS, HEINRICH , Heizer.
WILKENING, WILHELM , Matrose.
Prisoners of War
Herbert Sauer - Leutnant zur See d. R., Iron Cross 2nd class
Fritz Plate - Steuermann
Heinrich Koelling - Steuermann
Bernhard Burblies - Bootsmannsmaat
Freid. Willberg - Bootsmannsmaat
Paul M Taffelt - Overmatrose
Erich Unruh - Matrose
Fritz Lahn - F.T.Gast
Paul Karglemann - Obermaschinistenmaat
Christian Hansen - Mashinistenmaat
Hermann Sommer - Mashinistenmaat
Alfred Damm - Torpedo Maschinistenmaat
Paul Kolanoski - Oberheizer
Ferd. Petermann - Heizer
Albert Andres - Heizer
Fritz Kynast - Heizer
Hermann Arndt - Koch
Herbert Sauer - Leutnant zur See d. R., Iron Cross 2nd class
Fritz Plate - Steuermann
Heinrich Koelling - Steuermann
Bernhard Burblies - Bootsmannsmaat
Freid. Willberg - Bootsmannsmaat
Paul M Taffelt - Overmatrose
Erich Unruh - Matrose
Fritz Lahn - F.T.Gast
Paul Karglemann - Obermaschinistenmaat
Christian Hansen - Mashinistenmaat
Hermann Sommer - Mashinistenmaat
Alfred Damm - Torpedo Maschinistenmaat
Paul Kolanoski - Oberheizer
Ferd. Petermann - Heizer
Albert Andres - Heizer
Fritz Kynast - Heizer
Hermann Arndt - Koch
