U Boat - 53
US Army medals US Navy medals German medals German Naval badges Austrian medals British WW1 War medals
German U-Boats Austrian U-Boats Books: Home from the Sea Fifth Army Field Surgeon
U Boat 53
13 Patrols
II Flotilla
Kapitan Hanse Rose
Commander U - 53
from
22 April 1916 - 17 August 1918
Hanse Rose was known for his courage and humanity in battle. After torpedoing a vessel he would make sure
their crew were all in their lifeboats, take them in tow, provide food and waited for a rescue ship to appear on the horizon,
free the tow line and submerge, many times putting his own vessel at risk.
Kapitan Hanse Rose was responsible for sinking 79 ships for a total of 213,987 tons.
In 1916, he sailed into Newport,Rhode Island much to everyones amazement, docked and entertained American
Navy personnel on board.
On 6 December, 1917,Kapitan Rose torpedoed and sank the USS Jacob Jones, the first American destroyer lost during
the Ist war. He fired his torpedo from 3000 yards setting a record for the longest torpedo shot.
Rear Admiral Sims, U.S. Navy says of him
“ We acquired a certain respect for Hans because he was a brave man who would take
chances which most of his compatriots would avoid, and above all because he played his desperate game with a certain decency. “
USS JACOB JONES, (DD 61 Photo#NH52123 USNaval Historical Ctr Photograph)
6th December 1917, Atlantic Ocean, South Western Approaches to Britain, 25 miles SW of Bishop Rock, Isles of Scilly (49-20’N, 06-18’W). - torpedoed once by German 'U-53'. Based at Queenstown, southern Ireland on anti-submarine duties, 'Jacob Jones' (Lt Cdr David Bagley) was one of six destroyers returning from Brest after escorting a convoy to France. The USS Jacob Jones was struck by a single torpedo in a starboard fuel tank, as the stern sank her depth charges exploded dooming the ship. She was hit at 16.20hrs, going down in 8 minutes. Of the 38 survivors, two were taken prisoner by the U-boat, others rescued by two British ships that responded to a radio signal sent out by 'U.53’s' CO, Lt Cdr Hans Rose.
USS Jacob Jones sinking
( #72-4509-A Smithsonian Institute Photograph)
USS 'Jacob Jones' survivors after their rescue #NH92064 USNaval Historical Ctr Photograph
On 11 February 1916, Hans Rose was awarded the Knights Cross of the House of Hohenzollern
On 20 December, 1917, Hanse Rose was awarded the Pour le Merite for his bravery and
achievements.
 |
 |
He was also awarded the Ritterkreuz des Hohenzollerschen Hausordens mit Schwertern
Known to British Intelligence as
'Old Hans is at it again'
U-53
1916 Oct. 7 - The new German U-53 anchored at Newport, visited with Americans,
allowed visits to his boat, next day sank 5 foreign merchant ships off Nantucket
in international waters while 16 American destroyers stood by, one destroyer was
even asked by U-53 Capt Hans Rose to move so he could torpedo a Dutch steamer.
The sub had gone 7550 miles without refueling and with only one brief stop in
Newport.
Crew, U-53
The Graphic, Oct 1916
U-53 Crew
Arps Hans
Leutnant z.S
13.07.1896
U 30, U 53, U 96, U 90
Bergen Claus
00.00.1885
U 53
Bode Hans
U 53
Burchard Helmuth
Marine Ober Ingenieur
03.11.1887
U 53
Engel Karl Leutnant z.S.d.R
07.04.1887
U 2, U 53
Esch Günther
Oberleutnant z.S
10.04.1893
U 57, U 99, U 53
Haumann Waldemar Kapitänleutnant 08.11.1885 U 24, U 53, U 52, UB 94
Hering Adolf
Marine-Oberingenieur
02.06.1887
U 53
Huber Anton
13.05.1891
U 54, U 53 birthplace Weilheim
Möller Henning Marine-Oberingenieur
23.08.1884
U 6, U 53
Obenauer Georg Oberleutnant z.S
05.08.1891
U 53
Osterbind Alfred Oberleutnant z.S
02.08.1891
U 70, U 53, U 46
Rose Hans Kapitänleutnant
15.04.1885
U 2, U 53 birthplace Berlin-Charlottenburg
Schiele Arnold 25.09.1894
U 53, UB 95 birthplace Altona
Schnackenburg Franz Leutnant z.S
30.01.1895 U 53, UB 89
Schrader, v Otto
Kapitänleutnant
18.03.1888
UB 28, UB 35, UC 31, UB 64, U 53
Schröter Bruno Hermann
U 53
Stein Walter
Oberleutnant z.S.d.R
13.12.1885 U 2, U 53, U 57
Wacker Karl
Oberleutnant z.S 07.07.1890 19.01.1918
U 53, UB 22
from 18 August to 29 Novemeber 1918
Commanded by Kapitan Otto von Schrader
Vessels torpedoed,
79 ships sunk Total tonnage 213,987 tons
8 damaged 45,291 tons
1 warship 1,050
|
SS Bloomersdijk crew rescued by USS 'Benham' SS Christian Knutsen SS Stephano SS Strathene SS West Point SS Anna SS Zeta SS Nueva Montana
|
SS Algorta SS Hekla SS Odin SS Housatonic SS Aimee Marie SS Bangpuhtis SS Bravalla SS Marian |
SS Gazelle SS Utopia SS Theodoror Pangalos SS Federico Confalonieri SS SS Cavour SS Lars Fostenes SS Sriatoi Theodor (damaged) HMS Folia |
SS Gracia SS Hainut SS Aquila SS Scalpa SS Sculptor SS Tempus SS Pontiac SS Neepawah |
|
SS Eptapyrgion SS Anglesia SS Ferndene SS Elisabeth (damaged) SS Laura SS Hekla SS Ultonia |
SS
Asheim SS Atlantic SS Cedric SS Mable SS Pacific SS Peridot SS Pretoria |
SS Romantic SS Sea King SS Stoic SS Athenia SS Devonian SS Roscommon SS Verdi |
SS Durango SS Kenmore SS Bostonian SS Gowrie SS Lewis Luchenbach SS San Nazairo (damaged) SS Manchuria |
|
SS Polvena SS Parkhaven SS Megrez SS Nederland SS Westlands SS Dunrobin SS Helenus (damaged) |
SS Earlswood
(damaged) USS Jacob Jones SS Nyanza SS War Tune SS Ǿiekast SS Euryales SS Treveal |
SS Holkar SS Marsouin SS Basuta SS Lydie SS Merton Hall SS Meaford SS Cadillac |
SS Knight Templar SS Port Campbell SS Keelung SS Queen SS W.m.I SS Gullfaxi SS War Firth SS Rio Mondego |
U- Boat 53 surrendered at Swansea, 1922