SM UB-53

SM UB-53 was a German Type UB III submarine or U-boat in the German Imperial Navy (Kaiserliche Marine) during World War I. She was commissioned into the Pola Flotilla of the German Imperial Navy on 21 August 1917 as SM UB-53.

She operated as part of the Pola Flotilla based in Cattaro. UB-53 was sunk on 3 August 1918 at 39.66667°N, 18.66667°W by mines in the Otranto Strait, 10 crew members died in the event.

Construction
UB-53 was ordered by the GIN on 20 May 1916. She was built by Blohm & Voss, Hamburg and following just under a year of construction, launched at Hamburg on 9 March 1917. UB-53 was commissioned later that same year. Like all Type UB III submarines, UB-53 carried 10 torpedoes and was armed with a 8.8 cm deck gun. UB-53 would carry a crew of up to 3 officer and 31 men and had a cruising range of 9,040 nmi. UB-53 had a displacement of 516 t while surfaced and 651 t when submerged. Her engines enabled her to travel at 13.6 kn when surfaced and 8 kn when submerged.