SM UB-33[Note 1] was a German Type UB II submarine or U-boat in the German Imperial Navy (German: Kaiserliche Marine) during World War I. The U-boat was ordered on 22 July 1915 and launched on 5 December 1915. She was commissioned into the German Imperial Navy on 22 April 1916 as SM UB-33.
 SM UB-45, a U-boat similar to UB-33
| |
| History | |
|---|---|
 German Empire | |
| Name | UB-33 |
| Ordered | 22 July 1915[1] |
| Builder | Blohm & Voss, Hamburg[1] |
| Cost | 1,152,000 German Papiermark[2] |
| Yard number | 257[1] |
| Launched | 5 December 1915[1] |
| Completed | 20 April 1916[1] |
| Commissioned | 22 April 1916[2] |
| Fate | Sunk 11 April 1918[2] |
| General characteristics [2] | |
| Class and type | Type UB II submarine |
| Displacement | |
| Length |
|
| Beam |
|
| Draught | 3.69 m (12 ft 1 in) |
| Propulsion |
|
| Speed |
|
| Range |
|
| Test depth | 50 m (160 ft) |
| Complement | 2 officers, 21 men |
| Armament |
|
| Notes | 42-second diving time |
| Service record | |
| Part of: |
|
| Commanders: |
|
| Operations: | 17 patrols |
| Victories: | |
The submarine sank thirteen ships, damaged two others, and took a further three as prizes in seventeen patrols.[3]
Design
editA Type UB II submarine, UB-33 had a displacement of 274 tonnes (270 long tons) when at the surface and 303 tonnes (298 long tons) while submerged. She had a total length of 36.90 m (121 ft 1 in), a beam of 4.37 m (14 ft 4 in), and a draught of 3.69 m (12 ft 1 in). The submarine was powered by two Benz six-cylinder diesel engines producing a total 270 metric horsepower (270 shp; 200 kW), two Siemens-Schuckert electric motors producing 280 metric horsepower (210 kW; 280 shp), and one propeller shaft. She was capable of operating at depths of up to 50 metres (160 ft).[2]
The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 9.06 knots (16.78 km/h; 10.43 mph) and a maximum submerged speed of 5.71 knots (10.57 km/h; 6.57 mph). When submerged, she could operate for 45 nautical miles (83 km; 52 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph); when surfaced, she could travel 7,030 nautical miles (13,020 km; 8,090 mi) at 5 knots (9.3 km/h; 5.8 mph). UB-33 was fitted with two 50 centimetres (20 in) torpedo tubes, four torpedoes, and one 8.8 cm (3.5 in) Uk L/30 deck gun. She had a complement of twenty-one crew members and two officers and a 42-second dive time.[2]
Fate
editUB-33 was mined and sunk around the Varne Bank on 11 April 1918.[4] The wreck of UB-33 lies 77 feet (23 m) below the surface of the water. The amount of clearance between the submarine and ships' keels passing directly overhead is very small, making it a risk for the heavy cross-channel ship traffic in the area. The wreck is officially classified as a war grave and therefore it cannot be deliberately destroyed.
Summary of raiding history
edit| Date | Name | Nationality | Tonnage[Note 2] | Fate[3] |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 June 1917 | Kragrö | 550 | Captured as prize | |
| 9 June 1917 | Götha | 720 | Captured as prize | |
| 13 June 1917 | Gertie | 257 | Captured as prize | |
| 1 January 1918 | Genesse | 2,892 | Damaged | |
| 8 February 1918 | Kia Ora | 99 | Sunk | |
| 16 February 1918 | Pikepool | 3,683 | Damaged | |
| 16 February 1918 | Commander | 58 | Sunk | |
| 17 February 1918 | Northville | 2,472 | Sunk | |
| 19 February 1918 | Commandant Baratier | 324 | Sunk | |
| 20 February 1918 | Snow Drop | 40 | Sunk | |
| 21 February 1918 | Idalia | 23 | Sunk | |
| 21 February 1918 | Irex | 16 | Sunk | |
| 21 February 1918 | Leonora | 26 | Sunk | |
| 21 February 1918 | Oryx | 38 | Sunk | |
| 21 February 1918 | Rosebud | 44 | Sunk | |
| 14 March 1918 | Carla | 1,668 | Sunk | |
| 15 March 1918 | Sparkling Foam | 199 | Sunk | |
| 8 April 1918 | Nyassaland | 383 | Sunk |
References
editNotes
edit- ^ "SM" stands for "Seiner Majestät" (English: His Majesty's) and combined with the U for Unterseeboot would be translated as His Majesty's Submarine.
- ^ Tonnages are in gross register tons
Citations
edit- ^ a b c d e Rössler 1979, p. 64.
- ^ a b c d e f Gröner 1991, pp. 23–25.
- ^ a b Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by UB 33". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net.
- ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boats: UB 33". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net.
Bibliography
edit- Bendert, Harald (2000). Die UB-Boote der Kaiserlichen Marine, 1914-1918. Einsätze, Erfolge, Schicksal (in German). Hamburg: Verlag E.S. Mittler & Sohn GmbH. ISBN 3-8132-0713-7.
- Gröner, Erich; Jung, Dieter; Maass, Martin (1991). U-boats and Mine Warfare Vessels. German Warships 1815–1945. Vol. 2. Translated by Thomas, Keith; Magowan, Rachel. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-593-4.
- Rössler, Eberhard (1979). Die deutschen U-Boote und ihre Werften: eine Bilddokumentation über den deutschen U-Bootbau; in zwei Bänden (in German). Vol. I. Munich: Bernard & Graefe. ISBN 3-7637-5213-7.
External links
edit- Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boats: UB 33". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 21 February 2009.