SM UC-33

Last updated

History
War Ensign of Germany 1903-1918.svg German Empire
NameUC-33
Ordered29 August 1915 [1]
Builder AG Vulcan, Hamburg [2]
Yard number72 [1]
Launched26 August 1916 [1]
Commissioned25 September 1916 [1]
FateShelled and rammed, 26 September 1917 [1]
General characteristics [3]
Class and type German Type UC II submarine
Displacement
  • 400 t (390 long tons), surfaced
  • 480 t (470 long tons), submerged
Length
Beam
  • 5.22 m (17 ft 2 in) o/a
  • 3.65 m (12 ft) pressure hull
Draught3.68 m (12 ft 1 in)
Propulsion
Speed
  • 11.6 knots (21.5 km/h; 13.3 mph), surfaced
  • 6.7 knots (12.4 km/h; 7.7 mph), submerged
Range
  • 10,040  nmi (18,590 km; 11,550 mi) at 7 knots (13 km/h; 8.1 mph), surfaced
  • 53 nmi (98 km; 61 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph), submerged
Test depth50 m (160 ft)
Complement26
Armament
Notes48-second diving time
Service record
Part of:
  • I Flotilla
  • 16 December 1916 – 26 September 1917
Commanders:
  • Kptlt. Martin Schelle [4]
  • 25 September 1916 – 19 July 1917
  • Oblt.z.S. Alfred Arnold [5]
  • 20 July – 26 September 1917
Operations: 7 patrols
Victories:
  • 31 merchant ships sunk
    (19,628  GRT)
  • 1 warship sunk
    (370 tons)
  • 4 auxiliary warships sunk
    (997  GRT)
  • 1 merchant ship damaged
    (6,430  GRT)

SM UC-33 was a German Type UC II minelaying submarine or U-boat in the German Imperial Navy (German : Kaiserliche Marine) during World War I. The U-boat was ordered on 29 August 1915 and was launched on 26 August 1916. She was commissioned into the German Imperial Navy on 25 September 1916 as SM UC-33. [Note 1] In seven patrols UC-33 was credited with sinking 36 ships, either by torpedo or by mines laid. UC-33 was shelled and then rammed by patrol boat PC61 captained by Frank Worsley at position 51°55′N6°14′W / 51.917°N 6.233°W / 51.917; -6.233 in St. George's Channel on 26 September 1917. [1]

Contents

Design

A German Type UC II submarine, UC-33 had a displacement of 400 tonnes (390 long tons) when at the surface and 480 tonnes (470 long tons) while submerged. She had a length overall of 49.45 m (162 ft 3 in), a beam of 5.22 m (17 ft 2 in), and a draught of 3.68 m (12 ft 1 in). The submarine was powered by two six-cylinder four-stroke diesel engines each producing 250 metric horsepower (180 kW; 250 shp) (a total of 500 metric horsepower (370 kW; 490 shp)), two electric motors producing 460 metric horsepower (340 kW; 450 shp), and two propeller shafts. She had a dive time of 48 seconds and was capable of operating at a depth of 50 metres (160 ft). [3]

The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 11.6 knots (21.5 km/h; 13.3 mph) and a submerged speed of 6.7 knots (12.4 km/h; 7.7 mph). When submerged, she could operate for 53 nautical miles (98 km; 61 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph); when surfaced, she could travel 10,040 nautical miles (18,590 km; 11,550 mi) at 7 knots (13 km/h; 8.1 mph). UC-33 was fitted with six 100 centimetres (39 in) mine tubes, eighteen UC 200 mines, three 50 centimetres (20 in) torpedo tubes (one on the stern and two on the bow), seven torpedoes, and one 8.8 cm (3.5 in) Uk L/30 deck gun. Her complement was twenty-six crew members.

Summary of raiding history

DateNameNationalityTonnage [Note 2] Fate [6]
8 February 1917 Derika Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands 153Sunk
14 February 1917 Eudora Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 1,991Sunk
18 February 1917 HMT Clifton Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy 242Sunk
24 February 1917 HMY Verona Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy 437Sunk
14 April 1917 Hermione Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 4,011Sunk
20 April 1917 HMT Loch Eye Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy 225Sunk
21 April 1917 Jedburgh Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 165Sunk
21 April 1917 Yeovil Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 164Sunk
5 May 1917 Lodes Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 396Sunk
23 May 1917 Beinir Flag of Denmark.svg  Denmark 73Sunk
23 May 1917 Britannia Flag of Denmark.svg  Denmark 69Sunk
23 May 1917 Else Flag of Denmark.svg  Denmark 78Sunk
23 May 1917 Margrethe Flag of Denmark.svg  Denmark 104Sunk
23 May 1917 Olearia Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 209Sunk
23 May 1917 Sisapon Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 211Sunk
23 May 1917 Streymoy Flag of Denmark.svg  Denmark 81Sunk
24 May 1917 Brestir Flag of Denmark.svg  Denmark 69Sunk
24 May 1917 Isabella Innes Flag of Denmark.svg  Denmark 37Sunk
24 May 1917 Traveller Flag of Denmark.svg  Denmark 76Sunk
25 May 1917 A. H. Friis Flag of Denmark.svg  Denmark 110Sunk
25 May 1917 Glyg Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 358Sunk
25 May 1917 Whinlatter Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 1,378Sunk
28 June 1917 Corona Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 48Sunk
29 June 1917 Gem Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 79Sunk
29 June 1917 Manx Princess Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 87Sunk
30 June 1917 HMS Cheerful Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy 370Sunk
30 June 1917 Germania Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden 1,064Sunk
1 July 1917 Ariel Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 108Sunk
2 July 1917 General Buller Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 72Sunk
2 July 1917 Hamnavoe Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 57Sunk
6 July 1917 Handel en Visscherij Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands 76Sunk
6 July 1917 Piet Hein Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands 100Sunk
6 July 1917 Skjald Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 477Sunk
7 July 1917 HMD Southesk Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy 93Sunk
13 August 1917 Akassa Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 3,919Sunk
19 August 1917 Spectator Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 3,808Sunk
26 September 1917 San Zeferino Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 6,430Damaged

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SM UC-31 was a German Type UC II minelaying submarine or U-boat in the German Imperial Navy during World War I. The U-boat was ordered on 29 August 1915 and was launched on 7 August 1916. She was commissioned into the German Imperial Navy on 2 September 1916 as SM UC-31. In 13 patrols UC-31 was credited with sinking 38 ships, either by torpedo or by mines laid. UC-31 was surrendered on 26 November 1918 and broken up at Canning Town in 1922.

SM UC-35 was a German Type UC II minelaying submarine or U-boat in the German Imperial Navy during World War I. The U-boat was ordered on 20 November 1915 and was launched on 6 May 1916. She was commissioned into the German Imperial Navy on 2 October 1916 as SM UC-35. In eleven patrols UC-35 was credited with sinking 48 ships, either by torpedo or by mines laid. UC-35 was sunk by gunfire from the French torpedo boat Aigli southwest of Sardinia on 16 May 1918 at 39°48′N7°42′E.

SM UC-37 was a German Type UC II minelaying submarine or U-boat in the German Imperial Navy during World War I. The U-boat was ordered on 20 November 1915 and was launched on 5 June 1916. She was commissioned into the German Imperial Navy on 17 October 1916 as SM UC-37. In 13 patrols UC-37 was credited with sinking 66 ships, either by torpedo or by mines laid. UC-37 was surrendered at Sevastopol on 25 November 1918 and broken up at Bizerta in August 1921.

SM UC-45 was a German Type UC II minelaying submarine or U-boat in the German Imperial Navy during World War I. The U-boat was ordered on 20 November 1915 and was launched on 20 October 1916. She was commissioned into the German Imperial Navy on 18 November 1916 as SM UC-45. In five patrols UC-45 was credited with sinking 12 ships, either by torpedo or by mines laid. UC-45 sank in a diving accident on 17 September 1917 in the North Sea. The German salvage vessel Vulkan raised the wreck and UC-45 re-entered service on 24 October 1918. She was surrendered on 24 November 1918 and broken up at Preston in 1919–20.

SM UC-49 was a German Type UC II minelaying submarine or U-boat in the German Imperial Navy during World War I. The U-boat was ordered on 20 November 1915 and was launched on 7 November 1916. She was commissioned into the German Imperial Navy on 2 December 1916 as SM UC-49. In 13 patrols UC-49 was credited with sinking 26 ships, either by torpedo or by mines laid. UC-49 was sunk by mine off coast of Flanders on 14 August 1918.

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SM UC-53 was a German Type UC II minelaying submarine or U-boat in the German Imperial Navy during World War I. The U-boat was ordered on 12 January 1916 and was launched on 27 February 1917. She was commissioned into the German Imperial Navy on 5 April 1917 as SM UC-53. In eight patrols UC-53 was credited with sinking 47 ships, either by torpedo or by mines laid. UC-53 was scuttled at Pola on 28 October 1918 on the surrender of Austria-Hungary.

SM UC-59 was a German Type UC II minelaying submarine or U-boat in the German Imperial Navy during World War I. The U-boat was ordered on 12 January 1916, laid down on 25 March 1916, and was launched on 28 September 1916. She was commissioned into the German Imperial Navy on 12 May 1917 as SM UC-59. In nine patrols UC-59 was credited with sinking eight ships, either by torpedo or by mines laid. UC-59 was surrendered on 21 November 1918 and broken up at Bo'ness in 1919 – 20.

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SM UC-74 was a German Type UC II minelaying submarine or U-boat in the German Imperial Navy during World War I. The U-boat was ordered on 12 January 1916 and was launched on 19 October 1916. She was commissioned into the German Imperial Navy on 26 November 1916 as SM UC-74. In ten patrols UC-74 was credited with sinking 37 ships, either by torpedo or by mines laid. UC-74 was interned at Barcelona on 21 November 1918 when she ran out of fuel. The U-boat was surrendered to France on 26 March 1919 and was broken up at Toulon in July 1921.

SM UC-76 was a German Type UC II minelaying submarine or U-boat in the German Imperial Navy during World War I. The U-boat was ordered on 12 January 1916 and was launched on 25 November 1916. She was commissioned into the German Imperial Navy on 17 December 1916 as SM UC-76. In two patrols UC-76 was credited with sinking 15 ships, either by torpedo or by mines laid. UC-76 was surrendered on 1 December 1918 and broken up at Brighton Ferry in 1919 – 20.

SM UC-79 was a German Type UC II minelaying submarine or U-boat in the German Imperial Navy during World War I.

References

Notes

  1. ↑ "SM" stands for "Seiner Majestät" (English: His Majesty's) and combined with the U for Unterseeboot would be translated as His Majesty's Submarine.
  2. ↑ Merchant ship tonnages are in gross register tons. Military vessels are listed by tons displacement.

Citations

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boats: UC 33". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 22 February 2009.
  2. ↑ Tarrant, p. 173.
  3. 1 2 Gröner 1991, pp. 31–32.
  4. ↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Martin Schelle". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 16 February 2015.
  5. ↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Alfred Arnold". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 16 February 2015.
  6. ↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by UC 33". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 16 February 2015.

Bibliography

  • Bendert, Harald (2001). Die UC-Boote der Kaiserlichen Marine 1914-1918. Minenkrieg mit U-Booten (in German). Hamburg, Berlin, Bonn: Mittler. ISBN   3-8132-0758-7.
  • 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.
  • Gardiner, Robert; Gray, Randal, eds. (1985). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1906–1921. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN   978-0-87021-907-8. OCLC   12119866.
  • Tarrant, V. E. (1989). The U-Boat Offensive: 1914–1945. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN   978-0-87021-764-7. OCLC   20338385.
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