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]
FateSunk, 26 September 1917 [1]
General characteristics [3]
Class & type 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 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 1917San ZeferinoCivil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom 6,430Damaged

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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