SM UC-33

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′N 6°14′W in St. George's Channel on 26 September 1917.[1]

For other ships with the same name, see German submarine U-33.

History
German Empire
NameUC-33
Ordered29 August 1915[1]
BuilderAG 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 typeGerman 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)

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

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. 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. 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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