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SM U-33 (Germany)

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

SM U-33 was a German Type U 31 U-boat of the Imperial German Navy.

History
German Empire
NameU-33
Ordered29 March 1912
BuilderGermaniawerft, Kiel
Yard number193
Laid down7 November 1912
Launched19 May 1914
Commissioned27 September 1914
FateSurrendered at the end of the war broken up at Blyth in 1919-20
General characteristics
Class and typeType U 31 submarine
Displacement
  • 685 t (674 long tons) (surfaced)
  • 878 t (864 long tons) (submerged)
Length
Beam
  • 6.32 m (20 ft 9 in) (o/a)
  • 4.05 m (13 ft 3 in) (pressure hull)
Draught3.56 m (11 ft 8 in)
Installed power
Propulsion
  • 2 × shafts
  • 2 × 1.60 m (5 ft 3 in) propellers
Speed
  • 16.4 knots (30.4 km/h; 18.9 mph) (surfaced)
  • 9.7 knots (18.0 km/h; 11.2 mph) (submerged)
Range
  • 8,790 nmi (16,280 km; 10,120 mi) at 8 knots (15 km/h; 9.2 mph) (surfaced)
  • 80 nmi (150 km; 92 mi) at 5 knots (9.3 km/h; 5.8 mph) (submerged)
Test depth50 m (164 ft 1 in)
Complement4 officers, 31 enlisted
Armament
Service record
Part of:
  • IV Flotilla
  • Unknown start - 1 August 1915
  • Pola Flotilla
  • 16 September 1915 - 11 March 1916
  • Constantinople Flotilla
  • 11 March - 27 Nov 1916
  • Pola / Mittelmeer / Mittelmeer I Flotilla
  • 27 November 1916 - 11 November 1918
Commanders:
  • Konrad Gansser[1]
  • 27 September 1914 – 31 March 1917
  • Gustav Sieß[1]
  • 1 April 1917 – 11 November 1918
Operations: 16 patrols
Victories:
  • 82 merchant ships sunk
    (188,331 GRT)
  • 2 auxiliary warship sunk
    (5,800 GRT)
  • 8 merchant ships damaged
    (36,452 GRT)
  • 1 merchant ship taken as prize
    (453 GRT)

Design

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Type U 31 submarines were double-hulled ocean-going craft similar to Type 23 and Type 27 boats in dimensions, differing only slightly in propulsion and speed. They were considered very good high sea boats with average manoeuvrability and good surface steering.[2]

U-33 had an overall length of 64.70 m (212 ft 3 in), her pressure hull was 52.36 m (171 ft 9 in) long. The boat's beam was 6.32 m (20 ft 9 in) (o/a), while the pressure hull measured 4.05 m (13 ft 3 in). Type 31s had a draught of 3.56 m (11 ft 8 in) with a total height of 7.68–8.04 m (25 ft 2 in – 26 ft 5 in). The boats displaced a total of 971 tonnes (956 long tons); 685 t (674 long tons) when surfaced and 878 t (864 long tons) when submerged.[2]

U-33 was fitted with two Germania 6-cylinder two-stroke diesel engines with a total of 1,850 metric horsepower (1,361 kW; 1,825 bhp) for use on the surface and two Siemens-Schuckert double-acting electric motors with a total of 1,200 PS (883 kW; 1,184 shp) for underwater use. These engines powered two shafts, each with a 1.60 m (5 ft 3 in) propeller, which gave the boat a top surface speed of 16.4 knots (30.4 km/h; 18.9 mph), and 9.7 knots (18.0 km/h; 11.2 mph) when submerged. Cruising range was 8,790 nautical miles (16,280 km; 10,120 mi) at 8 knots (15 km/h; 9.2 mph) on the surface, and 80 nmi (150 km; 92 mi) at 5 knots (9.3 km/h; 5.8 mph) under water. Diving depth was 50 m (164 ft 1 in).[2]

The U-boat was armed with four 50 cm (20 in) torpedo tubes, two fitted in the bow and two in the stern, and carried six torpedoes. Additionally U-33 was equipped in 1915 with one 8.8 cm (3.5 in) Uk L/30 deck gun, which was later replaced with a 10.5 cm (4.1 in) gun. The boat's complement was four officers and 31 enlisted.[2]

Service history

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SS Brussels

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On 28 March 1915, U-33 ordered the Great Eastern Railway's SS Brussels to stop.[3] Instead of doing so, her captain, Charles Fryatt, ordered full steam ahead and attempted to ram U-33, which only just managed to dive in time.[4]

Sinking of hospital ship

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On 30 March,[5] 1916 the Russian hospital ship Portugal was towing a string of small flat-bottomed boats to ferry wounded from the shore to the ship. Off Rizeh, on the Turkish coast of the Black Sea she had stopped as one of the small boats was sinking and repairs were being made. The ship was not carrying wounded at the time, but had a staff of Red Cross workers on board, as well as her usual crew.[6] | The ship's crew saw a periscope approaching the vessel but as the ship was a hospital ship and protected by the Hague conventions no evasive actions were taken. Without warning SM U-33 fired a torpedo which missed. The submarine came around again fired a torpedo from a depth of 30 feet, which hit near the engine room, breaking the ship into two pieces.[6] Of 273 persons on board, 158 were rescued.[5]

Operations

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SM U-33 Kptlt. Gausser until Autumn 1917, then to U-156; next C.O. probably Kptlt. Siess.

U-33 came off the stocks at Kiel about the end of November 1914, and joined the Kiel School for trials before proceeding to Emden on 12 January 1915. She was attached to the 4th Half Flotilla.[7] 24–25 January 1915, it was on patrol in the Bight, an area where enemy battlecruisers were reported.[7] On 30 January 1915, departed on "Special anti-submarine patrol" but returned owing to engine trouble.[7]

Further patrols in Bight were made on 18–20 February and 21-22 February 1915l.[7]

From 27 February – 10 April 1915 U-33 passed through the English Channel and into the Atlantic. 2 S.S., 2 sailing vessels sunk.[7]

29–30 May 1915. North Sea returned owing to defective W/T.[7]

4–24 June 1915. Northabout to west coast of Scotland. Sank 2 S.S., 1 prize.[7]

14–17 August 1915. Bight Anti-air raid patrol.[7]

28 August – 15 September 1915. To Mediterranean northabout. Sank 5 S.S.

Arrived Cattaro about 15 September and joined the Constantinople Half Flotilla.[7]

28 September – 9 October 1915. Cruise in eastern Mediterranean. Sank 10 S.S.[7]

16 November – 6 December 1915. Cruise in central Mediterranean. Sank 13 S.S. On 5 December was in action with drifter HOLLIBANK in the Straits of Otranto. Intercepted a neutral Greek ship between Piraeus and Messina and took as prisoner Stanley Wilson, a King's messenger.[7]

April 1916 – November 1916. U-33 was operating chiefly in the eastern Black Sea and was based on Constantinople or Varna. By April 1917 she was back in the Adriatic.[7]

12 January – 10 February 1918. Left Cattaro and operated in eastern Mediterranean. Sank 2. S.S., 2 sailing vessels, and damaged but did not sink 2 S.S.[7]

1–17 May 1918. Left Cattaro for the east, and on 7 May was in area off Port Said. Sank 1 S.S., 1 sailing vessel, and attacked 2 ships and a convoy unsuccessfully. On May 8 was in action, and on 15 May broke off undertaking owing to defects.[7]

2 September to about 26 September. Left Cattaro for the east. Sank 1 S.S., 12 sailing vessels.[7]

On 19 October 1918. U-33 left Cattaro for Kiel en route attacked by a naval trawler on 1 November at about 36°35'E. She steered northabout and by the Sound, at some time with UB-51 and UB-105.[7] At the end of the war, U-33 was surrendered to British at Harwich January 16, 1919.[7]

Summary of raiding history

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Date Name Nationality Tonnage[Note 1] Fate[8]
2 April 1915 Paquerette   France 399 Sunk
4 April 1915 Hermes   Russian Empire 1,019 Sunk
4 April 1915 Olivine   United Kingdom 634 Sunk
5 April 1915 Northlands   United Kingdom 2,776 Sunk
10 June 1915 Dania   Russian Empire 2,648 Sunk
14 June 1915 Davanger   Norway 2,256 Sunk
21 June 1915 Sigurd Hund   Norway 453 Captured as prize
1 September 1915 Whitefield   United Kingdom 2,422 Sunk
4 September 1915 Cymbeline   United Kingdom 4,505 Sunk
4 September 1915 Glimt   Norway 955 Sunk
4 September 1915 Mimosa   United Kingdom 3,466 Sunk
4 September 1915 Storesand   Norway 1,639 Sunk
6 September 1915 John Hardie   United Kingdom 4,372 Sunk
30 September 1915 Tobia   Kingdom of Italy 185 Sunk
1 October 1915 Provincia   France 3,523 Sunk
2 October 1915 Arabian   United Kingdom 2,744 Sunk
2 October 1915 Sainte Marguerite   France 3,908 Sunk
3 October 1915 Antonie   France 2,698 Sunk
4 October 1915 Craigston   United Kingdom 2,617 Sunk
4 October 1915 Yunnan   France 6,474 Damaged
5 October 1915 Burrsfield   United Kingdom 4,037 Sunk
5 October 1915 X130   United Kingdom 160 Sunk
6 October 1915 Dimitrios   Greece 2,508 Sunk
6 October 1915 Scawby   United Kingdom 3,658 Sunk
6 October 1915 Silverash   United Kingdom 3,753 Sunk
7 October 1915 Amiral Hamelin   France 5,051 Sunk
18 November 1915 Enosis   United Kingdom 3,409 Sunk
19 November 1915 Senju Maru   Japan 4,340 Sunk
20 November 1915 Merganser   United Kingdom 1,905 Sunk
23 November 1915 Tafna   France 1,444 Damaged
24 November 1915 Liguria   Kingdom of Italy 3,199 Sunk
25 November 1915 Algerien   France 1,767 Sunk
26 November 1915 Tringa   United Kingdom 2,154 Sunk
27 November 1915 Kingsway   United Kingdom 3,647 Sunk
27 November 1915 Omara   France 435 Sunk
27 November 1915 Tanis   United Kingdom 3,655 Sunk
29 November 1915 Malinche   United Kingdom 1,868 Sunk
29 November 1915 Zarifis   Greece 2,904 Sunk
30 November 1915 Colenso   United Kingdom 3,861 Sunk
30 November 1915 Langton Hall   United Kingdom 4,437 Sunk
1 December 1915 Clan Macleod   United Kingdom 4,796 Sunk
1 December 1915 Umeta   United Kingdom 5,312 Sunk
2 December 1915 Commodore   United Kingdom 5,858 Sunk
30 March 1916 Portugal   Imperial Russian Navy 5,358 Sunk
31 March 1916 Roi Albert   Belgium 2,853 Damaged
31 March 1916 Unidentified Sailing Vessel   Russian Empire 7 Sunk
3 April 1916 Enrichetta   Imperial Russian Navy 442 Sunk
28 April 1916 Lyusya   Russian Empire 50 Sunk
28 April 1916 Anzhelika   Russian Empire 170 Sunk
28 April 1916 Unidentified sailing vessel   Russian Empire 300 Sunk
18 September 1916 Unidentified Small Fishing Vessel (1 of 2)   Russian Empire unknown Sunk
18 September 1916 Unidentified Small Fishing Vessel (2 of 2)   Russian Empire unknown Sunk
15 April 1917 Cameronia   United Kingdom 10,963 Sunk
16 April 1917 Sontay   France 7,247 Sunk
22 April 1917 Blaatind   Norway 1,641 Sunk
22 April 1917 Maria S.   Kingdom of Italy 133 Sunk
22 April 1917 Unione   Kingdom of Italy 207 Sunk
26 April 1917 Monitor   United Kingdom 138 Sunk
27 April 1917 Mafalda   Kingdom of Italy 162 Sunk
27 April 1917 Margaret B. Rouss   United States 701 Sunk
28 April 1917 Lisetta   Kingdom of Italy 40 Sunk
30 April 1917 Chrisomalli Th. Sifneo   Greece 2,415 Sunk
27 May 1917 Beatrice   Kingdom of Italy 106 Sunk
27 May 1917 Michele Costantino   Kingdom of Italy 51 Sunk
3 June 1917 Greenbank   United Kingdom 3,881 Sunk
3 June 1917 Islandmore   United Kingdom 3,046 Sunk
7 June 1917 Il Dionisio   Kingdom of Italy 97 Sunk
7 June 1917 San Antonio   Kingdom of Italy 13 Sunk
26 July 1917 Blanchette   Kingdom of Italy 280 Sunk
26 July 1917 Gesu E Maria   Kingdom of Italy 196 Sunk
27 July 1917 Frigido   Kingdom of Italy 59 Sunk
27 July 1917 Genova   Kingdom of Italy 3,486 Sunk
28 July 1917 Splendor   Kingdom of Italy 6,507 Damaged
1 August 1917 Llandudno   United Kingdom 4,187 Sunk
4 August 1917 Angelina T.   Kingdom of Italy 146 Sunk
8 August 1917 Llanishen   United Kingdom 3,837 Sunk
9 August 1917 Flora   Kingdom of Italy 125 Sunk
9 August 1917 Industria   Spain 51 Sunk
15 August 1917 Bandai Maru   Japan 3,227 Sunk
23 January 1918 Capri   Kingdom of Italy 3,899 Damaged
24 January 1918 Antonios J. Dracoulis   Greece 3,301 Sunk
25 January 1918 Apostoles Andreas   United Kingdom 50 Sunk
29 January 1918 Taxiarchis   United Kingdom 160 Sunk
31 January 1918 Eggesford   United Kingdom 4,414 Damaged
1 February 1918 Glenamoy   United Kingdom 7,269 Damaged
4 February 1918 Ravenshoe   United Kingdom 3,592 Damaged
4 February 1918 Standish Hall   United Kingdom 3,996 Sunk
20 March 1918 Saint Dimitrios   United Kingdom 3,359 Sunk
20 March 1918 Samoset   United Kingdom 5,251 Sunk
20 March 1918 Yochow   United Kingdom 2,127 Sunk
20 March 1918 Antonios M. Theophilatos   Greece 2,282 Sunk
31 March 1918 La Loire   France 5,343 Sunk
5 May 1918 Aghios Johannis   Greece 20 Sunk

See also

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References

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Notes

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  1. ^ Merchant ship tonnages are in gross register tons. Military vessels are listed by tons displacement.

Citations

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  1. ^ a b Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boats: U 33". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 29 August 2009.
  2. ^ a b c d Gröner 1991, p. 6.
  3. ^ "Charles Fryatt". Southern Life. Archived from the original on 6 October 2008. Retrieved 4 December 2009.
  4. ^ The Great Eastern Railway Magazine, September 1916, p218-26
  5. ^ a b "Sinking of Portugal branded as piracy" (PDF). The New York Times. 5 April 1916. Retrieved 7 September 2019.
  6. ^ a b The War on hospital ships, from the narratives of eye-witnesses (1917) (1917 ed.). London : T. Fisher Unwin. 1917. p. 1. - Call number: SRLF_UCLA:LAGE-3563453
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q National Archives, Kew: HW 7/3, Room 40, History of German Naval Warfare 1914-1918 (Published below - Room 40: German Naval Warfare 1914-1918)
  8. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U 33". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 16 December 2014.

Bibliography

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  • 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.
  • Spindler, Arno (1966) [1932]. Der Handelskrieg mit U-Booten. 5 Vols. Berlin: Mittler & Sohn. Vols. 4+5, dealing with 1917+18, are very hard to find: Guildhall Library, London, has them all, also Vol. 1-3 in an English translation: The submarine war against commerce.
  • Beesly, Patrick (1982). Room 40: British Naval Intelligence 1914-1918. London: H Hamilton. ISBN 978-0-241-10864-2.
  • Halpern, Paul G. (1933). A Naval History of World War I. New York: Routledge. ISBN 978-1-85728-498-0.
  • Roessler, Eberhard (1997). Die Unterseeboote der Kaiserlichen Marine. Bonn: Bernard & Graefe. ISBN 978-3-7637-5963-7.
  • Schroeder, Joachim (2002). Die U-Boote des Kaisers. Bonn: Bernard & Graefe. ISBN 978-3-7637-6235-4.
  • Koerver, Hans Joachim (2008). Room 40: German Naval Warfare 1914-1918. Vol I., The Fleet in Action. Steinbach: LIS Reinisch. ISBN 978-3-902433-76-3.
  • Koerver, Hans Joachim (2009). Room 40: German Naval Warfare 1914-1918. Vol II., The Fleet in Being. Steinbach: LIS Reinisch. ISBN 978-3-902433-77-0.
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