SM UB-33 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.
The submarine sank thirteen ships, damaged two others, and took a further three as prizes in seventeen patrols.[1]
A Type UB II submarine, UB-33 had a displacement of 274t when at the surface and 303t while submerged. She had a total length of 36.9m (121.1feet), a beam of 4.37m (14.34feet), and a draught of 3.69m (12.11feet). The submarine was powered by two Benz six-cylinder diesel engines producing a total 270PS, two Siemens-Schuckert electric motors producing 280PS, and one propeller shaft. She was capable of operating at depths of up to .
The submarine had a maximum surface speed of and a maximum submerged speed of . When submerged, she could operate for at ; when surfaced, she could travel at . UB-33 was fitted with two torpedo tubes, four torpedoes, and one 8.8sp=usNaNsp=us Uk L/30 deck gun. She had a complement of twenty-one crew members and two officers and a 42-second dive time.
UB-33 was mined and sunk around the Varne Bank on 11 April 1918.[2] The wreck of UB-33 lies 77feet 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.
Date | Name | Nationality | Tonnage[3] | Fate | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
8 June 1917 | Kragrö | Norway | 550 | Captured as prize | |
9 June 1917 | Götha | Sweden | 720 | Captured as prize | |
13 June 1917 | Gertie | Sweden | 257 | Captured as prize | |
1 January 1918 | Genesse | United Kingdom | 2,892 | Damaged | |
8 February 1918 | Kia Ora | United Kingdom | 99 | Sunk | |
16 February 1918 | Pikepool | United Kingdom | 3,683 | Damaged | |
16 February 1918 | Commander | United Kingdom | 58 | Sunk | |
17 February 1918 | Northville | United Kingdom | 2,472 | Sunk | |
19 February 1918 | Commandant Baratier | France | 324 | Sunk | |
20 February 1918 | Snow Drop | United Kingdom | 40 | Sunk | |
21 February 1918 | Idalia | United Kingdom | 23 | Sunk | |
21 February 1918 | Irex | United Kingdom | 16 | Sunk | |
21 February 1918 | Leonora | United Kingdom | 26 | Sunk | |
21 February 1918 | Oryx | United Kingdom | 38 | Sunk | |
21 February 1918 | Rosebud | United Kingdom | 44 | Sunk | |
14 March 1918 | Carla | Norway | 1,668 | Sunk | |
15 March 1918 | Sparkling Foam | United Kingdom | 199 | Sunk | |
8 April 1918 | Nyassaland | Norway | 383 | Sunk |