SM UB-33 was a German Type UB II submarine or U-boat in the German Imperial Navy () 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.
Design A Type UB II submarine, UB-33 had a displacement of when at the surface and while submerged. She had a total length of , a beam of , and a draught of . The submarine was powered by two Benz six-cylinder diesel engines producing a total , two Siemens-Schuckert electric motors producing , 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 Uk L/30 deck gun. She had a complement of twenty-one crew members and two officers and a 42-second dive time.
Fate
UB-33 was mined and sunk around the Varne Bank on 11 April 1918. The wreck of UB-33 lies 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. In 2007 efforts began to lift and move the wreck to deeper waters to ensure safety for passing ships. The wreck is officially classified as a war grave and therefore it cannot be deliberately destroyed.
Summary of raiding history DateNameNationalityTonnageTonnages are in gross register tonsFate8 June 1917Kragrö550Captured as prize9 June 1917Götha720Captured as prize13 June 1917Gertie257Captured as prize1 January 1918Genesse2,892Damaged8 February 1918Kia Ora99Sunk16 February 1918Pikepool3,683Damaged16 February 1918Commander58Sunk17 February 1918Northville2,472Sunk19 February 1918Commandant Baratier324Sunk20 February 1918Snow Drop40Sunk21 February 1918Idalia23Sunk21 February 1918Irex16Sunk21 February 1918Leonora26Sunk21 February 1918Oryx38Sunk21 February 1918Rosebud44Sunk14 March 1918Carla1,668Sunk15 March 1918Sparkling Foam199Sunk8 April 1918Nyassaland383Sunk
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