SM U-33 (Germany)

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

Design 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.

U-33 had an overall length of , her pressure hull was long. The boat's beam was (o/a), while the pressure hull measured . Type 31s had a draught of with a total height of . The boats displaced a total of ; when surfaced and when submerged.

U-33 was fitted with two Germania 6-cylinder two-stroke diesel engines with a total of for use on the surface and two Siemens-Schuckert double-acting electric motors with a total of for underwater use. These engines powered two shafts, each with a propeller, which gave the boat a top surface speed of , and when submerged. Cruising range was at on the surface, and at under water. Diving depth was .

The U-boat was armed with four 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 Uk L/30 deck gun, which was later replaced with a gun. The boat's complement was four officers and 31 enlisted.

Service history

SS Brussels On 28 March 1915, U-33 ordered the Great Eastern Railway's to stop. 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.The Great Eastern Railway Magazine, September 1916, p218-26

Sinking of hospital ship

On 30 March, 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. - Call number: SRLF_UCLA:LAGE-3563453 | 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. Of 273 persons on board, 158 were rescued.

Operations

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.National Archives, Kew: HW 7/3, Room 40, History of German Naval Warfare 1914-1918 (Published below - Room 40: German Naval Warfare 1914-1918) 24–25 January 1915, it was on patrol in the Bight, an area where enemy battlecruisers were reported. On 30 January 1915, departed on "Special anti-submarine patrol" but returned owing to engine trouble.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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. At the end of the war, U-33 was surrendered to British at Harwich January 16, 1919.

Summary of raiding history DateNameNationalityTonnageMerchant ship tonnages are in gross register tons. Military vessels are listed by tons displacement.Fate2 April 1915Paquerette399Sunk4 April 1915Hermes1,019Sunk4 April 1915Olivine634Sunk5 April 1915Northlands2,776Sunk10 June 1915Dania2,648Sunk14 June 1915Davanger2,256Sunk21 June 1915Sigurd Hund453Captured as prize1 September 1915Whitefield2,422Sunk4 September 1915Cymbeline4,505Sunk4 September 1915Glimt955Sunk4 September 1915Mimosa3,466Sunk4 September 1915Storesand1,639Sunk6 September 1915John Hardie4,372Sunk30 September 1915Tobia185Sunk1 October 1915Provincia3,523Sunk2 October 1915Arabian2,744Sunk2 October 1915Sainte Marguerite3,908Sunk3 October 1915Antonie2,698Sunk4 October 1915Craigston2,617Sunk4 October 1915Yunnan6,474Damaged5 October 1915Burrsfield4,037Sunk5 October 1915X130160Sunk6 October 1915Dimitrios2,508Sunk6 October 1915Scawby3,658Sunk6 October 1915Silverash3,753Sunk7 October 1915Amiral Hamelin5,051Sunk18 November 1915Enosis3,409Sunk19 November 1915Senju Maru4,340Sunk20 November 1915Merganser1,905Sunk23 November 1915Tafna1,444Damaged24 November 1915Liguria3,199Sunk25 November 1915Algerien1,767Sunk26 November 1915Tringa2,154Sunk27 November 1915Kingsway3,647Sunk27 November 1915Omara435Sunk27 November 1915Tanis3,655Sunk29 November 1915Malinche1,868Sunk29 November 1915Zarifis2,904Sunk30 November 1915Colenso3,861Sunk30 November 1915Langton Hall4,437Sunk1 December 1915Clan Macleod4,796Sunk1 December 1915Umeta5,312Sunk2 December 1915Commodore5,858Sunk30 March 1916Portugal5,358Sunk31 March 1916Roi Albert2,853Damaged31 March 1916Unidentified Sailing Vessel7Sunk3 April 1916Enrichetta442Sunk28 April 1916Lyusya50Sunk28 April 1916Anzhelika170Sunk28 April 1916Unidentified sailing vessel300Sunk18 September 1916Unidentified Small Fishing Vessel (1 of 2)unknownSunk18 September 1916Unidentified Small Fishing Vessel (2 of 2)unknownSunk15 April 1917Cameronia10,963Sunk16 April 1917Sontay7,247Sunk22 April 1917Blaatind1,641Sunk22 April 1917Maria S.133Sunk22 April 1917Unione207Sunk26 April 1917Monitor138Sunk27 April 1917Mafalda162Sunk27 April 1917Margaret B. Rouss701Sunk28 April 1917Lisetta40Sunk30 April 1917Chrisomalli Th. Sifneo2,415Sunk27 May 1917Beatrice106Sunk27 May 1917Michele Costantino51Sunk3 June 1917Greenbank3,881Sunk3 June 1917Islandmore3,046Sunk7 June 1917Il Dionisio97Sunk7 June 1917San Antonio13Sunk26 July 1917Blanchette280Sunk26 July 1917Gesu E Maria196Sunk27 July 1917Frigido59Sunk27 July 1917Genova3,486Sunk28 July 1917Splendor6,507Damaged1 August 1917Llandudno4,187Sunk4 August 1917Angelina T.146Sunk8 August 1917Llanishen3,837Sunk9 August 1917Flora125Sunk9 August 1917Industria51Sunk15 August 1917Bandai Maru3,227Sunk23 January 1918Capri3,899Damaged24 January 1918Antonios J. Dracoulis3,301Sunk25 January 1918Apostoles Andreas50Sunk29 January 1918Taxiarchis160Sunk31 January 1918Eggesford4,414Damaged1 February 1918Glenamoy7,269Damaged4 February 1918Ravenshoe3,592Damaged4 February 1918Standish Hall3,996Sunk20 March 1918Saint Dimitrios3,359Sunk20 March 1918Samoset5,251Sunk20 March 1918Yochow2,127Sunk20 March 1918Antonios M. Theophilatos2,282Sunk31 March 1918La Loire5,343Sunk5 May 1918Aghios Johannis20Sunk

SM U-33 (Germany)

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