SM UC-33

History
German Empire
NameUC-33
Ordered29 August 1915
BuilderAG Vulcan, Hamburg
Yard number72
Launched26 August 1916
Commissioned25 September 1916
FateShelled and rammed, 26 September 1917
General characteristics
Class & typeType 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
  • 25 September 1916 – 19 July 1917
  • Oblt.z.S. Alfred Arnold
  • 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)

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. 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 / 51.917°N 6.233°W / 51.917; -6.233 in St. George's Channel on 26 September 1917.