German submarine U-33 (1936)

For other ships with the same name, see German submarine U-33.
U-33 in 1937. Note that the boat's number is still visible on the conning tower. It was painted out at the beginning of the war
History
Nazi Germany
NameU-33
Ordered25 March 1935
BuilderGermaniawerft, Kiel
Cost4,189,000 Reichsmark
Yard number556
Laid down1 September 1935
Launched11 June 1936
Commissioned25 July 1936
FateSunk by depth charges from HMS Gleaner, 12 February 1940
General characteristics
Class and typeType VIIA submarine
Displacement
Length
  • 64.51 m (211 ft 8 in) o/a
  • 45.50 m (149 ft 3 in) pressure hull
Beam
  • 5.85 m (19 ft 2 in) o/a
  • 4.70 m (15 ft 5 in) pressure hull
Height9.50 m (31 ft 2 in)
Draught4.37 m (14 ft 4 in)
Installed power
  • 2,100–2,310 PS (1,540–1,700 kW; 2,070–2,280 bhp) (diesels)
  • 750 PS (550 kW; 740 shp) (electric)
Propulsion
Speed
  • 17 knots (31 km/h; 20 mph) surfaced
  • 8 knots (15 km/h; 9.2 mph) submerged
Range
  • 6,200 nmi (11,500 km; 7,100 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) surfaced
  • 73–94 nmi (135–174 km; 84–108 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph) submerged
Test depth
  • 220 m (720 ft)
  • Crush depth: 230–250 m (750–820 ft)
Complement4 officers, 40–56 enlisted
Sensors and
processing systems		Gruppenhorchgerät
Armament
Service record[1][2]
Part of:
Identification codes: M 28 962
Commanders:
  • Kptlt. Ottoheinrich Junker
  • 25 July 1936 – 28 October 1938
  • Kptlt. Kurt Freiwald
  • 22 November – 20 December 1936
  • 3 June – 25 July 1937
  • Kptlt. Hans-Wilhelm von Dresky
  • 29 October 1938 – 12 February 1940
Operations:
  • 3 patrols:
  • 1st patrol:
  • 19 August – 28 September 1939
  • 2nd patrol:
  • 29 October – 26 November 1939
  • 3rd patrol:
  • 5 – 12 February 1940
Victories:
  • 10 merchant ships sunk
    (19,261 GRT)
  • 1 merchant ship total loss
    (3,670 GRT)

German submarine U-33 was a Type VIIA U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

Her keel was laid down on 1 September 1935 at the Germaniawerft in Kiel. She was launched on 11 June 1936 and commissioned on 25 July with Ottoheinrich Junker in command. He was relieved by Kurt Freiwald on 22 November. Kapitänleutnant (Kptlt.) Hans-Wilhelm von Dresky took over on 29 October 1938 and commanded the boat until her loss.[1]

Rotors from Kriegsmarine's Enigma machine were captured from the survivors, the wiring of which was unknown at that time to British codebreakers at Bletchley Park.

  1. ^ a b Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIA boat U-33". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 19 December 2009.
  2. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "War Patrols by German U-boat U-33". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 19 December 2009.