German submarine U-33 (1936)

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
Name:	U-33
Ordered:	25 March 1935
Builder:	Germaniawerft, Kiel
Cost:	4,189,000 Reichsmark
Yard number:	556
Laid down:	1 September 1935
Launched:	11 June 1936
Commissioned:	25 July 1936
Fate:	Sunk, 12 February 1940
General characteristics
Class and type:	Type VIIA submarine
Displacement:	626 tonnes (616 long tons) surfaced 745 t (733 long tons) submerged
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
Height:	9.50 m (31 ft 2 in)
Draught:	4.37 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:	2 shafts 2 × diesel engines 2 × electric motors
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)
Complement:	4 officers, 40–56 enlisted
Sensors and processing systems:	Gruppenhorchgerät
Armament:	5 × 53.3 cm (21 in) torpedo tubes (four bow, one stern) 11 × torpedoes or 22 TMA mines 1 × 8.8 cm (3.46 in) deck gun (220 rounds) 1 × 2 cm (0.79 in) AA gun
Service record
Part of:	2nd U-boat Flotilla 25 July 1936 – 12 February 1940
Commanders:	Ottoheinrich Junker 25 July 1936 – 28 October 1938 Kptlt. Kurt Freiwald 22 November – 20 December 1936 and 3 June – 25 July 1937 Kptlt. Hans-Wilhelm von Dresky 29 October 1938 – 12 February 1940
Operations:	Three: 1st patrol: 19 August – 28 September 1939 2nd patrol: 29 October – 26 November 1939 3rd patrol: 5–12 February 1940
Victories:	10 commercial ships sunk, total (19,261 GRT); one commercial ship declared a 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.

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.

As one of the first ten German Type VII submarines later designated as Type VIIA submarines, U-33 had a displacement of 626 tonnes (616 long tons) when at the surface and 745 tonnes (733 long tons) while submerged. She had a total length of 64.51 m (211 ft 8 in), a pressure hull length of 45.50 m (149 ft 3 in), a beam of 5.85 m (19 ft 2 in), a height of 9.50 m (31 ft 2 in), and a draught of 4.37 m (14 ft 4 in). The submarine was powered by two MAN M 6 V 40/46 four-stroke, six-cylinder diesel engines producing a total of 2,100 to 2,310 metric horsepower (1,540 to 1,700 kW; 2,070 to 2,280 shp) for use while surfaced, two BBC GG UB 720/8 double-acting electric motors producing a total of 750 metric horsepower (550 kW; 740 shp) for use while submerged. She had two shafts and two 1.23 m (4 ft) propellers. The boat was capable of operating at depths of up to 230 metres (750 ft).