HMS H33

HMS H33 was a British H class submarine built by Cammell Laird, Birkenhead. She was laid down on 20 November 1917 and commissioned on 17 May 1919.

History
United Kingdom
Name	HMS H33
Builder	Cammell Laird, Birkenhead
Laid down	20 November 1917
Launched	24 August 1918
Commissioned	17 May 1919
Fate	Scrapped, 19 May 1944
General characteristics
Class and type	H class submarine
Displacement	423 long tons (430 t) surfaced 510 long tons (518 t) submerged
Length	171 ft 0 in (52.12 m)
Beam	15 ft 4 in (4.67 m)
Propulsion	1 × 480 hp (358 kW) diesel engine 2 × 620 hp (462 kW) electric motors
Speed	11.5 knots (21.3 km/h; 13.2 mph) surfaced 9 knots (17 km/h; 10 mph) submerged
Range	2,985 nmi (5,528 km) at 7.5 kn (13.9 km/h; 8.6 mph) surfaced 130 nmi (240 km) at 2 kn (3.7 km/h; 2.3 mph) submerged
Complement	22
Armament	4 × 21 in (533 mm) bow torpedo tubes 8 × 21 inch torpedoes

In March 1937 the submarine navigated the Gloucester and Sharpness Canal in the company of H49 whose commander had arranged the trip.^[1] During Warship Week March 1942 H33 was adopted by East Dean RDC (Gloucestershire). HMS H33 was scrapped at Troon on 19 May 1944.

Design

Like all post-H20 British H-class submarines, H33 had a displacement of 423 long tons (430 t) at the surface and 510 long tons (520 t) while submerged.^[2] It had a total length of 171 feet (52 m),^[3] a beam of 15 feet 4 inches (4.67 m), and a draught of 12 metres (39 ft).^[4] It contained a diesel engines providing a total power of 480 horsepower (360 kW) and two electric motors each providing 320 horsepower (240 kW) power.^[4] The use of its electric motors made the submarine travel at 11 knots (20 km/h; 13 mph). It would normally carry 16.4 long tons (16.7 t) of fuel and had a maximum capacity of 18 long tons (18 t).^[5]

The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 13 knots (24 km/h; 15 mph) and a submerged speed of 10.5 knots (19.4 km/h; 12.1 mph). Post-H20 British H-class submarines had ranges of 2,985 nautical miles (5,528 km; 3,435 mi) at speeds of 7.5 knots (13.9 km/h; 8.6 mph) when surfaced.^[2][4] H33 was fitted with an anti-aircraft gun and four 21 inches (530 mm) torpedo tubes. Its torpedo tubes were fitted to the bows and the submarine was loaded with eight 21 inches (530 mm) torpedoes.^[2] It is a Holland 602 type submarine but was designed to meet Royal Navy specifications. Its complement was twenty-two crew members.^[2]

See also

• List of submarines of the Second World War

References

1. Tall, J.J; Paul Kemp (1996). HM Submarines in Camera An Illustrated History of British Submarines. Sutton Publishing. p. 64. ISBN 0-7509-0875-0.
2. Gardiner, Robert; Gray, Robert (1985). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1906-1921. London: Conway Maritime Press. p. 92. ISBN 0-85177-245-5.
3. Derek Walters (2004). The History of the British 'U' Class Submarine. Casemate Publishers. pp. 2–. ISBN 978-1-84415-131-8.
4. Colledge, J. J.; Warlow, Ben (2006) [1969]. Ships of the Royal Navy: The Complete Record of all Fighting Ships of the Royal Navy (Rev. ed.). London: Chatham Publishing. ISBN 978-1-86176-281-8. Retrieved from Naval-History on 20 August 2015.
5. J. D. Perkins (1999). "Building History and Technical Details for Canadian CC-Boats and the Original H-CLASS". Electric Boat Company Holland Patent Submarines. Retrieved 20 August 2015.

Bibliography

• Hutchinson, Robert (2001). Jane's submarines : war beneath the waves from 1776 to the present day. London: HarperCollins. ISBN 9780007105588.