Author Topic: HM Submarine C33 - The first Chatham-built submarine on Eternal Patrol (1910-15)  (Read 1575 times)

Offline stuartwaters

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HMS C33 was a Group 2 C class submarine built by Chatham Dockyard.


She was laid down on No 7 slip on 29th March 1909. She was launched into the Medway on 10th May 1910 by Mrs Ommanney, wife of the Admiral Superintendant at Chatham at the time, Rear-Admiral Robert Ommanney. After fitting out, she commissioned on 13th August 1910.


In common with her C Class sisters, she represented the last British evolution of the original Holland design. Her low reserve bouyancy meant that she handled poorly on the surface, but her spindled, almost teardrop shape meant that she had good handling characteristics when submerged. The C Class were the last British submarines to have petrol engines, but the first to feature forward hydroplanes. On completion, she displaced 290 tons surfaced and 320 tons dived. She was armed with 2 18" torpedo tubes. She carried a crew of 16 men who lived aboard in primitive conditions, lacking even a proper toilet.


The C Class Submarine:





At the outbreak of the Great War, she was based in Dover as part of the 4th Submarine Flotilla with HMS Arrogant as Depot Ship. By January 1915, she had moved to Harwich and was employed using the U-Boat Trap tactic. In this, a submarine would be towed submerged behind a bait vessel. When challenged by the U-Boat, the bait vessel would transmit instructions to the submarine via a telephone cable. The towed submarine would slip its tow and attempt to torpedo the German U-Boat.


On 4th August 1915, HMS C33 had completed a 'U-Boat Trap' patrol with the armed trawler Malta. The two vessels parted company at 20:15 that day and the last contact with the submarine was made by wireless at 21:50. No further contact was made with HMS C33 and despite a search, no wreckage or survivors were found. The Admiralty assumed that HMS C33 was lost to a mine with all hands, as the Germans made no claims regarding her loss.


The loss of HMS C33 was one of two losses which persuaded the Admiralty to abandon the 'U-Boat Trap' tactic. HMS C33 became the earliest Chatham-built submarine to be lost with all hands. HMS C33's Roll of Honour can be found here:


http://www.maritimequest.com/warship_directory/great_britain/submarines/pages/c_class/c_33_roll_of_honour.htm.


The first Chatham-built boat on 'Eternal Patrol'.
"I did not say the French would not come, I said they will not come by sea" - Admiral Sir John Jervis, 1st Earl St Vincent.