German submarine U-333

Coordinates: 49°39′N 07°28′W / 49.650°N 7.467°W / 49.650; -7.467 (U-333 (sunk))
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

History
Nazi Germany
NameU-333
Ordered23 September 1939
BuilderNordseewerke, Emden
Yard number205
Laid down11 March 1940
Launched14 June 1941
Commissioned25 August 1941
FateSunk on 31 July 1944
General characteristics
Class and type
Type VIIC submarine
Displacement
Length
  • 67.10 m (220 ft 2 in)
    o/a
  • 50.50 m (165 ft 8 in)
    pressure hull
Beam
  • 6.20 m (20 ft 4 in) o/a
  • 4.70 m (15 ft 5 in) pressure hull
Height9.60 m (31 ft 6 in)
Draught4.74 m (15 ft 7 in)
Installed power
  • 2,800–3,200 PS (2,100–2,400 kW; 2,800–3,200 bhp) (diesels)
  • 750 PS (550 kW; 740 shp) (electric)
Propulsion
Speed
  • 17.7 knots (32.8 km/h; 20.4 mph) surfaced
  • 7.6 knots (14.1 km/h; 8.7 mph) submerged
Range
  • 8,500 nmi (15,700 km; 9,800 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) surfaced
  • 80 nmi (150 km; 92 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph) submerged
Test depth
  • 230 m (750 ft)
  • Crush depth
    : 250–295 m (820–968 ft)
Complement4 officers, 40–56 enlisted
Armament
Service record[1][2]
Part of:
Identification codes: M 02 500
Commanders:
Operations:
  • 12 patrols:
  • 1st patrol:
  • 27 December 1941 – 9 February 1942
  • 2nd patrol:
  • 30 March – 26 May 1942
  • 3rd patrol:
  • 11 – 24 August 1942
  • 4th patrol:
  • a. 1 September – 9 October 1942
  • b. 9–23 October 1942
  • 5th patrol:
  • 20 December 1942 – 5 February 1943
  • 6th patrol:
  • 2 March – 13 April 1943
  • 7th patrol:
  • 2 June – 31 August 1943
  • 8th patrol:
  • 21 October – 1 December 1943
  • 9th patrol:
  • 10 – 12 February 1944
  • 10th patrol:
  • 14 February – 20 April 1944
  • 11th patrol:
  • 6 – 13 June 1944
  • 12th patrol:
  • 23 – 31 July 1944
Victories:
  • 7 merchant ships sunk
    (32,107 GRT)
  • 1 merchant ship damaged
    (8,327 GRT)
  • 1 warship damaged
    (925 tons)

German submarine U-333 was a

Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. The submarine was laid down on 11 March 1940 at the Nordseewerke yard at Emden, launched on 14 June 1941, and commissioned on 25 August 1941 under the command of Kapitänleutnant Peter-Erich Cremer. After training with the 5th U-boat Flotilla at Kiel, on 1 January 1942 U-333 was transferred to the 3rd U-boat Flotilla based at La Pallice for front-line service.[1]

The U-boat made 12 combat patrols in the next three years, and sank seven merchant ships totalling 32,107 gross register tons (GRT), damaged another of 8,327 GRT, and also engaged and damaged the Flower-class corvette HMS Crocus. U-333 was sunk in the English Channel by British warships using a Squid on 31 July 1944.[1]

U-333 bore the "three little fishes" emblem on its conning tower.

Design

supercharged diesel engines producing a total of 2,800 to 3,200 metric horsepower (2,060 to 2,350 kW; 2,760 to 3,160 shp) for use while surfaced, two AEG GU 460/8–27 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).[3]

The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 17.7 knots (32.8 km/h; 20.4 mph) and a maximum submerged speed of 7.6 knots (14.1 km/h; 8.7 mph).

2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 anti-aircraft gun. The boat had a complement of between forty-four and sixty.[3]

Service history

First patrol

U-333 sailed from Kiel on 27 December 1941, through the North Sea, and into the Atlantic.[4] On 1 January 1942 the U-boat was attacked by an unidentified enemy aircraft, but was not damaged.[1] U-333 then joined the wolfpack 'Ziethen' on 17 January 1942,[1] and at 20:45 on 22 January, attacked the 3,429 GRT Greek merchant ship Vassilios A. Polemis, a straggler from Convoy ON 53. The ship, hit amidships by a single torpedo, broke in two and sank within ten minutes. The U-boat questioned the 12 survivors from the crew of 33, and gave them bread and cigarettes.[5]

At 15:25 on 24 January, about 85 nautical miles (157 km; 98 mi) southeast of Cape Race, U-333 attacked the 4,765 GRT Norwegian merchant ship Ringstad, which had lost contact with Convoy ON 55 after several days of storms. The ship was hit on the starboard side by a single torpedo, and the crew of 43 abandoned ship in three lifeboats. After 20 minutes the ship sank, the U-boat surfaced to question the crew, offered water and food, and gave them a heading to the nearest land before wishing them good luck and leaving. However, in heavy weather two lifeboats containing 30 men were lost, while the third lifeboat was eventually spotted, covered in ice, five days later by an aircraft that brought USS Swanson to their rescue.[6]

The sinking of Spreewald

At 16:50 hours on 31 January 1942, north of the

auxiliary cruiser Kormoran. Cremer failed to identify her, as she was camouflaged as the Norwegian ship Elg and was ahead of schedule.[7]

A search for survivors was promptly launched. U-333 and U-575, which was waiting to escort the ship into port and U-123, which was waiting to transfer an injured crewman to the ship, were soon joined by U-701 and U-582, which were returning from their patrols, and U-332 and U-105, which had just begun theirs.[7]

Late on 2 February, U-105 picked up 25 crewmen and 55 prisoners in three lifeboats and three rafts. Another lifeboat, containing 11 crewmen and 13 prisoners was missing and U-105 searched for a further three days before giving up and setting a course to Lorient. To compound the disaster, when a Dornier Do 24 flying boat was sent out to pick up a severely injured sailor, it crashed in rough seas. U-105 rescued the seven-man crew and sank the aircraft with gunfire. Of the 152 aboard the Spreewald, 72 were killed.[7]

After returning from his patrol on 9 February 1942,[2] Cremer was court-martialled, but was found not guilty.[7]

Second patrol

U-333 left her new home port of La Pallice on 30 March 1942, and headed across the Atlantic to the coast of

tanker Java Arrow, hit by two torpedoes eight miles (13 km) off Vero Beach at 05:43. The attack killed two officers on watch below, the 45 survivors abandoned ship in two lifeboats. They were later picked up by the submarine chaser USS PC-483 and a Coast Guard vessel. Four men returned to the ship and dropped the anchor to prevent the ship from going aground. The Master then went to Fort Pierce and returned later with 14 of his crew and the salvage tugs Ontario and Bafshe which towed the tanker to Port Everglades. The ship was repaired and returned to service in 1943.[9]

Meanwhile, at 09:35, off Fort Pierce, U-333 hit the unescorted 1,294 GRT Dutch merchant ship Amazone with a single torpedo on the port side. The ship, en route to New York from Curaçao with a cargo of 926 tons of coffee and oil, sank within two minutes. Fourteen crewmen were lost, while the 11 survivors were picked up by the submarine chaser USS PC-484.[10]

Finally, at 23:25 the unescorted and unarmed 7,088 GRT American tanker Halsey was hit by two torpedoes off St Lucie Inlet, ripping a hole in the side 60 feet (18 m) long. The ship, en route from Corpus Christi, Texas to New York, was laden with 40,000 barrels (6,400 m3) of naphtha and 40,000 barrels (6,400 m3) of heating oil. The crew of 32 abandoned ship in two lifeboats, almost being asphyxiated by naphtha fumes. An hour later the Halsey exploded, broke in two, and burst into flames. The lifeboats were soon found by USS PC-451, and towed to land by two fishing vessels.

The next day, 7 May, U-333 was hunted by a convoy escort ship, and badly damaged by

Portuguese East Africa to New York, was hit by two torpedoes and sank. Nine crewmen were killed, while 73 survivors were later picked up by the destroyer USS McKean. Cremer noted in his Kriegstagebücher ("War diary") that the sinking of this ship was like .. a balm after these terrible depth charges.[11] U-333 finally arrived back at La Pallice on 26 May.[2]

Third patrol

U-333's next patrol was uneventful. Departing La Pallice on 11 August 1942,[12] she joined wolfpack 'Blücher' north-east of the Azores from 14 to 18 August,[1] but had no successes, and returned to port on 24 August after only 14 days at sea.[2]

Fourth patrol

U-333 sailed from La Pallice once more on 1 September 1942, and headed south to the coast of West Africa,[13] joining wolfpack 'Iltis' between 6–23 September.[1]

On 6 October the U-boat engaged the British

Milchkuh U-459.[13]

On 21 October the inbound U-333 was attacked by the British submarine HMS Graph about 50 nautical miles (93 km; 58 mi) north-north-east of Cape Ortegal, Spain.[16] The British submarine was formerly the German U-570, captured on 27 August 1941, extensively studied, and commissioned into the Royal Navy. Graph, on her first war patrol in British service, fired a spread of four torpedoes at the surfaced U-boat, but lookouts spotted the tracks and U-333 managed to evade them.[1] U-333 arrived back at La Pallice two days later, on 23 October 1942,[2] and Cremer then spent three months in hospital.[1]

Fifth patrol

Oberleutnant zur See Werner Schwaff was appointed temporary commander of U-333 on 22 November 1942, and set sail from La Pallice on his first patrol on 20 December 1942. The U-boat sailed out to patrol the Atlantic south-west of Iceland,[17] joining wolfpacks 'Falke' from 28 December 1942 to 19 January 1943, and 'Landsknecht' from 19 to 28 January 1943.[1] However she had no successes, and eventually returned to base on 5 February 1943 after a patrol lasting 48 days.[2]

Sixth patrol

Two days after departing from La Pallice on 2 March 1943,

Leigh light. When the aircraft illuminated the U-boat, it was met with a barrage of AA fire. The bomber passed over U-333, and dropped four depth charges before crashing into the sea, killing the crew of six. Two depth charges actually hit U-333, but one broke up without detonating and the other bounced off and caused only light damage.[1]

U-333 continued her patrol, returning to the seas south-west of Iceland, and joining wolfpack 'Dränger' on 14 March.[1] There, on 19 March at 21:28, she torpedoed and sank the 5,234 GRT Greek merchant ship Carras, a straggler from Convoy SC 122, which had been hit by a torpedo from U-666 earlier. All the crew of 34 survived and were picked up by the British rescue ship Zamalek.[19] U-333 joined wolfpack 'Seewolf' from 21 to 30 March,[1] but had no more successes before returning to La Pallice on 13 April.[2]

Carras would be the last ship sunk by U-333, as the balance of power in the Battle of the Atlantic now swung in favour of the Allies, culminating in Black May (1943).

Seventh patrol

On 18 May 1943 Peter-Erich Cremer, now recovered from his injuries and promoted to the rank of Korvettenkapitän, reassumed command of U-333. On 2 June the U-boat sailed from La Pallice and headed south to the coast of West Africa. However, she had no success, and returned to base on 31 August after 91 days.[20]

Eighth patrol

U-333's next patrol began on 21 October 1943, heading out into the Atlantic north-east of the Azores,[21] where she joined wolfpack 'Schill' on the 25th.[1] On 4 November, while shadowing a KMS convoy, bound for Gibraltar from Liverpool, U-333 surfaced in heavy fog, but was forced to dive by a destroyer and heavily depth charged, but managed to escape unharmed.[1]

U-333 joined wolfpack 'Schill 1' on 16 November. On the 18th, while attacking the combined convoys SL 139 and MKS 30, the U-boat was rammed by the frigate HMS Exe, losing her periscope. U-333 was then subjected to an attack from warships and an aircraft that lasted for eight hours, before making her escape.[1] The U-boat returned to La Pallice on 1 December 1943 having had no success.[2]

Ninth and tenth patrol

U-333 sailed out on a patrol on 10 February 1944, but returned after only two days on the 12th.

2nd Support Group, under the command of Captain F.J. Walker. Pursued relentlessly, Cremer eventually took U-333 to the bottom and sat on the sea floor at a depth of 131 feet (40 m) for 10 hours. Although releasing the U-boat from the grip of the mud was a problem, she eventually freed herself, and once again U-333 escaped.[1] The U-boat returned to base on 20 April 1944, again having had no success.[2]

Eleventh patrol

Departing from La Pallice on 6 June 1944,

flak.[1] The next day U-333 was attacked, again by another Sunderland, this time from No. 228 Squadron RAF. U-333 managed to shoot the aircraft down, but suffered further damage, forcing her to abort her patrol[1] and return to base on 13 June.[2]

Twelfth patrol

On 19 July 1944 Cremer left U-333 in order to commission the new

Type XXI Elektroboot U-2513,[23] and Kapitänleutnant Hans Fiedler was appointed as commander on the 20th.[1] His first, and U-333's final patrol began on 23 July, as she headed into the Western Approaches.[24]

Sinking

U-333 was sunk on 31 July 1944, west of the

2nd Support Group. All 45 hands were lost.[1]

Wolfpacks

U-333 took part in nine wolfpacks, namely:

  • Zieten (17 – 22 January 1942)
  • Blücher (14 – 18 August 1942)
  • Iltis (6 – 23 September 1942)
  • Falke (28 December 1942 – 19 January 1943)
  • Landsknecht (19 – 28 January 1943)
  • Dränger
    (14 – 20 March 1943)
  • Seewolf (21 – 30 March 1943)
  • Schill (25 October – 16 November 1943)
  • Schill 1 (16 – 19 November 1943)

Summary of raiding history

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Between August 1941 and July 1944 U-333 sailed on 12 combat patrols, and sank seven merchant ships totalling 32,107 GRT, damaged another of 8,327 GRT, and also engaged and damaged the 925 tons Flower-class corvette HMS Crocus. She also shot down two aircraft.

Ships attacked by U-333[25]
Date Ship Tonnage[Note 1] Nationality Convoy Fate and location
22 January 1942 Vassilios A. Polemis 3,429  Greece ON-53 Sunk at 42°32′N 52°38′W / 42.533°N 52.633°W / 42.533; -52.633 (Vassilios A. Polemis (ship))
24 January 1942 Ringstad 4,765  Norway ON-55 Sunk at 45°50′N 51°04′W / 45.833°N 51.067°W / 45.833; -51.067 (Ringstad (ship))
31 January 1942 Spreewald 5,083  Nazi Germany Sunk at 45°12′N 24°50′W / 45.200°N 24.833°W / 45.200; -24.833 (Spreewald (ship))
6 May 1942 Amazone 1,294  Netherlands Sunk at 27°21′N 80°04′W / 27.350°N 80.067°W / 27.350; -80.067 (Amazone (ship))
6 May 1942 Halsey 7,088  United States Sunk at 27°14′N 80°03′W / 27.233°N 80.050°W / 27.233; -80.050 (Halsey (ship))
6 May 1942 Java Arrow 8,327  United States Damaged at 27°35′N 80°08′W / 27.583°N 80.133°W / 27.583; -80.133 (Java Arrow (ship))
10 May 1942 Clan Skene 5,214  United Kingdom Sunk at 31°43′N 70°43′W / 31.717°N 70.717°W / 31.717; -70.717 (Clan Skene (ship))
6 October 1942 HMS Crocus 925  Royal Navy Damaged at 07°52′N 14°57′W / 7.867°N 14.950°W / 7.867; -14.950 (HMS Crocus (ship))
19 March 1943 Carras 5,234  Greece SC 122 Sunk at 54°05′N 24°19′W / 54.083°N 24.317°W / 54.083; -24.317 (Carras (ship))

References

Notes

  1. gross register tons. Military vessels are listed by tons displacement
    .

Citations

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u Helgason, Guðmundur. "Type VIIC boat U-333". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Archived from the original on 4 March 2021. Retrieved 12 April 2010.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Helgason, Guðmundur. "War Patrols by U-boat U-333". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Archived from the original on 6 July 2008. Retrieved 12 April 2010.
  3. ^ a b c d Gröner 1991, pp. 43–46.
  4. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "1st Patrol of U-333 27 Dec 1941 to 9 Feb 1942". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Archived from the original on 15 October 2008. Retrieved 12 April 2010.
  5. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Vassilios A. Polemis". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Archived from the original on 12 June 2010. Retrieved 12 April 2010.
  6. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ringstad". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Archived from the original on 22 December 2010. Retrieved 12 April 2010.
  7. ^ a b c d Helgason, Guðmundur. "Spreewald". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Archived from the original on 22 December 2010. Retrieved 12 April 2010.
  8. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "2nd Patrol of U-333 (30 Mar to 26 May 1942)". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Archived from the original on 9 July 2008. Retrieved 12 April 2010.
  9. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Java Arrow". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Archived from the original on 22 December 2010. Retrieved 12 April 2010.
  10. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Amazone". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Archived from the original on 22 December 2010. Retrieved 12 April 2010.
  11. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Clan Skene". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Archived from the original on 22 December 2010. Retrieved 12 April 2010.
  12. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "3rd Patrol of U-333 (11 to 24 Aug 1942". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Archived from the original on 6 October 2008. Retrieved 12 April 2010.
  13. ^ a b Helgason, Guðmundur. "4th Patrol of U-333 (1 Sep to 23 Oct 1942". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Archived from the original on 23 July 2008. Retrieved 12 April 2010.
  14. ^ a b Helgason, Guðmundur. "HMS Crocus (K49)". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Archived from the original on 20 June 2010. Retrieved 12 April 2010.
  15. ^ "U-Boat Operations: U-333". ubootwaffe.net. Archived from the original on 19 July 2011. Retrieved 12 April 2010.
  16. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "HMS Graph (P715)". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Archived from the original on 7 October 2008. Retrieved 12 April 2010.
  17. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "5th Patrol of U-333 (20 Dec 1942 to 5 Feb 1943". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Archived from the original on 9 July 2008. Retrieved 12 April 2010.
  18. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "6th Patrol of U-333 (2 Mar to 13 Apr 1943". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Archived from the original on 15 October 2008. Retrieved 12 April 2010.
  19. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Carras". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Archived from the original on 12 June 2010. Retrieved 12 April 2010.
  20. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "7th Patrol of U-333 (2 Jun to 31 Aug 1943". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Archived from the original on 5 September 2008. Retrieved 12 April 2010.
  21. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "8th Patrol of U-333 (21 Oct to 1 Dec 1943". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Archived from the original on 12 October 2008. Retrieved 12 April 2010.
  22. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "10th Patrol of U-333 (14 Feb to 20 Apr 1944". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Archived from the original on 29 August 2008. Retrieved 12 April 2010.
  23. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Korvettenkapitän Peter-Erich Cremer". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Archived from the original on 16 December 2010. Retrieved 12 April 2010.
  24. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "12th Patrol of U-333 (23 to 31 Jul 1944". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Archived from the original on 8 October 2008. Retrieved 12 April 2010.
  25. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U-333". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Archived from the original on 9 July 2008. Retrieved 12 April 2010.

Bibliography

External links
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