HMS L33

L33 underway c. 1920
Career
Name: HMS L33
Builder: Swan Hunter, Wallsend
Launched: 29 May 1919
Fate: Sold for scrapping, 1932
General characteristics
Class and type:L class submarine
Displacement:890 long tons (904 t) surfaced
1,080 long tons (1,097 t) submerged
Length:228 ft (69 m)
Beam:23 ft 6 in (7.16 m)
Speed:17 knots (31 km/h; 20 mph) surfaced
10.5 knots (19.4 km/h; 12.1 mph) submerged
Range:2,800 nmi (5,200 km) at 10 kn (19 km/h; 12 mph) surfaced
Complement:38
Armament:• 4 × 21 in (533 mm) bow torpedo tubes
• 2 × 18 in (457 mm) beam torpedo tubes
• 8 × 21 inch and 2 × 18 inch torpedoes
• 1 × 4-inch gun

HMS L33 was a British L class submarine built by Swan Hunter, Wallsend. She was launched on 29 May 1919 and was commissioned on an unknown date. She was armed with six torpedo tubes

L33 was sold in February 1932 in Sunderland.

Description

L33 was 238 feet 7 inches (72.72 m) long overall and she had a beam of 23 ft 5.5 in (7.150 m) and a draught of 13 ft 3 in (4.04 m) at normal loading. She displaced 890 tonnes (880 long tons; 980 short tons) surfaced and 1,080 t (1,060 long tons; 1,190 short tons) submerged. Her propulsion system consisted of two diesel engines for use while surfaced and two corresponding electric motors for use submerged. The diesel engines were rated at 2,400 horsepower (1,800 kW), while the electric motors produced 1,600 hp (1,200 kW). She could cruise at 17 knots (31 km/h; 20 mph) while surfaced and 10.5 kn (19.4 km/h; 12.1 mph) while submerged. While running on the surface at 10 kn (19 km/h; 12 mph), the ship could cruise for a range of 3,800 nautical miles (7,000 km; 4,400 mi).[1]

L33 was armed with a primary armament of four 21-inch (530 mm) torpedo tubes in the bow. These were supplied with eight torpedoes in total. Two additional, 18-inch (460 mm) tubes were located on the broadside, with a single torpedo apiece. She was also equipped with a 4-inch (100 mm) deck gun for use whilst surfaced. The gun was mounted on a revolving platform on the bridge level to increase its range and permit it to engage surfaced enemy submarines beyond torpedo range and in heavier seas. She had a crew of thirty-eight officers and enlisted crew.[1][2]

Service history

L33 was built at the Swan Hunter shipyard, and was launched on 29 May 1919.[1] After construction was completed, she underwent sea trials on the Tyne, which included both submerged and surface trials.[2]

On 16 March 1926, L33 collided with another unknown vessel, though there were no injuries in the incident.[3]

L33 was sold for scrapping in 1932 and subsequently broken up.[1]

Footnotes

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Gardiner & Gray, p. 93
  2. 2.0 2.1 "Destroyers and Submarines Built By Swan, Hunter, and Wigham Richardson, Ltd.", p. 407
  3. Williamson, p. 74

References

Further reading