Above ... C33 underway. Note forward hydroplanes

HM SUBMARINE C33

Position ... Not located /  Possibly in the Smiths Knoll area?

Built ... 1909

Builder ... Chatham Dockyard

Dimensions ... Length 142 feet 2inches / Beam 13 feet 7 inches

Displacement ... Surface 290 tons / Submerged 320 tons

Propulsion ... x1 Vickers petrol engine 600hp / x1 electric motor 200hp

Propeller ... x1 / blades x3 / diameter 5 feet 7 inches

Speed ... Surface 12 knots / Submerged 7 knots

Armament ... Bow, two 18 inch torpedo tubes

Lost ... 4th August 1915

Cause ... Thought to have hit a mine

Casualties ... 17 (all of crew)

C Class Submarine

The Class boats were designed for short range coastal work. They had a surface range of approximately 900 nautical miles and a top surface speed of 12 knots and 7 knots submerged. The C Class submarine marked the end of petrol engined submarines in the Royal Navy, all future naval subs were constructed and powered with the use of Diesel engines. In all 38 C Class subs were built between 1905 and 1910. These were built in two groups, these being group 1, this including C1 - C18. Group 2 consisted of C19 - C-38. Group 2 of the C Class were the first British submarines to be constructed with forward hydroplanes (See photograph at the head of the page).

Loss of the C33

On the 4th August 1915 the C33 was operating alongside the Admiralty trawler HMT Malta. The two vessels were working in conjunction with the intention of enticing German U Boats into their vicinity with the Malta acting as a decoy / target for a U boat. This tactic was performed by the given submarine being towed behind the decoy vessel. When a U boat was spotted the submarine would slip the tow and move in on the U Boat. At 8.15pm on the 4th August the C33 having engaged no enemy craft slipped her tow and headed home back to Harwich. The approximate position of the C33 at the point of heading back to Harwich is said to have been five miles east of the Jim Howe Bank Buoy, this in turn being in the region of seventy five miles north north east of Harwich.  The last signal received from the C33 was at 9.50 pm, this being received by the depot ship Alecto. Reception at the time was noted as being weak, this in turn not ruling out the possibility that further signals had been sent by the C33 but not received. There is speculation that the C33's loss may be attributed to hitting a mine on the Smiths Knoll mine field on the return to Harwich. The decoy / submarine tactic was later abandoned by the Admiralty due to two C Class submarines being lost with all hands whilst employing this tactic.

Casualties... Name, rank and age.

Alfred Alexander, Petty Officer - 31

Ernest Bennett, Signalman - 21

Arthur Bishop, Gunner 3rd class - 28

Henry Black, Leading Seaman - 29

Colin Buchanan, Sub Lieutenant - 24

Gerald Carter, Lieutenant - 29

William Clark, Abla Seaman - 29

William Duncan, Engine Room Artificer 2nd Class - 31

Leonard Green, Able Seaman - 25

George Heath, Stoker 1st Class - 36

Albert Hill, Able Seaman - 30

Godfrey Hocking, Leading Seaman - 27

Alfred Hunt, Engine Room Artificer 3rd Class - 29

William Lashbrook, Leading Stoker - 28

Edward Saunders, Stocker 1st Class - 23

Clarence Wharton, Able Seaman - 23

William Windebank, Leading Stoker - 26

The C33 today... Not located (Possibly in the Smiths Knoll area)?