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P33

Built By: Vickers (Barrow)
Build Group: U Group 2
Fate: Believed to have been mined off Tripoli 18 Aug 1941

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Commanded throughout her entire career by Lieutenant R D Whiteway-Wilkinson, the submarine was attached to the 10th Submarine Flotilla based at Malta.

The submarine departed on her final patrol on 6 August 1941 from Malta to patrol off Sicily to intercept an Italian convoy heading towards Libya. Her sister boat P32, which was attacking the same convoy along with HMS Unique, reported hearing a prolonged depth charge attack on 18 August and subsequently attempted unsuccessfully to contact P33. P32 was herself sunk later that day. P33 became overdue on 20 August and was almost certainly have been sunk in this attack. It is, however, possible that she was sunk by the Italian torpedo boat Partenope near Pantelleria on 23 August. Lost aboard P33 was Lieutenant Richard Cunningham, the son of Vice Admiral John Cunningham, who would later become First Sea Lord.

Roll of Honour

Name Rank Number Hons Age
Allen, James Henry  Leading Stoker  D/KX 76249    33
Askew, Vincent Charles  Petty Officer  C/JX 12526    32
Barnes, Robert Henry  Leading Seaman  C/JX 14993    28
Bilton, Robert Charles  Able Seaman  C/SSX 2717    21
Briggs, Edward William Robert  Leading Seaman  P/J 110195    32
Bygott, Robert Hugh  Lieutenant      21
Cunningham, Richard Louis  Lieutenant      22
Doran, Laurence Hugh  Engine Room Artificer 2nd Class  P/MX 52834    34
Dowler, Cyril George  Able Seaman  D/JX 13488    26
Fazackerley, Joseph  Engine Room Artificer 4th Class  D/SKX 923    26
Frost, Ronald Sycamore  Lieutenant (RNR)      32
Gambold, John Oliver  Leading Stoker  D/KX 82339    28
Grubb, Ernest George  Leading Stoker  D/KX 89014    25
Gurdy, Charles Stewart  Ordinary Seaman (RNVR)  D/JX 22524    32
Number D/MD/X 674 on CWGC
Hankey, Kenneth  Able Seaman  C/SSX 1561    24
Harms, John  Able Seaman  P/JX 12765    31
Howlett, George Leonard  Petty Officer  C/JX 13017    30
Jago, Thomas Ebenezer  Leading Signalman  D/JX 13341    27
Jehu, Thomas Leslie  Able Seaman  C/SSX 1727    25
RN DoB 31/03/1916. Actual 31/03/1918
McMahon, James  Leading Telegraphist  D/JX 13431    26
McNeilage, Charles  Stoker Petty Officer  P/K 64170    37
Medley, John  Stoker 1st Class  D/KX 81457    27
Morcomb, Thomas  Stoker 1st Class  D/KX 85166    25
Morris, Charles Bernard  Telegraphist  C/SSX 2987    20
Morrison, William  Able Seaman  D/J 107193    33
Moulder, Ernest Thomas  Ordinary Seaman  D/JX 20845    21
Smith, Albert Hamilton  Telegraphist  D/J 107094    34
Smith, Sidney Thomas  Stoker Petty Officer  C/KX 80449    30
In ADM 104_135 Smith, Sydney Thomas but Birth & Marriage are Sidney.
Sparrow, William James  Chief Engine Room Artificer  D/M 35317    37
Warner, Albert  Ordinary Seaman  C/JX 22457    22
RN DoB 17/01/1919. Actual 17/01/1917
Whiteway-Wilkinson, Reginald Denis  Lieutenant    DSC  27
Wolverson, John Thomas  Petty Officer Telegraphist  D/J 112760  DSM  31

Events

26-07-1940 : Laid Down
28-01-1941 : Launched
30-05-1941 : Completed
15-07-1941 : HMS P 33 torpedoes and sinks the Italian merchant Barbarigo off Pantellaria Island. During a counter attack P 33 was damaged by the Italian torpedo boat Procione.
18-08-1941 : HMS P33 was lost

On 6th August 1941 HMS P33 sailed from Malta with orders to intercept an Italian convoy bound for Libya. On 18th August HMS P32 reported hearing a prolonged depth charge attack that lasted for two hours. When the attack was finally over P32 attempted to contact P33 but received no response and it is almost certain that P33 had perished in the attack.
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P32Ultimatum (P34)