P33
| Built By: | Vickers (Barrow) |
| Build Group: | U Group 2 |
| Fate: | Believed to have been mined off Tripoli 18 Aug 1941 |
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
| J Allen | Leading Stoker | ||
| V Askew | Petty Officer | ||
| R Barnes | Leading Seaman | ||
| R Bilton | Able Seaman | ||
| E Briggs | Leading Seaman | ||
| R Bygott | Lieutenant | ||
| L Doran | Engine Room Artificer 2nd Class | ||
| J Fazackerley | Engine Room Artificer 4th Class | ||
| R Frost | Lieutenant | RNR | |
| J Gambold | Leading Stoker | ||
| E Grubb | Leading Stoker | ||
| C Gurdy | Ordinary Seaman | ||
| K Hankey | Able Seaman | ||
| J Harms | Able Seaman | ||
| G Howlett | Petty Officer | ||
| T Jago | Leading Signalman | ||
| T Jehu | Able Seaman | ||
| J McMahon | Leading Telegraphist | ||
| C McNeilage | Stoker Petty Officer | ||
| J Medley | Stoker 1st Class | ||
| T Morcomb | Stoker 1st Class | ||
| C Morris | Telegraphist | ||
| W Morrison | Able Seaman | ||
| E Moulder | Ordinary Seaman | ||
| A Smith | Telegraphist | ||
| S Smith | Stoker Petty Officer | ||
| W Sparrow | Chief Engine Room Artificer | ||
| R Wilkinson | Lieutenant | DSC | |
| J Wolverston | Petty Officer Telegraphist | DSM |
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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