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P 33

Built By: Vickers (Barrow)
Build Group: U2
Fate: Depth-charged and sunk by Italian torpedo boat Partenope off Pantelleria 18th August 1941.

HMS P31 left Malta on 6th August 1941 for a patrol off Tripoli. Submarines HMS P32 and HMS Unique left at the same time and were in adjacent patrol areas.

Both of these Submarines heard depth charging on 18th August coming from the area where Submarine P33 was patrolling. It is assumed that this depth charge attack was responsible for the loss of Submarine P33 with all hands.

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Commanders
1941: Lieutenant   Reginald Denis Whiteway-Wilkinson DSC

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

Roll of Honour
32
Allen, James Henry
D/KX 76249
Died: 18th Aug, 1941.
Aged: 33
Leading Stoker
Askew, Vincent Charles
C/JX 125266
Died: 18th Aug, 1941.
Aged: 32
Petty Officer
Barnes, Robert Henry
C/JX 149939
Died: 18th Aug, 1941.
Aged: 28
Leading Seaman
Bilton, Robert Charles
C/SSX 27178
Died: 18th Aug, 1941.
Aged: 21
Able Seaman
Briggs, Edward William Robert
P/J 110195
Died: 18th Aug, 1941.
Aged: 32
Leading Seaman
Bygott, Robert Hugh
Died: 18th Aug, 1941.
Aged: 21
Lieutenant
Cunningham, Richard Louis
Died: 18th Aug, 1941.
Aged: 22
Lieutenant
Doran, Laurence Hugh
P/MX 52834
Died: 18th Aug, 1941.
Aged: 34
Engine Room Artificer 2nd Class
Dowler, Cyril George
D/JX 134883
Died: 18th Aug, 1941.
Aged: 26
Able Seaman
Fazackerley, Joseph
D/SKX 923
Died: 18th Aug, 1941.
Aged: 26
Engine Room Artificer 4th Class
Frost, Ronald Sycamore (RNR)
Died: 18th Aug, 1941.
Aged: 32
Lieutenant
Gambold, John Oliver
D/KX 82339
Died: 18th Aug, 1941.
Aged: 28
Leading Stoker
Grubb, Ernest George
D/KX 89014
Died: 18th Aug, 1941.
Aged: 25
Leading Stoker
Gurdy, Charles Stewart (RNVR)
D/JX 225249
Died: 18th Aug, 1941.
Aged: 32
Ordinary Seaman
Number D/MD/X 674 on CWGC
Hankey, Kenneth
C/SSX 15611
Died: 18th Aug, 1941.
Aged: 24
Able Seaman
Harms, John
P/JX 127651
Died: 18th Aug, 1941.
Aged: 31
Able Seaman
Howlett, George Leonard
C/JX 130174
Died: 18th Aug, 1941.
Aged: 30
Petty Officer
Jago, Thomas Ebenezer
D/JX 133419
Died: 18th Aug, 1941.
Aged: 27
Leading Signalman
Jehu, Thomas Leslie
C/SSX 17276
Born: 31st Mar, 1918.
Died: 18th Aug, 1941.
Aged: 23
Able Seaman
RN DoB 31/03/1916
McMahon, James
D/JX 134310
Died: 18th Aug, 1941.
Aged: 26
Leading Telegraphist
McNeilage, Charles
P/K 64170
Died: 18th Aug, 1941.
Aged: 37
Stoker Petty Officer
Medley, John
D/KX 81457
Died: 18th Aug, 1941.
Aged: 27
Stoker 1st Class
Morcomb, Thomas
D/KX 85166
Died: 18th Aug, 1941.
Aged: 25
Stoker 1st Class
Morris, Charles Bernard
C/SSX 29879
Died: 18th Aug, 1941.
Aged: 20
Telegraphist
Morrison, William
D/J 107193
Died: 18th Aug, 1941.
Aged: 33
Able Seaman
Moulder, Ernest Thomas
D/JX 208454
Died: 18th Aug, 1941.
Aged: 21
Ordinary Seaman
Smith, Albert Hamilton
D/J 107094
Died: 18th Aug, 1941.
Aged: 34
Telegraphist
Smith, Sidney Thomas
C/KX 80449
Died: 18th Aug, 1941.
Aged: 30
Stoker Petty Officer
Sparrow, William James
D/M 35317
Died: 18th Aug, 1941.
Aged: 37
Chief Engine Room Artificer
Warner, Albert
C/JX 224572
Born: 17th Jan, 1917.
Died: 18th Aug, 1941.
Aged: 24
Ordinary Seaman
RN DoB 17/01/1919
Whiteway-Wilkinson, Reginald Denis DSC
Died: 18th Aug, 1941.
Aged: 27
Lieutenant
Wolverson, John Thomas DSM
D/J 112760
Died: 18th Aug, 1941.
Aged: 31
Petty Officer Telegraphist

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.
06-08-1941  Patrol off Sicily.
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.
U2 Specification
Length overall  195 ft 6 inch
Beam  15 ft 9 inch
Depth  15 ft 10 inch
Displacement   648 tons (surface)
  735 tons (submerged)
Diving Depth  200 ft
Speed  11.5 knots (surface)
  9 knots (submerged)
No. of shafts  2
Endurance  Surface: 4050 miles at 10 knots (design)
  Submerged: 23 miles at 8 knots or 170 miles at 2.5 knots (design)
Armament  4 x 21 inch bow tubes (8 torpedoes carried)
  1 x 3 inch gun
  3 x 0.303 inch machine-guns
Complement  4 Officers, 29 Others.
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