German submarine U-133 (1941)

U-133 was a German Type VII C U-boat built for Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

Construction and Commissioning:

U-133 was ordered on 25 January 1939 and laid down on 21 May 1940 at the Vegesacker Werft shipyard in Bremen-Vegesack. She was launched on 22 February 1941 and commissioned on 5 May 1941 under the command of Kapitänleutnant Eberhard Grosse.

Service History:

After commissioning, U-133 underwent training in the Baltic Sea as part of the 5th U-boat Flotilla. During this period, the crew gained experience in submarine operations and tactics.

Fate:

U-133 was lost on 14 March 1942 in the Mediterranean Sea, north of Tobruk, Libya, in position 32°58′N 24°25′E. The cause of her loss remains debated, with theories including accidental grounding on an Italian minefield laid by the Italian destroyer Emanuele Pessagno, or a possible attack by a British submarine. All 45 crew members perished.

Type VII C U-boat:

U-133 was a Type VII C U-boat, a workhorse of the German U-boat fleet. Type VII C boats were slightly larger and more heavily armed than the earlier Type VII B variants, offering improved range and combat capability. They were equipped with five torpedo tubes (four forward and one aft) and a deck gun for surface engagements.

Commanders:

• Kapitänleutnant Eberhard Grosse (5 May 1941 – 14 March 1942)