Deepwater, and other members of the DSDC (Desert Sport Divers Club) of Dubai are going for the fifth attempt at diving the U-533 on Friday 25th May. Deepwater and teamfirst found the wreck some years back in 2000, and did the following write up:
The DSDC team have attempted to dive this wreck several times and due to strong currents and other conditions it has not been possible. The U-533 went down in October 1943 when it was was attacked by an American PBY-5A Catalina of VP-84/P-5. Three of U-533´s gun crew were injured by the Catalina's .30 cal. gunfire. They were: (Bootsmaat Buttkus, Matrosengefreiter Ludwig and Matrosengefreiter Fekken). U.533's destruction had an amazing sequel, when the only survivor of U.533 finding himself in the water, and spurred on by the fear of sharks swam 20 miles in 28 hours until he reached Khor-Fakkam on the Muscat coast!
All of them went again out to sea and Buttkus and Ludwig perished with the boat the following October.
a. Depth 110 metres
b. Surrounding seabed is sand
c. Ocean environment – open sea, 40 km from nearest landmass
Technical information for type IXC/40
Displacement:
(tons)
1120 (sf)
1232 (sm)
1545 (total)
Length: (m)
76,76 oa
58,75 ph
Beam: (m)
6,86 oa
4,44 ph
Draught: (draft)
4,67 m
Height:
9,60 m
Power: (hp)
4400 (sf)
1000 (sm)
Speed:
(knots)
19 (sf)
7,3 (sm)
Range:
(miles / knots)
13850/10 (sf)
63/4 (sm)
Torpedoes:
22
4/2 (bow / stern tubes)
Mines:
44 TMA
Deck gun:
105/45
110 rounds
Crew:
48-56 men
Max depth:
ca. 230 m
(755 feet)
Displacement:
(tons)
1120 (sf)
1232 (sm)
1545 (total)
Length: (m)
76,76 oa
58,75 ph
Beam: (m)
6,86 oa
4,44 ph
Draught: (draft)
4,67 m
Height:
9,60 m
Power: (hp)
4400 (sf)
1000 (sm)
Speed:
(knots)
19 (sf)
7,3 (sm)
Range:
(miles / knots)
13850/10 (sf)
63/4 (sm)
Torpedoes:
22
4/2 (bow / stern tubes)
Mines:
44 TMA
Deck gun:
105/45
110 rounds
Crew:
48-56 men
Max depth:
ca. 230 m
(755 feet)
Join me in wishing them luck for a successful dive.
The DSDC team have attempted to dive this wreck several times and due to strong currents and other conditions it has not been possible. The U-533 went down in October 1943 when it was was attacked by an American PBY-5A Catalina of VP-84/P-5. Three of U-533´s gun crew were injured by the Catalina's .30 cal. gunfire. They were: (Bootsmaat Buttkus, Matrosengefreiter Ludwig and Matrosengefreiter Fekken). U.533's destruction had an amazing sequel, when the only survivor of U.533 finding himself in the water, and spurred on by the fear of sharks swam 20 miles in 28 hours until he reached Khor-Fakkam on the Muscat coast!
All of them went again out to sea and Buttkus and Ludwig perished with the boat the following October.
a. Depth 110 metres
b. Surrounding seabed is sand
c. Ocean environment – open sea, 40 km from nearest landmass
Technical information for type IXC/40
Displacement:
(tons)
1120 (sf)
1232 (sm)
1545 (total)
Length: (m)
76,76 oa
58,75 ph
Beam: (m)
6,86 oa
4,44 ph
Draught: (draft)
4,67 m
Height:
9,60 m
Power: (hp)
4400 (sf)
1000 (sm)
Speed:
(knots)
19 (sf)
7,3 (sm)
Range:
(miles / knots)
13850/10 (sf)
63/4 (sm)
Torpedoes:
22
4/2 (bow / stern tubes)
Mines:
44 TMA
Deck gun:
105/45
110 rounds
Crew:
48-56 men
Max depth:
ca. 230 m
(755 feet)
Displacement:
(tons)
1120 (sf)
1232 (sm)
1545 (total)
Length: (m)
76,76 oa
58,75 ph
Beam: (m)
6,86 oa
4,44 ph
Draught: (draft)
4,67 m
Height:
9,60 m
Power: (hp)
4400 (sf)
1000 (sm)
Speed:
(knots)
19 (sf)
7,3 (sm)
Range:
(miles / knots)
13850/10 (sf)
63/4 (sm)
Torpedoes:
22
4/2 (bow / stern tubes)
Mines:
44 TMA
Deck gun:
105/45
110 rounds
Crew:
48-56 men
Max depth:
ca. 230 m
(755 feet)
Join me in wishing them luck for a successful dive.