Name U-2321 Yard number 478 Commissioned 25 July 1944 Launched 16 June 1944 | Ordered 20 September 1943 Laid down 21 April 1944 Construction started 21 April 1944 Builder Deutsche Werft | |
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Fate Sunk as a target, 27 November 1945 Part of Kriegsmarine, 4th U-boat Flotilla, 32nd U-boat Flotilla, 11th U-boat Flotilla | ||
German submarine U-2324 was a highly advanced submarine built for Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine in World War II. U-2324 was one of the last commissioned boats to undertake an operational patrol, and one of just three of her class to undergo two. During these patrols, she succeeded in sinking a single small British coastal freighter, one of just five ships sunk by this submarine class.
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U-2321 was built as a Type XXIII submarine at Hamburg during the spring of 1944. As an early production of a new class of boats which utilised new technologies, she required a lengthy period of sea trials and training to best develop the boat's offensive capabilities. It was thus not until January 1945 that her captain, Hans-Heinrich Haas, was permitted to take her on a patrol off the Eastern coast of Scotland.
Design
Like all Type XXIII U-boats, U-2324 had a displacement of 234 tonnes (230 long tons) when at the surface and 258 tonnes (254 long tons) while submerged. She had a total length of 34.68 m (113 ft 9 in) (o/a), a beam width of 3.02 m (9 ft 11 in) (o/a), and a draught depth of3.66 m (12 ft). The submarine was powered by one MWM six-cylinder RS134S diesel engine providing 575–630 metric horsepower (423–463 kilowatts; 567–621 shaft horsepower), one AEG GU4463-8 double-acting electric motor electric motor providing 580 PS (430 kW; 570 shp), and one BBC silent running CCR188 electric motor providing 35 PS (26 kW; 35 shp).
The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 9.7 knots (18.0 km/h; 11.2 mph) and a submerged speed of 12.5 knots (23.2 km/h; 14.4 mph). When submerged, the boat could operate at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph) for 194 nautical miles (359 km; 223 mi); when surfaced, she could travel 2,600 nautical miles (4,800 km; 3,000 mi) at 8 knots (15 km/h; 9.2 mph). U-2324 was fitted with two 53.3 cm (21 in) torpedo tubes in the bow. She could carry two preloaded torpedoes. The complement was 14–18 men. This class of U-boat did not carry a deck gun.
Service history
The first patrol was unsuccessful, Allied precautions and counter-measures were effective enough to prevent her from successfully targeting even the small coastal vessels to be found in this area. She returned empty-handed, and Haas was replaced by Konstantin von Rappard, who now commanded her for the remainder of her service career.
The second patrol of U-2324 in April was more successful, with the SS Monarch being sunk. This 1,100 ton ship was torpedoed in a night attack on a coastal convoy, and was the only success of the boat during her operational career. U-2324 returned to Stavanger in May 1945 the day before the surrender. When Germany surrendered, U-2324 was at Stavanger in Norway, from where it sailed to Loch Ryan in Scotland for disposal in Operation Deadlight. Towed out to sea on the 27 November, the boat was destroyed as a naval gunnery target.