Name U-327 Yard number 327 Commissioned 18 July 1944 Launched 27 May 1944 Draft 4.74 m Builder Flender Werke | Ordered 16 July 1942 Laid down 15 April 1943 Construction started 15 April 1943 Length 67 m Beam 6.2 m | |
Fate Sunk by British warships, February 1945 Part of 4th U-boat Flotilla, 11th U-boat Flotilla | ||
German submarine U-327 was a Type VIIC/41 U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.
Contents
She carried out three patrols, but did not sink any ships.
The boat was sunk in February 1945 by British warships in the English Channel.
Design
German Type VIIC/41 submarines were preceded by the heavier Type VIIC submarines. U-327 had a displacement of 759 tonnes (747 long tons) when at the surface and 860 tonnes (850 long tons) while submerged. She had a total length of 67.10 m (220 ft 2 in), a pressure hull length of 50.50 m (165 ft 8 in), a beam of 6.20 m (20 ft 4 in), a height of 9.60 m (31 ft 6 in), and a draught of 4.74 m (15 ft 7 in). The submarine was powered by two Germaniawerft F46 four-stroke, six-cylinder supercharged diesel engines producing a total of 2,800 to 3,200 metric horsepower (2,060 to 2,350 kW; 2,760 to 3,160 shp) for use while surfaced, two Garbe, Lahmeyer & Co. RP 137/c double-acting electric motors producing a total of 750 metric horsepower (550 kW; 740 shp) for use while submerged. She had two shafts and two 1.23 m (4 ft) propellers. The boat was capable of operating at depths of up to 230 metres (750 ft).
The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 17.7 knots (32.8 km/h; 20.4 mph) and a maximum submerged speed of 7.6 knots (14.1 km/h; 8.7 mph). When submerged, the boat could operate for 80 nautical miles (150 km; 92 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph); when surfaced, she could travel 8,500 nautical miles (15,700 km; 9,800 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph). U-327 was fitted with five 53.3 cm (21 in) torpedo tubes (four fitted at the bow and one at the stern), fourteen torpedoes, one 8.8 cm (3.46 in) SK C/35 naval gun, 220 rounds, and an anti-aircraft gun. The boat had a complement of between forty-four and sixty.
Service history
The submarine was laid down on 15 April 1943 by the Flender Werke yard at Lübeck as yard number 327, launched on 27 May 1944 and commissioned on 18 July under the command of Kapitänleutnant Hans Lemcke.
She served with the 4th U-boat Flotilla for training, from 18 July 1944 to 31 January 1945 and the 11th flotilla for operations until her sinking on 27 February.
1st patrol
U-327 departed Kiel on 20 January 1945 and arrived in Horten Naval Base in Norway (south of Oslo), on the 24th.
2nd patrol
The boat left Horten on 28 January 1945. She arrived at Kristiansand the next day.
3rd patrol and loss
U-327 commenced her third patrol on 30 January 1945. On 27 February she was sunk by depth charges dropped by the British frigates HMS Labuan and Loch Fada. With them in the western English Channel was the sloop HMS Wild Goose.
Forty-six men died; there were no survivors.
Previously recorded fate
The boat was reported missing after 31 January 1945 southwest of the British coast.