German submarine U-2324

History
Nazi Germany
Name: U-2321
Ordered: 20 September 1943
Builder: Deutsche Werft, Hamburg
Laid down: 21 April 1944
Launched: 16 June 1944
Commissioned: 25 July 1944
Fate: Sunk as a target, 27 November 1945
General characteristics (XXIII)[1]
Type: Type XXIII
Displacement:
  • 234 t (230 long tons) surfaced
  • 258 t (254 long tons) submerged
Length: 34.7 m (113 ft 10 in)
Beam: 3 m (9 ft 10 in)
Draught: 3.67 m (12 ft 0 in)
Propulsion:
Speed:
  • 9.7 knots (18 km/h; 11 mph) surfaced
  • 12.5 knots (23 km/h; 14 mph) submerged
Range:
  • 2,600 nautical miles (4,800 km; 3,000 mi) at 8 knots (15 km/h; 9.2 mph) surfaced
  • 194 nmi (359 km; 223 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph) submerged
Test depth: 180 m (590 ft)
Complement: 14–18
Armament:
Class and type: Type XXIII submarine
Service record
Part of:
Commanders:
  • Oblt.z.S. Hans-Heinrich Haß[2]
  • (25 July 1944 - February 1945)
  • Kptlt. Konstantin von Rappard[3]
  • (March - 9 May 1945)
Operations:
  • 2 patrols;
  • 29 January–24 February 1945
  • 2 April–8 May 1945
Victories: 1 ship sunk for a total of 1,150 GRT

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.

U-2321 was built as a German 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.

War Patrol

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.

Summary of raiding history

Date Ship Nationality Tonnage
(GRT)
Fate
16 April 1945 Monarch  United Kingdom 1,150 Sunk

References

  1. "Type XXIII". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 27 April 2015.
  2. Helgason, Guðmundur. "Hans-Heinrich Haß". German U-boats of World War II - Uboat.net. Retrieved 27 April 2015.
  3. Helgason, Guðmundur. "Konstantin von Rappard". German U-boats of World War II - Uboat.net. Retrieved 27 April 2015.

Bibliography

  • Busch, Rainer; Röll, Hans-Joachim (1999). Deutsche U-Boot-Verluste von September 1939 bis Mai 1945. Der U-Boot-Krieg (in German) IV (Hamburg, Berlin, Bonn: Mittler). ISBN 3-8132-0514-2. 

Gröner, Erich; Jung, Dieter; Maass, Martin (1991). U-boats and Mine Warfare Vessels. German Warships 1815–1945 2. Translated by Thomas, Keith; Magowan, Rachel (London: Conway Maritime Press). ISBN 0-85177-593-4. 

  • Sharpe, Peter (1998). U-Boat Fact File. Great Britain: Midland Publishing. ISBN 1-85780-072-9. 

External links


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