German submarine U-2322 was a highly advanced Type XXIII U-boat built for Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine in 1944. U-2322 was one of just a few such boats to undertake an operational patrol, and one of only three to undergo two. During these patrols, she succeeded in sinking a single British freighter, one of five ships sunk by this submarine class.
 Rendering of a Type XXIII submarine
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| History | |
|---|---|
 Nazi Germany | |
| Name | U-2322 |
| Ordered | 20 September 1943 |
| Builder | Deutsche Werft, Hamburg |
| Yard number | 476 |
| Laid down | 22 March 1944 |
| Launched | 30 April 1944 |
| Commissioned | 1 July 1944 |
| Fate |
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| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Type XXIII submarine |
| Displacement | |
| Length | 34.68 m (113 ft 9 in) |
| Beam | 3.02 m (9 ft 11 in) |
| Draft | 3.66 m (12 ft) |
| Propulsion |
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| Speed |
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| Range |
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| Test depth | 180 m (590 ft) |
| Complement | 14–18 |
| Armament |
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| Service record | |
| Part of: |
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| Identification codes: | M 41 224 |
| Commanders: |
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| Operations: |
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| Victories: |
1 merchant ship sunk (1,317 GRT) |
U-2322 was built at Hamburg in just four months, being ready by July 1944. As a prototype of a new class of boats, she was not ready for active service until 1945, as there were numerous engineering difficulties to contend with and the crew had to be trained to manage the new boat and new operational tactics practised and decided on. When she was finally ready for a war patrol in February 1945, it was more as an experiment into the abilities of the boat than a real attempt to damage allied shipping.
Design edit
Like all Type XXIII U-boats, U-2322 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).[1]
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-2322 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.[1] This class of U-boat did not carry a deck gun.
Service history edit
Leaving Horten Naval Base in Norway on the 6 February 1945, U-2322 proceeded to the East coast of Scotland, particularly in the area of St Abb's Head, where lone coastal shipping sometimes passed, believing that German U-boats would not bother waiting in such a dangerous spot for such insignificant prey. This plan finally worked on the 25 February, when the 1,317 GRT steam merchant Egholm was sunk by a torpedo.[2] This first and only success for U-2322 was achieved in the dark off Holy Island. The rest of this patrol was unsuccessful.
The second patrol, off East Anglia in April was totally fruitless, powerful allied escorts and well-organised convoys effectively cutting off the small U-boats from their potential targets. The only advantage gained in these patrols was that no Type XXIII boat was lost in the North Sea, all losses coming in German waters from indirect sources like accident, bombing raids and naval mines.
When Germany surrendered, U-2322 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 unmaintained and rusting boat was destroyed as a naval gunnery target.
Summary of raiding history edit
| Date | Ship Name | Nationality | Tonnage (GRT) | Fate[3] |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 February 1945 | Egholm |  United Kingdom
|
1,317 | Sunk |
References edit
- ^ a b Gröner 1991, p. 89.
- ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Egholm (Steam merchant)". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 28 March 2010.
- ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U-2322". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 31 March 2015.
Bibliography edit
- Busch, Rainer; Röll, Hans-Joachim (1999). German U-boat commanders of World War II : a biographical dictionary. Translated by Brooks, Geoffrey. London, Annapolis, Md: Greenhill Books, Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-55750-186-6.
- Busch, Rainer; Röll, Hans-Joachim (1999). Deutsche U-Boot-Verluste von September 1939 bis Mai 1945 [German U-boat losses from September 1939 to May 1945]. Der U-Boot-Krieg (in German). Vol. 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. Vol. 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 edit
- Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type XXIII boat U-2322". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 6 December 2014.