German submarine U-345 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.
| History | |
|---|---|
 Nazi Germany | |
| Name | U-345 |
| Ordered | 10 April 1941 |
| Builder | Nordseewerke, Emden |
| Yard number | 217 |
| Laid down | 9 July 1942 |
| Launched | 11 March 1943 |
| Commissioned | 4 May 1943 |
| Fate | Damaged beyond repair by US bombs on 13 December 1943; mined off at Warenmünde (Rostock) in December 1945[1] |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Type VIIC submarine |
| Displacement | |
| Length |
|
| Beam |
|
| Height | 9.60 m (31 ft 6 in) |
| Draught | 4.74 m (15 ft 7 in) |
| Installed power |
|
| Propulsion |
|
| Speed |
|
| Range | |
| Test depth |
|
| Complement | 4 officers, 40–56 enlisted |
| Armament |
|
| Service record[2] | |
| Part of: |
|
| Identification codes: | M 45 333 |
| Commanders: |
|
| Operations: | None |
| Victories: | None |
She carried out no patrols. She did not sink or damage any ships.
She was damaged beyond repair on 13 December 1943 and mined in December 1945.
Design edit
German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-345 had a displacement of 769 tonnes (757 long tons) when at the surface and 871 tonnes (857 long tons) while submerged.[3] 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 AEG GU 460/8-276 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).[3]
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).[3] 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-345 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 four twin 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 anti-aircraft guns. The boat had a complement of between forty-four and sixty.[3]
Service history edit
The submarine was laid down on 9 July 1942 at the Nordseewerke yard at Emden as yard number 217, launched on 11 March 1943 and commissioned on 4 May 1943 under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Ulrich Knackfuß. U-345 served with the 8th U-boat Flotilla from 4 May 1943. She was hit during a USAAF raid on Kiel on 13 December 1943. The damage was severe enough that she was paid off on the 23rd. After the German surrender in May 1945, she was mined off Warnemünde, (north of Rostock), in December.[1]
References edit
- ^ a b Kemp 1999, p. 162.
- ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-345". German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net. Retrieved 22 August 2012.
- ^ a b c d Gröner 1991, pp. 43–46.
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.
- Kemp, Paul (1999). U-Boats Destroyed – German Submarine Losses in the World Wars. London: Arms & Armour. ISBN 1-85409-515-3.
External links edit
- Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-345". German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net. Retrieved 26 December 2014.
- Hofmann, Markus. "U 345". Deutsche U-Boote 1935–1945 – u-boot-archiv.de (in German). Retrieved 26 December 2014.