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German submarine U-2344

Coordinates: 54°16′00″N 11°48′30″E / 54.26667°N 11.80833°E / 54.26667; 11.80833
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Postwar photo of Hecht (S 171), (former Type XXIII submarine U-2367). An identical sister ship of U-2344.
History
Nazi Germany
NameU-2344
Ordered20 September 1943
BuilderDeutsche Werft, Hamburg
Yard number498
Laid down4 September 1944
Launched24 October 1944
Commissioned10 November 1944
FateSank accidentally, 18 February 1945
General characteristics (XXIII)[1]
TypeType XXIII
Displacement
  • 234 t (230 long tons) surfaced
  • 258 t (254 long tons) submerged
Length34.7 m (113 ft 10 in)
Beam3 m (9 ft 10 in)
Draught3.67 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 depth180 m (590 ft)
Complement14–18
Armament
Service record[2]
Part of:
Commanders:
  • Oblt.z.S. Hermann Ellerlage
  • 10 November 1944 - 18 February 1945
Operations: None
Victories: None

German submarine U-2344 was a Type XXIII U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

Construction

Main article: German Type XXIII submarine

U-2344 was ordered on 20 September 1943, and was laid down on 4 September 1944 at Deutsche Werft, Hamburg, as yard number 498. She was launched on 24 October 1944 and commissioned under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Hermann Ellerlage on 10 November of that year.[1]

Due to the small size of this class, U-2344 was equipped with only two bow torpedo tubes and was manned by a crew of 14–18 men. She had a range of 2,600 nautical miles (4,800 km; 3,000 mi) at 8 knots (15 km/h; 9.2 mph) on the surface and 194 nmi (359 km; 223 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph) while submerged. U-2344's maximum speed was 9.7 knots (18 km/h; 11 mph) while surfaced and 12.5 knots (23 km/h; 14 mph) when she was submerged.[1] This class of U-boat did not carry a deck gun.

History

Like many other late war U-boats she arrived too late to turn the tide in favor of the Axis powers, despite her advanced design. U-2344 never undertook an operational patrol, and was lost on 18 February 1945 after a collision with one of her sister ships, U-2336. She sank quickly in position 54°16′00″N 11°48′30″E / 54.26667°N 11.80833°E / 54.26667; 11.80833, taking 11 of the 14 crew members aboard to the bottom with her. The wreck was subsequently raised for study in 1956, although she was not restored. Ultimately, the hull was broken up at Rostock in 1958.

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c Helgason, Guðmundur. "Type XXIII". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 28 February 2010.
  2. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type XXIII boat U-2344". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 16 October 2014.

Bibliography

  • 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. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
  • Gröner, Erich; Jung, Dieter; Maass, Martin (1991). U-boats and Mine Warfare Vessels. Vol. 2. Translated by Thomas, Keith; Magowan, Rachel. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-593-4. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter: |last-author-amp= (help)
  • Williamson, Gordon (2005). Wolf Pack: The Story of the U-boat in World War II. Osprey. ISBN 1841768723.

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