German submarine U-2322

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.

Postwar photo of Hecht (S 171), (former Type XXIII submarine U-2367). An identical sister ship of U-2322.
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: Sunk as a target, 27 November 1945
General characteristics
Class and type: Type XXIII U-boat
Displacement:
  • 234 t (230 long tons) surfaced
  • 258 t (254 long tons) submerged
Length: 34.68 m (113 ft 9 in)
Beam: 3.02 m (9 ft 11 in)
Draft: 3.66 m (12 ft)
Propulsion:
  • 1 × MWM RS134S 6-cylinder diesel engine, 575–630 metric horsepower (423–463 kW; 567–621 shp)
  • 1 × AEG GU4463-8 double-acting electric motor, 580 metric horsepower (427 kW; 572 shp)
  • 1 × BBC CCR188 electric creeping motor, 35 metric horsepower (26 kW; 35 shp)
Speed:
  • 9.7 knots (18 km/h; 11 mph) surfaced
  • 12.5 knots (23 km/h; 14 mph) submerged
Range:
  • 2,600 nmi (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:
Service record
Part of:
Commanders: Kptlt. Fridtjof Heckel (March 1944–May 1945)
Operations:
  • 2 patrols;
  • 6 February–3 March 1945
  • 4–30 April 1945
Victories: 1 ship sunk for a total of 1,317 gross register tons (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

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

Leaving Horten Naval Base in Norway on the 6 February, 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 1,300 ton coastal cruiser SS 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
Date Ship Nationality Tonnage (GRT) Fate
25 February 1945 Egholm  United Kingdom 1,317 Sunk
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References
  1. Gröner 1991, p. 89.
  2. Helgason, Guðmundur. "Egholm (Steam merchant)". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 28 March 2010.

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.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • 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). IV. Hamburg, Berlin, Bonn: Mittler. ISBN 3-8132-0514-2.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • 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.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)

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