Postwar photo of Hecht (S 171), (former Type XXIII submarine U-2367). An identical sister ship of U-2323. | |
History | |
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Nazi Germany | |
Name | U-2323 |
Ordered | 20 September 1943 |
Builder | Deutsche Werft, Hamburg |
Yard number | 477 |
Laid down | 11 April 1944 |
Launched | 31 May 1944 |
Commissioned | 18 July 1944 |
Fate | Sunk on 26 July 1944 |
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 41 284 |
Commanders: |
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Operations: | None |
Victories: | None |
German submarine U-2323 was a Type XXIII submarine of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. She was constructed at Hamburg during the spring of 1944, completed on the 18 July and given to Leutnant zur See Walter Angermann to command. A fast high-technology coastal boat, U-2323 was expected to be the new war-winning weapon in the Kriegsmarine's arsenal.
Like all Type XXIII U-boats, U-2323 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-2323 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.
The seas around the German coastline were subject to very heavy allied attack during the final two years of the war, as the Royal Air Force sought to restrict German movement around their coasts by sowing thousands of air-dropped naval mines, thus delaying the production and training of new boats, disrupting coastal shipping and destroying several boats before they could become involved in the Battle of the Atlantic.
The U-2323 was a victim of this campaign, when on the 26 July 1944, just eight days old, she was sunk off Möltenort at the entrance to Kiel harbour on her maiden voyage. Two of her crew were killed in the blast, although the survivors managed to safely reach the shore. They were then transferred to other units. The holed boat was raised in early 1945, but was still undergoing repairs in Kiel at the time of the German surrender. It was broken up in situ post-war.
German submarine U-2519 was a Type XXI U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine, built for service in World War II. The submarine was laid down on 24 August 1944 at the Blohm & Voss yard at Hamburg, launched on 13 October 1944, and commissioned on 15 November 1944 under the command of Korvettenkapitän Peter-Erich Cremer, who commanded her until February 1945. U-2519 conducted no patrols and was scuttled on 3 May 1945 in Kiel. The wreck was broken up.
German submarine U-2327 was a Type XXIII U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. She was ordered on 20 September 1943, and was laid down on 16 May 1944 at Deutsche Werft, Hamburg, as yard number 481. She was launched on 29 July 1944 and commissioned under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Heinrich Mürl on 19 August 1944.
German submarine U-2330 was a Type XXIII U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. She was ordered on 20 September 1943, and was laid down on 12 June 1944 at Deutsche Werft, Hamburg, as yard number 484. She was launched on 19 August 1944 and commissioned under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Hans Beckmann on 7 September 1944.
German submarine U-2332 was a Type XXIII U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. She was ordered on 7 July 1944, and was laid down on 20 September 1944 at Friedrich Krupp Germaniawerft AG, Kiel, as yard number 941. She was launched on 18 October 1944 and commissioned under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Dieter Bornkessel on 13 November 1944.
German submarine U-2333 was a Type XXIII U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. She was ordered on 7 July 1944, and was laid down on 27 September 1944 at Friedrich Krupp Germaniawerft AG, Kiel, as yard number 942. She was launched on 16 November 1944 and commissioned under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Heinz Baumann on 18 December 1944.
German submarine U-2357 was a Type XXIII U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. She was ordered on 20 September 1944, and was laid down on 21 October 1944 at Deutsche Werft AG, Hamburg, as yard number 511. She was launched on 20 December 1944 and commissioned under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Erwin Heinrich on 13 January 1945.
German submarine U-2362 was a Type XXIII U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. She was ordered on 20 September 1944, and was laid down on 22 November 1944 at Deutsche Werft AG, Hamburg, as yard number 516. She was launched on 11 January 1945 and commissioned under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Martin Czekowski on 5 February 1945. Only three months later, she was scuttled to avoid surrender.
German submarine U-2364 was a Type XXIII U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. She was ordered on 20 September 1944, and was laid down on 27 November 1944 at Deutsche Werft AG, Hamburg, as yard number 518. She was launched on 23 January 1945 and commissioned under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Dieter Hengen on 14 February 1945.
German submarine U-2367 was a Type XXIII U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. She was ordered on 20 September 1944, and was laid down on 11 December 1944 at Deutsche Werft AG, Hamburg, as yard number 521. She was launched on 23 February 1945 and commissioned under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Heinrich Schröder on 17 March 1945.
German submarine U-2371 was a Type XXIII U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. She was ordered on 7 July 1944, and was laid down on 19 January 1945 at Deutsche Werft AG, Hamburg, as yard number 525. She was launched on 18 April 1945 and commissioned under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Johannes Kühne on 24 April 1945.
German submarine U-4701 was a Type XXIII U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. She was ordered on 7 July 1944, and was laid down on 19 October 1944 at Friedrich Krupp Germaniawerft AG, Kiel, as yard number 943. She was launched on 14 December 1944 and commissioned under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Arnold Wiechmann on 10 January 1945.
German submarine U-4702 was a Type XXIII U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. She was ordered on 7 July 1944, and was laid down on 28 October 1944 at Friedrich Krupp Germaniawerft AG, Kiel, as yard number 944. She was launched on 20 December 1944 and commissioned under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Edgar Seeliger on 12 January 1945.
German submarine U-4703 was a Type XXIII U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. She was ordered on 7 July 1944, and was laid down on 1 November 1944 at Friedrich Krupp Germaniawerft AG, Kiel, as yard number 945. She was launched on 3 January 1945 and commissioned under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Hans-Ulrich Scholz on 21 January 1945.
German submarine U-4704 was a Type XXIII U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. She was ordered on 7 July 1944, and was laid down on 9 November 1944 at Friedrich Krupp Germaniawerft AG, Kiel, as yard number 946. She was launched on 13 February 1945 and commissioned under the command of Leutnant zur See Gerhard Franceschi on 14 March 1945.
German submarine U-4707 was a Type XXIII U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. She was ordered on 7 July 1944, and was laid down on 5 December 1944 at Friedrich Krupp Germaniawerft AG, Kiel, as yard number 949. She was launched on 25 January 1945 and commissioned under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Joachim Leder on 20 February 1945.
German submarine U-4710 was a Type XXIII U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. She was ordered on 7 July 1944, and was laid down on 1 March 1945 at Friedrich Krupp Germaniawerft AG, Kiel, as yard number 952. She was launched on 14 April 1945 and commissioned under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Ludwig von Friedeburg on 1 May 1945.
German submarine U-4705 was a Type XXIII U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. She was ordered on 7 July 1944 and was laid down on 10 November 1944 at Friedrich Krupp Germaniawerft AG, Kiel, as yard number 947. She was launched on 11 January 1945 and commissioned under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Martin Landt-Hayen on 2 February 1945.
German submarine U-4709 was a Type XXIII U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. She was ordered on 7 July 1944, and was laid down on 1 December 1944 at Friedrich Krupp Germaniawerft AG, Kiel, as yard number 951. She was launched on 8 February 1945 and commissioned under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Paul Berkemann on 3 March 1945.
German submarine U-4711 was a Type XXIII U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. She was ordered on 7 July 1944, and was laid down on 1 December 1944 at Friedrich Krupp Germaniawerft AG, Kiel, as yard number 953. She was launched on 21 February 1945 and commissioned under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Siegfried Endler on 21 March 1945.
German submarine U-4712 was a Type XXIII U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. She was ordered on 7 July 1944, and was laid down on 3 January 1945 at Friedrich Krupp Germaniawerft AG, Kiel, as yard number 954. She was launched on 1 March 1945 and commissioned under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Karl-Heinz Rohlfing on 3 April 1945.