German submarine U-2336

Last updated
Tipo XXIII.svg
Rendering of a Type XXIII submarine
History
War ensign of Germany (1938-1945).svg Nazi Germany
NameU-2336
Ordered20 September 1943
Builder Deutsche Werft, Hamburg
Yard number490
Laid down27 July 1944
Launched10 September 1944
Commissioned30 September 1944
FateSurrendered at Wilhelmshaven, Germany on 15 May 1945. Taken to Lisahally on 21 June 1945 to take part in Operation Deadlight where she was sunk on 3 January 1946 by gunfire from the destroyer HMS Offa. [1]
General characteristics [2]
Class and type Type XXIII submarine
Displacement
  • 234  t (230 long tons) surfaced
  • 258 t (254 long tons) submerged
Length34.68 m (113 ft 9 in)
Beam3.02 m (9 ft 11 in)
Draught3.66 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 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
Part of:
Identification codes: M 44 599
Commanders:
Operations:
  • 1 patrol:
  • 1 – 14 May 1945
Victories: 2 merchant ships sunk
(4,669  GRT)

German submarine U-2336 was a Type XXIII U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

Contents

U-2336 had a very short career. She only conducted one war patrol and sank only three vessels, one of which was another German U-boat, during an accidental collision (U-2344). Despite her short time in service, U-2336 is known for sinking the last two Allied merchant ships lost to a submarine in the war, when she torpedoed and sank the freighters Avondale Park and Sneland I off the Isle of May inside the Firth of Forth.

After the war, U-2336 was surrendered to the Allies, taken to the British port of Lisahally and sunk in Operation Deadlight on 3 January 1946. [1]

Construction

U-2336 was the 16th U-boat of the Type XXIII class. She was ordered on 20 September 1943, and was laid down on 27 July 1944 at Deutsche Werft, Hamburg, as yard number 490. She was launched on 10 September 1944 and commissioned under the command of Leutnant zur See Jürgen Vockel on 30 September. [1] [2]

Design

Like all Type XXIII U-boats, U-2336 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). [5]

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-2336 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. [5] This class of U-boat did not carry a deck gun.

Service history

U-2336 trained with the 32nd U-boat Flotilla from 30 September 1944 until 15 February 1945, and began her first voyage as a front boat of the 4th U-boat Flotilla on 16 February 1945. [1] Two days later, she collided with U-2344, another Type XXIII U-boat, off Heiligendamm on the Baltic coast. U-2344 was sunk, with the loss of 11 crew. It took about two months for U-2336 to leave her home port of Kiel, which she did on 18 April 1945 under a new commander, Kapitänleutnant Emil Klusmeier. After traveling across the straits of Kattegat and Skagerrak, U-2336 reached Larvik, Norway on 24 April 1945. This was to be her home port for the remaining few days of the war. [6]

First patrol

On 1 May 1945, U-2336 left Larvik and headed out into the North Sea. On 7 May 1945, U-2336 sank the last Allied merchant ships to be lost to a German submarine in the war, when she torpedoed the freighters Avondale Park and Sneland I (in order) off the Isle of May inside the Firth of Forth. [7] [8] Sneland I exploded as soon as it was hit and sank two minutes later, killing seven crew members, including the captain. Avondale Park lost two crew members, with the rest entering a lifeboat or jumping into the sea. [9] U-2336 returned to Kiel on 14 May 1945 and then transferred to Wilhelmshaven, Germany, where she was surrendered to the Western Allies. [1]

Post-war

U-2336 was taken to Lisahally, United Kingdom on 21 June 1945 to take part in Operation Deadlight where she was sunk on 3 January 1946 by gunfire from the British destroyer HMS Offa. [1]

Summary of raiding history

DateShip NameNationalityTonnage [Note 1] Fate [10]
7 May 1945 Avondale Park Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 2,878Sunk
7 May 1945 Sneland I Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 1,791Sunk

See also

Related Research Articles

German submarine U-549 was a Type IXC/40 U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. The submarine was laid down on 28 September 1942 at the Deutsche Werft yard in Hamburg, launched on 28 April 1943, and commissioned on 14 July 1943 under the command of Kapitänleutnant Detlev Krankenhagen. After training with the 4th U-boat Flotilla at Stettin, the U-boat was transferred to the 10th U-boat Flotilla for front-line service on 1 January 1944.

German submarine U-481 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. The submarine was laid down on 6 February 1943 at the Deutsche Werke yard in Kiel, launched on 25 September 1943, and commissioned on 10 November 1943 under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Ewald Pick.

German submarine <i>U-255</i> German World War II submarine

German submarine U-255 was a Type VIIC U-boat that served in Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. The submarine was laid down on 21 December 1940 at the Bremer Vulkan yard at Bremen-Vegesack, launched on 8 October 1941 and commissioned on 29 November 1941 under the command of Kapitänleutnant Reinhart Reche.

German submarine U-778 was a Type VIIC U-boat built for Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine in World War II. She only completed one combat patrol and sank no Allied ships. She was surrendered to the Allies at Bergen on 9 May 1945.

German submarine <i>U-1022</i> German World War II submarine

German submarine U-1022 was a Type VIIC/41 U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine. She was laid down on 6 May 1943 by Blohm & Voss in Hamburg, Germany, and commissioned on 7 June 1944, the day after the Allied landings in Normandy, with Kapitänleutnant Hans-Joachim Ernst in command. She sank two ships for a total of 1,720 GRT. After the war she was handed over to the Allies and sunk in Operation Deadlight.

German submarine U-3514 was a Type XXI U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine, built for service in World War II. She was ordered on 6 November 1943, and was laid down on 21 August 1944 at F Schichau GmbH, Danzig, as yard number 1659. She was launched on 21 October 1944, and commissioned under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Günther Fritze on 9 December 1944.

German submarine <i>U-2344</i> German World War II submarine

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

German submarine <i>U-245</i> German World War II submarine

German submarine U-245 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. The submarine was laid down on 18 November 1942 at the Friedrich Krupp Germaniawerft yard at Kiel as yard number 679, launched on 25 November 1943 and commissioned on 18 December under the command of Korvettenkapitän Friederich Schumann-Hindenberg.

German submarine U-295 was a Type VIIC/41 U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

German submarine U-312 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. The submarine was laid down on 10 April 1942 at the Flender Werke yard at Lübeck as yard number 312, launched on 27 February 1943 and commissioned on 21 April under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Kurt-Heinz Nicolay.

German submarine <i>U-1002</i> German World War II submarine

German submarine U-1002 was a Type VIIC/41 U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

German submarine <i>U-1009</i> German World War II submarine

German submarine U-1009 was a Type VIIC/41 U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

German submarine <i>U-1010</i> German World War II submarine

German submarine U-1010 was a Type VIIC/41 U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

German submarine <i>U-1272</i> German World War II submarine

German submarine U-1272 was a Type VIIC/41 U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

German submarine <i>U-901</i> German World War II submarine

German submarine U-901 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

German submarine <i>U-975</i> German World War II submarine

German submarine U-975 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

German submarine <i>U-994</i> German World War II submarine

German submarine U-994 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

German submarine <i>U-2325</i> German World War II submarine

German submarine U-2325 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 29 April 1944 at Deutsche Werft, Hamburg, as yard number 479. She was launched on 13 July 1944 and commissioned under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Wolf-Harald Schüer on 3 August 1944.

German submarine <i>U-2356</i> German World War II submarine

German submarine U-2356 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 510. She was launched on 19 December 1944 and commissioned under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Friedrich Hartel on 12 January 1945.

German submarine <i>U-2361</i> German World War II submarine

German submarine U-2361 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 12 November 1944 at Deutsche Werft AG, Hamburg, as yard number 515. She was launched on 3 January 1945 and commissioned under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Heinz von Henning on 3 February 1945.

References

Notes

  1. Merchant ship tonnages are in gross register tons. Military vessels are listed by tons displacement.

Citations

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Helgason, Guðmundur. "U-2336". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 28 February 2010.
  2. 1 2 Helgason, Guðmundur. "Type XXIII". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 28 February 2010.
  3. Helgason, Guðmundur. "Jürgen Vockel". German U-boats of World War II - Uboat.net. Retrieved 27 April 2015.
  4. Helgason, Guðmundur. "Emil Klusmeier". German U-boats of World War II - Uboat.net. Retrieved 27 April 2015.
  5. 1 2 Gröner 1991, p. 89.
  6. Helgason, Guðmundur. "Patrols by U-2336". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 27 February 2010.
  7. Williamson 2005, pp. 64–65.
  8. Helgason, Guðmundur. "Patrol info for U-2336". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 27 February 2010.
  9. "War casualties or just victims of an arrogant captain". timegun.org. Archived from the original on 12 December 2009. Retrieved 19 March 2010.
  10. Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U-2336". U-Boat War in World War II - Uboat.net. Retrieved 28 February 2010.

Bibliography