German submarine U-2356

	Postwar photo of Hecht (S 171), (former Type XXIII submarine U-2367). An identical sister ship of U-2356.
History
Nazi Germany
Name	U-2356
Ordered	20 September 1944
Builder	Deutsche Werft AG, Hamburg
Yard number	510
Laid down	21 October 1944
Launched	19 December 1944
Commissioned	12 January 1945
Fate	Surrendered on 5 May 1945; Sunk on 6 January 1946 during Operation Deadlight ;
General characteristics
Class and type	Type XXIII submarine
Displacement	234 t (230 long tons) (surfaced); 258 t (254 long tons) (submerged);
Length	34.68 m (113 ft 9 in) (o/a); 26.00 m (85 ft 4 in) (p/h);
Beam	3.02 m (9 ft 11 in) (o/a); 3.00 m (9 ft 10 in) (p/h);
Draught	3.66 m (12 ft)
Installed power	575–630 PS (423–463 kW; 567–621 shp) (diesel drive); 580 PS (430 kW; 570 shp) (standard electric drive); 35 PS (26 kW; 35 shp) (silent electric drive);
Propulsion	1 × MWM RS134S 6-cylinder diesel engine ; 1 × AEG GU4463-8 double-acting electric motor ; 1 × BBC CCR188 electric creeping motor;
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 depth	180 m (590 ft)
Complement	14–18
Armament	2 × 53.3 cm (21 in) bow torpedo tubes ; 2 × torpedoes ;
Service record
Part of:	32nd U-boat Flotilla ; 12 January – 15 February 1945; 4th U-boat Flotilla ; 16 February – 5 May 1945;
Identification codes:	M 50 346
Commanders:	Oblt.z.S. Friedrich Hartel; 12 January – 5 May 1945;
Operations:	None
Victories:	None

Last updated April 22, 2024

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.^[2]

Design

Like all Type XXIII U-boats, U-2356 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 of 3.66 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).^[3]

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-2356 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.^[3] This class of U-boat did not carry a deck gun.^[2]

Service history

On 5 May 1945, U-2356 surrendered at Cuxhaven, Germany. She was later transferred to Lisahally, Northern Ireland on 21 June 1945. Of the 156 U-boats that eventually surrendered to the Allied forces at the end of the war, U-2356 was one of 116 selected to take part in Operation Deadlight. U-2356 was towed out and sank on 6 January 1946, by gunfire from the British destroyer HMS Onslaught.^[2]

The wreck now lies at 55°50′N08°20′W / 55.833°N 8.333°W / 55.833; -8.333 .^[2]

Related Research Articles

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References

↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Friedrich Hartel". Uboat.net. Retrieved 29 April 2016.
1 2 3 4 Helgason, Guðmundur. "U-2356". Uboat.net. Retrieved 29 April 2016.
1 2 Gröner 1991, p. 89.

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.
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.
Williamson, Gordon (2005). Wolf Pack: The Story of the U-boat in World War II . Osprey. ISBN 1841768723.

External links

Helgason, Guðmundur. "U-2356". Uboat.net. Retrieved 29 April 2016.

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Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
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[1] Helgason, Guðmundur. "Friedrich Hartel". Uboat.net. Retrieved 29 April 2016.

[uboat-2] 1 2 3 4 Helgason, Guðmundur. "U-2356". Uboat.net. Retrieved 29 April 2016.

[FOOTNOTEGröner199189-3] 1 2 Gröner 1991, p. 89.

[1]

[2]

[3]

v t e Shipwrecks and maritime incidents in 1946
Shipwrecks	1 Jan: USS Dorsey 2 Jan: U-516, U-2502 3 Jan: Empire Tigachi, U-825, U-2336, U-2351 5 Jan: U-541, U-901, U-2506 6 Jan: U-1109, U-2356 7 Jan: U-1010, U-1023, U-2511 8 Jan: HMS Safari 14 Jan: USS Snowbell, USS Southard 28 Jan: Bluenose 30 Jan: Luray Victory January (unknown date): Akagi Maru 2 Feb: U-764 3 Feb: I-505 5 Feb: U-1228 10 Feb: U-975 12 Feb: I-501, U-3514 14 Feb: Fulham VII 15 Feb: I-502, I-506 February (unknown date): U-1197 1 Mar: Sackett's Harbor 4 Mar: USS Extricate 6 Mar: George W. Norris 11 Mar: USS Roche 16 Mar: Karl Leonhardt 26 Mar: Z34 27 Mar: HM LST-405 1 Apr: Charles S. Haight, Ha-103, Ha-105, Ha-106, Ha-107, Ha-108, Ha-109, Ha-111, Ha-201, Ha-202, Ha-203, Ha-208, I-36, I-47, I-53, I-58, I-156, I-157, I-158, I-159, I-162, I-366, I-367, I-402, Ro-50 4 Apr: USS S-35 5 Apr: Ha-207, Ha-210, Ha-216, I-202, Ro-31 8 Apr: USS Despatch 9 Apr: Empire Bridge 16 Apr: I-503, I-504 21 Apr: Empire Christopher 24 Apr: Alfios 30 Apr: Georgetown Victory, I-121, Ro-68, Ro-500, USS Solar, HMS Stubborn, HMAS Tolga 1 May: HMS Tarantula 8 May: I-153, I-154, I-155 9 May: Ha-205 14 May: USS Bellona 21 May: I-203 23 May: I-201 24 May: DD-224 (ex-USS Stewart) 28 May: I-14 31 May: I-401 May (unknown date): Ro-62, Ro-63 4 Jun: I-400, Kunashiri 7 Jun: Kamikaze 8 Jun: Myōkō 9 Jun: USS Solar 1 Jul: USS Anderson, USS Carlisle, USS Gilliam, USS Lamson, Sakawa 25 Jul: USS Apogon, USS Arkansas, USS LSM-60, USS Pilotfish, USS Saratoga, USS Skipjack 30 Jul: Nagato 2 Aug: Empire Cross August (unknown date): I-372 19 Sep: Ohio 16 Oct: Cassius Hudson 17 Oct: HMAS Waree 19 Oct: Takao 13 Nov: U-977 20 Nov: Albany 27 Nov: Laksnes 2 Dec: HMCS Middlesex 6 Dec: N35 8 Dec: Liberté, HMS Saltburn 16 Dec: Leipzig, Z29 22 Dec: Prinz Eugen 24 Dec: Northeastern Victory 26 Dec: Brigadier General M. G. Zalinski 31 Dec: Monte Pascoal, Schwabenland Unknown date: Claus Von Bevern , Yu 1007
Other incidents	26 Jan: I-201 29 Jan: I-203 10 Feb: HMS Saga 14 Feb: Alfred Victory 3 Mar: Orphée 17 Apr: USS Wasp 8 May: HMS Orion (Corfu Channel incident), HMS Superb (Corfu Channel incident) 15 May: HMS Diomede 1 Jul: Prinz Eugen 25 Jul: Nagato, Prinz Eugen Jul: Patrick Henry 24 Sep RFA Green Ranger 22 Oct: HMS Mauritius, (Corfu Channel incident), HMS Leander ;(Corfu Channel incident), HMS Saumarez (Corfu Channel incident), HMS Volage (Corfu Channel incident) 12 Nov: HMS Ocean (Corfu Channel incident) 8 Dec: Empire Eden 6 Dec: Niels Poulson Unknown date: Brown Bear, I-201, I-203
1945 1947 December 1945