German_submarine_U-2326 Knowpia

	Rendering of a Type XXIII submarine
History
Nazi Germany
Name	U-2326
Ordered	20 September 1943
Builder	Deutsche Werft, Hamburg
Yard number	480
Laid down	8 May 1944
Launched	17 July 1944
Commissioned	10 August 1944
Fate	Surrendered on 14 May 1945; Sunk on 6 December 1946;
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:	4th U-boat Flotilla; 10 – 14 August 1944; 32nd U-boat Flotilla; 15 August 1944 – 31 January 1945; 11th U-boat Flotilla; 1 February – 8 May 1945;
Identification codes:	M 41 468
Commanders:	Oblt.z.S. Karl Jobst; 11 August 1944 – 14 May 1945;
Operations:	2 patrols:; 1st patrol:; 19 – 27 April 1945; 2nd patrol:; 4 – 14 May 1945;
Victories:	None

German submarine U-2326 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 8 May 1944 at Deutsche Werft, Hamburg, as yard number 480. She was launched on 17 July 1944 and commissioned under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Karl Jobst on 10 August 1944.^[2]

Design edit

Like all Type XXIII U-boats, U-2326 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).^[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-2326 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 edit

On 14 May 1945, a week after the end of the war, U-2326 surrendered at Dundee, Scotland. Karl Jobst and Leutnant Karl Bertsch were held aboard HMS Unicorn (1824), temporarily known as HMS Cressy. U-2326 would go on to become a British Type-N-class submarine renamed N35 and later be transferred to France in 1946. However, she was sunk 6 December 1946, in an accident in Toulon with the loss of 21 lives. While many sources claim that the boat was later raised and broken up for scrap, the French Navy does not raise warships that suffered a loss of life as they are viewed as military graves, so these claims seem highly unlikely.^[2]^[4]^[5]

References edit

^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Karl Jobst". Uboat.net. Retrieved 26 April 2016.
^ ^a ^b ^c Helgason, Guðmundur. "U-2326". Uboat.net. Retrieved 26 April 2016.
^ ^a ^b Gröner 1991, p. 89.
^ Arkin, William M.; Handler, Joshua (June 1989). "Naval Accidents 1945 - 1988" (PDF). Greenpeace / Institute for Policy Studies. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 June 2021. Retrieved 12 January 2021.
^ Community Information Team, Central Library (31 March 2006). "What Did You Do in the War, Dundee?". Various. Retrieved 1 April 2024.

Bibliography edit

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.