German submarine U-2344
Encyclopedia
German submarine U-2344 was a Type XXIII
U-boat
of the German
Kriegsmarine
during World War II
.
, Hamburg
, as 'werk 498'. She was launched on 24 October 1944 and commissioned under the command of Oberleutnant
Hermann Ellerlage on 10 November of that year.
Due to the small size of this class, U-2344 was equipped with only two bow torpedo tubes and was manned by a crew of 14–18 men. She had a range of 2600 nmi (4,815.2 km) at 8 kn (15.7 km/h; 9.7 mph) on the surface and 194 nmi (359.3 km) at 4 kn (7.8 km/h; 4.9 mph) while submerged. U-2344s maximum speed was 9.7 knots (19 km/h) while surfaced and 12.5 knots (24 km/h) when she was submerged. This class of U-boat did not carry a deck gun.
. She sank quickly in position 54°16′N 11°48.5′E, taking 11 of the 14 souls aboard to the bottom with her. The wreck was subsequently raised for study in 1956, although she was not restored. Ultimately, the hulk was broken up at Rostock
in 1958.
German Type XXIII submarine
German Type XXIII submarines were the first so-called elektroboats to become operational. They were small coastal submarines designed to operate in the shallow waters of the North Sea, Black Sea and Mediterranean Sea, where larger Type XXI Elektro boats were at risk in World War II. They were so...
U-boat
U-boat
U-boat is the anglicized version of the German word U-Boot , itself an abbreviation of Unterseeboot , and refers to military submarines operated by Germany, particularly in World War I and World War II...
of the German
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
Kriegsmarine
Kriegsmarine
The Kriegsmarine was the name of the German Navy during the Nazi regime . It superseded the Kaiserliche Marine of World War I and the post-war Reichsmarine. The Kriegsmarine was one of three official branches of the Wehrmacht, the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany.The Kriegsmarine grew rapidly...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Construction
U-2344 was ordered on 20 September 1943, and was laid down on 4 September 1944 at Deutsche WerftDeutsche Werft
Deutsche Werft was a German shipbuilding company, located in Hamburg, Germany. It was founded in 1918 on initiative by Albert Ballin and with Gutehoffnungshütte , Allgemeine Elektricitäts-Gesellschaft and Hamburg Amerikanische Packetfahrt Actien Gesellschaft as investors.During World War II...
, Hamburg
Hamburg
-History:The first historic name for the city was, according to Claudius Ptolemy's reports, Treva.But the city takes its modern name, Hamburg, from the first permanent building on the site, a castle whose construction was ordered by the Emperor Charlemagne in AD 808...
, as 'werk 498'. She was launched on 24 October 1944 and commissioned under the command of Oberleutnant
Oberleutnant
Oberleutnant is a junior officer rank in the militaries of Germany, Switzerland and Austria. In the German Army, it dates from the early 19th century. Translated as "Senior Lieutenant", the rank is typically bestowed upon commissioned officers after five to six years of active duty...
Hermann Ellerlage on 10 November of that year.
Due to the small size of this class, U-2344 was equipped with only two bow torpedo tubes and was manned by a crew of 14–18 men. She had a range of 2600 nmi (4,815.2 km) at 8 kn (15.7 km/h; 9.7 mph) on the surface and 194 nmi (359.3 km) at 4 kn (7.8 km/h; 4.9 mph) while submerged. U-2344
History
Like many other late war U-boats she arrived too late to turn the tide in favor of the Axis powers, despite her advanced design. U-2344 never undertook an operational patrol, and was lost on 18 February 1945 after a colission with one of her sister ships, U-2336German submarine U-2336
German submarine U-2336 was a Type XXIII U-boat of the German Kriegsmarine during World War II.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...
. She sank quickly in position 54°16′N 11°48.5′E, taking 11 of the 14 souls aboard to the bottom with her. The wreck was subsequently raised for study in 1956, although she was not restored. Ultimately, the hulk was broken up at Rostock
Rostock
Rostock -Early history:In the 11th century Polabian Slavs founded a settlement at the Warnow river called Roztoc ; the name Rostock is derived from that designation. The Danish king Valdemar I set the town aflame in 1161.Afterwards the place was settled by German traders...
in 1958.
See also
- List of German U-boats
- Battle of the Atlantic (1939–1945)