Postwar photo of S171, (former Type XXIII submarine U-2367). An identical sister ship of U-2344' |
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| Career (Nazi Germany) | |
|---|---|
| Name: | U-2344 |
| Ordered: | 20 September 1943[1] |
| Builder: | Deutsche Werft, Hamburg[1] |
| Laid down: | 4 September 1944[1] |
| Launched: | 24 October 1944[1] |
| Commissioned: | 10 November 1944[1] |
| Fate: | Sank accidentally, 18 February 1945 |
| General characteristics (XXIII)[2] | |
| Type: | Type XXIII |
| Displacement: | 234 t (230 long tons) surfaced 258 t (254 long tons) submerged |
| Length: | 34.7 m (113 ft 10 in) |
| Beam: | 3 m (9 ft 10 in) |
| Draft: | 3.67 m (12 ft 0 in) |
| Propulsion: | 1 × MWM RS134S 6-cylinder diesel engine, 575 hp 1 × AEG GU4463-8 double-acting electric motor, 572 hp 1 × BBC CCR188 electric creeping motor, 35 hp |
| Speed: | 9.7 knots (18 km/h) surfaced 12.5 knots (23 km/h) submerged |
| Range: | 2,600 nmi (4,800 km) at 8 kn (15 km/h; 9.2 mph) surfaced 194 nmi (359 km) at 4 kn (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph) submerged |
| Test depth: | 180 m (590 ft) |
| Complement: | 14–18 |
| Armament: | 2 bow torpedo tubes 2 torpedoes |
German submarine U-2344 was a Type XXIII U-boat of the German Kriegsmarine during World War II.
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U-2344 was ordered on 20 September 1943, and was laid down on 4 September 1944 at Deutsche Werft, 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.[1][2]
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 2,600 nmi (4,800 km) at 8 kn (15 km/h; 9.2 mph) on the surface and 194 nmi (359 km) at 4 kn (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph) while submerged. U-2344s maximum speed was 9.7 knots (18 km/h) while surfaced and 12.5 knots (23 km/h) when she was submerged.[2] This class of U-boat did not carry a deck gun. [1]
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-2336. She sank quickly in position , 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.