German submarine U-2321 facts for kids
class="infobox " style="float: right; clear: right; width: 315px; border-spacing: 2px; text-align: left; font-size: 90%;"
| colspan="2" style="text-align: center; font-size: 90%; line-height: 1.5em;" | .jpg)
|} The German submarine U-2321was a special type of U-boat(a German submarine) built for Nazi Germany's navy during World War II. It was one of the first of the new Type XXIII class, which were very advanced for their time. U-2321was built in Hamburgin 1944. It was quite small, which meant it could be finished quickly, in just four months! After it was built, the submarine went through many tests in the Baltic Seaand near the coast of Norway. These tests helped the navy understand what the submarine could do. Throughout its service, U-2321was led by a commander named Hans-Heinrich Barschkis. He was an Oberleutnant zur See, which is like a senior lieutenant in the navy. In March 1945, U-2321went on its only combat mission. It was successful and sank a British cargo ship. This was one of only five ships sunk by these new, modern submarines.
Contents
What Made U-2321 Special?
U-2321 was part of the Type XXIII class of U-boats. These submarines were designed to be smaller and faster than earlier models. They were also built to be "fully submarine," meaning they could stay underwater for much longer periods. Older submarines were more like "submersibles" that spent more time on the surface.
When U-2321 was on the surface, it weighed about 234 tons. When it was underwater, it weighed a bit more, around 258 tons. It was about 34.68 meters (113 feet) long, which is roughly the length of three school buses. The submarine was about 3.02 meters (9.9 feet) wide.
How U-2321 Moved and Fought
U-2321 used different engines to move. It had a diesel engine for when it was on the surface. It also had two electric motors for when it was underwater. One of these electric motors was special because it allowed the submarine to run very quietly. This was important for sneaking up on enemy ships.
On the surface, U-2321 could travel at a top speed of about 9.7 knots (18 km/h or 11 mph). Underwater, it was even faster, reaching about 12.5 knots (23 km/h or 14 mph). It could travel a long distance on the surface, about 2,600 nautical miles (4,800 km or 3,000 miles) at a slower speed. Underwater, it could go about 194 nautical miles (359 km or 223 miles) at a slow speed.
The submarine was built to go deep underwater, up to 180 meters (590 feet). It had a small crew of 14 to 18 sailors. For fighting, U-2321 had two torpedo tubes at the front. It could carry two torpedoes, which are underwater missiles used to sink ships. Unlike some larger submarines, it did not have a deck gun.
U-2321's Mission and End
In early 1945, as World War II was ending, Germany hoped these new submarines could help turn the tide. U-2321 and a few other Type XXIII submarines were sent to the eastern coast of Scotland. Their goal was to attack British ships.
However, the Allied navies were very good at protecting their ships. They used convoys (groups of ships traveling together) and strong escorts. This made it hard for the U-boats to find targets. After almost a month at sea, U-2321 finally found an unescorted ship. On April 5, 1945, it fired a torpedo and sank the British steamship Gasray, which weighed 1,406 tons. This was U-2321's only victory.
Just four days later, U-2321 returned to port in Kristiansand, Norway. It was still there when Germany surrendered on May 9, 1945. After the war, U-2321 was taken to Loch Ryan in Scotland. Like many other surrendered German U-boats, it was later destroyed. On November 27, 1945, U-2321 was sunk as a target during an operation called Operation Deadlight.
Ships Sunk by U-2321
| History | |
|---|---|
 Nazi Germany |
|
| Name | U-2321 |
| Ordered | 20 September 1943 |
| Builder | Deutsche Werft, Hamburg |
| Yard number | 475 |
| Laid down | 10 March 1944 |
| Launched | 17 April 1944 |
| Commissioned | 12 June 1944 |
| Fate |
|
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Type XXIII submarine |
| Displacement |
|
| Length | 34.68 m (113 ft 9 in) |
| Beam | 3.02 m (9 ft 11 in) |
| Draft | 3.66 m (12 ft) |
| Propulsion |
|
| Speed |
|
| Range |
|
| Test depth | 180 m (590 ft) |
| Complement | 14–18 |
| Armament |
|
| Service record | |
| Part of: |
|
| Commanders: |
|
| Operations: |
|
| Victories: | 1 merchant ship sunk (1,406 GRT) |
| Date | Ship Name | Nationality | Tonnage (GRT) |
Fate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 April 1945 | Gasray |  United Kingdom |
1,406 | Sunk |
