German submarine U-2325 facts for kids

German submarine U-2325 was a special type of U-boat called a Type XXIII. These submarines were built for Nazi Germany's navy, the Kriegsmarine, during World War II. U-2325 was ordered in September 1943 and built in Hamburg, Germany. It was launched in July 1944 and officially joined the navy on August 3, 1944. Its first commander was Wolf-Harald Schüer.

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What was U-2325 like?

U-2325 was a small submarine. When it was on the surface, it weighed about 234 tons. Underwater, it weighed a bit more, around 258 tons. It was about 34.68 meters (113 feet) long and 3.02 meters (9 feet 11 inches) wide. The submarine could go as deep as 180 meters (590 feet) underwater.

This U-boat used different engines to move. On the surface, it had a diesel engine. Underwater, it used electric motors. One electric motor was for normal speed, and another was a special "silent running" motor. This quieter motor helped it sneak around without being easily detected.

U-2325 could travel at 9.7 knots (about 18 km/h or 11 mph) on the surface. When submerged, it was faster, reaching 12.5 knots (about 23 km/h or 14 mph). It could travel about 2,600 nautical miles (4,800 km or 3,000 miles) on the surface. Underwater, it could go about 194 nautical miles (359 km or 223 miles) at a slower speed.

For defense, U-2325 had two torpedo tubes at the front. It could carry two torpedoes. Unlike some larger U-boats, it did not have a deck gun. The crew for this submarine was small, usually between 14 and 18 sailors.

What happened to U-2325?

As World War II was ending, U-2325 surrendered on May 9, 1945, in Kristiansand, Norway. Later, it was moved to Loch Ryan, Scotland, on May 29, 1945.

U-2325 was one of many German U-boats that surrendered to the Allied forces. Out of 156 surrendered U-boats, 116 were chosen for something called Operation Deadlight. This was a plan by the Allies to sink the captured U-boats so they couldn't be used again.

On November 28, 1945, U-2325 was towed out to sea. It was then sunk by gunfire from two Allied destroyers: the British ship HMS Onslow and the Polish ship ORP Błyskawica. The wreck of U-2325 now rests in the Atlantic Ocean at coordinates 56°10′N 10°05′W / 56.167°N 10.083°W / 56.167; -10.083.

Want to learn more?

• Battle of the Atlantic

History
Nazi Germany
Name	U-2325
Ordered	20 September 1943
Builder	Deutsche Werft, Hamburg
Yard number	479
Laid down	29 April 1944
Launched	13 July 1944
Commissioned	3 August 1944
Fate	Surrendered on 9 May 1945 Sunk on 28 November 1945 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:	4th U-boat Flotilla 3 – 14 August 1944 32nd U-boat Flotilla 15 August 1944 – 31 January 1945 11th U-boat Flotilla 1 February – 8 May 1945
Commanders:	Oblt.z.S. Wolf-Harald Schüer 3 August 1944 – 20 April 1945 Oblt.z.S. Kurt Eckel 21 April – 9 May 1945
Operations:	None
Victories:	None