German submarineU-326
History | |
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Nazi Germany | |
Name | U-326 |
Ordered | 16 July 1942 |
Builder | Flender Werke,Lübeck |
Yard number | 326 |
Laid down | 26 April 1943 |
Launched | 22 April 1944 |
Commissioned | 6 June 1944 |
Fate | Sunk by an American aircraft on 30 April 1945[1] |
General characteristics | |
Class and type | Type VIIC/41submarine |
Displacement | |
Length |
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Beam |
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Height | 9.60 m (31 ft 6 in) |
Draught | 4.74 m (15 ft 7 in) |
Installed power |
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Propulsion |
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Speed |
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Range | |
Test depth |
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Complement | 4 officers, 40–56 enlisted |
Armament |
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Service record[1][2] | |
Part of: |
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Identification codes: | M 14 594 |
Commanders: |
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Operations: |
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Victories: | None |
German submarineU-326was aType VIIC/41U-boatofNazi Germany'sKriegsmarineduringWorld War II.While she carried out one patrol U-326 failed to sink or damage any ships. The boat was sunk on 30 April 1945 in theBay of Biscayby an American aircraft.
Design
[edit]German Type VIIC/41 submarineswere preceded by the heavierType VIIC submarines.U-326had a displacement of 759 tonnes (747 long tons) when at the surface and 860 tonnes (850 long tons) while submerged.[3]She had a total length of 67.10 m (220 ft 2 in), apressure hulllength of 50.50 m (165 ft 8 in), abeamof 6.20 m (20 ft 4 in), a height of 9.60 m (31 ft 6 in), and adraughtof 4.74 m (15 ft 7 in). The submarine was powered by twoGermaniawerftF46 four-stroke, six-cylindersuperchargeddiesel enginesproducing a total of 2,800 to 3,200 metric horsepower (2,060 to 2,350 kW; 2,760 to 3,160 shp) for use while surfaced, twoGarbe, Lahmeyer & Co.RP 137/cdouble-acting electric motorsproducing a total of 750 metric horsepower (550 kW; 740 shp) for use while submerged. She had two shafts and two 1.23 m (4 ft)propellers.The boat was capable of operating at depths of up to 230 metres (750 ft).[3]
The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 17.7 knots (32.8 km/h; 20.4 mph) and a maximum submerged speed of 7.6 knots (14.1 km/h; 8.7 mph).[3]When submerged, the boat could operate for 80 nautical miles (150 km; 92 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph); when surfaced, she could travel 8,500 nautical miles (15,700 km; 9,800 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph).U-326was fitted with five 53.3 cm (21 in)torpedo tubes(four fitted at the bow and one at the stern), fourteentorpedoes,one8.8 cm (3.46 in) SK C/35 naval gun,(220 rounds), one3.7 cm (1.5 in) Flak M42and two2 cm (0.79 in) C/30anti-aircraft guns. The boat had acomplementof between forty-four and sixty.[3]
Service history
[edit]The submarine waslaid downon 26 April 1943 by theFlender Werkeyard atLübeckas yard number 326,launchedon 22 April 1944 andcommissionedon 6 June under the command ofKapitänleutnantPeter Matthes.
She served with the4th U-boat Flotillafor training, from 6 June 1944 to 28 February 1945. She was then transferred to the11th flotillafor operations on 1 March.
Patrol
[edit]Having carried out a series of short voyages betweenKielin Germany andHorten Naval Base,StavangerandBergenin Norway in February and March 1945,U-326departed Bergen on 28 March and passing western Scotland and Ireland, entered the Bay of Biscay.
Fate
[edit]The boat was sunk by a retro bombs dropped from a US NavyPBY CatalinaofVP-63west ofBreston 30 April 1945.[4]
Forty-three men died; there were no survivors.
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^abHelgason, Guðmundur."The Type VIIC/41 boat U-326".German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net.Retrieved20 August2012.
- ^Helgason, Guðmundur."War Patrols by German U-boat U-326".German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net.Retrieved20 August2012.
- ^abcdGröner 1991,pp. 43–46.
- ^Hofmann, Markus."U 326".Deutsche U-Boote 1935-1945 - u-boot-archiv.de(in German).Retrieved6 December2014.
Bibliography
[edit]- 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.ISBN0-85177-593-4.
- 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.ISBN1-55750-186-6.
- Busch, Rainer; Röll, Hans-Joachim (1999).Der U-Boot-Krieg, 1939-1945: Deutsche U-Boot-Verluste von September 1939 bis Mai 1945[German U-boat losses from September 1939 to May 1945] (in German). Vol. IV. Hamburg, Berlin, Bonn: Mittler.ISBN3-8132-0514-2.
- Kemp, Paul (1999).U-Boats Destroyed - German Submarine Losses in the World Wars.London: Arms & Armour.ISBN1-85409-515-3.
External links
[edit]- Helgason, Guðmundur."The Type VII/C41 boat U-326".German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net.Retrieved6 December2014.
- Hofmann, Markus."U 326".Deutsche U-Boote 1935-1945 - u-boot-archiv.de(in German).Retrieved6 December2014.