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German submarineU-324

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History
Nazi Germany
NameU-324
Ordered16 July 1942
BuilderFlender Werke,Lübeck
Yard number324
Laid down24 March 1943
Launched12 February 1944
Commissioned5 April 1944
FateSurrendered on 9 May 1945;broken upin March 1947
General characteristics
Class and typeType VIIC/41submarine
Displacement
Length
Beam
  • 6.20 m (20 ft 4 in) o/a
  • 4.70 m (15 ft 5 in) pressure hull
Height9.60 m (31 ft 6 in)
Draught4.74 m (15 ft 7 in)
Installed power
  • 2,800–3,200 PS (2,100–2,400 kW; 2,800–3,200 bhp) (diesels)
  • 750 PS (550 kW; 740 shp) (electric)
Propulsion
Speed
  • 17.7 knots (32.8 km/h; 20.4 mph) surfaced
  • 7.6 knots (14.1 km/h; 8.7 mph) submerged
Range
  • 8,500nmi(15,700km;9,800mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) surfaced
  • 80 nmi (150 km; 92 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph) submerged
Test depth
  • 250 m (820 ft)
  • Crush depth:275–325 m (902–1,066 ft)
Complement4 officers, 40–56 enlisted
Armament
Service record[1]
Part of:
Identification codes: M 00 111
Commanders:
  • Oblt.z.S.Ernst Edelhoff
  • 5 April 1944 – 9 May 1945
Operations:
  • 1 patrol:
  • 22 – 30 March 1945
Victories: None

German submarineU-324was aType VIIC/41U-boatofNazi Germany'sKriegsmarineduringWorld War II.

The submarine waslaid downon 24 March 1943 at theFlender WerkeatLübeck,launchedon 12 February 1944, andcommissionedon 5 April 1944 under the command ofOberleutnant zur SeeErnst Edelhoff.

Design

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Like allType VIIC/41U-boats,U-324had a displacement of 759 tonnes (747 long tons) when at the surface and 860 tonnes (850 long tons) while submerged. She had a total length of 67.10 m (220 ft 2 in), apressure hulllength of 50.50 m (165 ft 8 in), a beam of 6.20 m (20 ft 4 in), and a draught of 4.74 m (15 ft 7 in).[2]The submarine was powered by twoGermaniawerftF46superchargedsix-cylinder four-strokediesel enginesproducing a total of 2,800 to 3,200 metric horsepower (2,060 to 2,350 kW; 2,760 to 3,160 shp) and twoGarbe, Lahmeyer & Co.RP 137/cdouble-acting electric motorsproducing a total of 750 metric horsepower (550 kW; 740 shp) for use while submerged. The boat was capable of operating at a depth of 250 metres (820 ft).[2]

The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 17.7 knots (32.8 km/h; 20.4 mph) and a submerged speed of 7.6 knots (14.1 km/h; 8.7 mph). 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).[2]U-324was 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. Itscomplementwas between forty-four and sixty.[2]

Service history

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U-324served with the4th U-boat Flotillafor training, and subsequently with the11th U-boat Flotillafor front-line service from 15 March to 8 May 1945.U-324departed in company withU-776on 22 March 1945 but aborted the patrol due to engine trouble and returned to port. Still under repair at the cessation of hostilities, she surrendered atBergen,Norway on 9 May 1945 and wasbroken upin March 1947.

See also

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References

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  1. ^Helgason, Guðmundur."The Type VIIC/41 boat U-324".German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net.Retrieved4 January2010.
  2. ^abcdGröner 1991,pp. 43–46.

Bibliography

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  • 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.
  • Bishop, Chris (2006).Kriegsmarine U-Boats, 1939-45.London: Amber Books.ISBN978-1-904687-96-2.
[edit]
  • Helgason, Guðmundur."The Type VII/C41 boat U-324".German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net.Retrieved6 December2014.
  • Hofmann, Markus."U 324".Deutsche U-Boote 1935-1945 - u-boot-archiv.de(in German).Retrieved6 December2014.