German submarine U-2348

Postwar photo of Hecht (S 171), (former Type XXIII submarine U-2367). An identical sister ship of U-2348.
History
Nazi Germany
Name	U-2348
Ordered	20 September 1944
Builder	Deutsche Werft AG, Hamburg
Yard number	502
Laid down	22 September 1944
Launched	11 November 1944
Commissioned	4 December 1944
Fate	Surrendered on 9 May 1945 Broken up in April 1949
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:	32nd U-boat Flotilla 4 December 1944 – 15 February 1945 4th U-boat Flotilla 16 February – 8 May 1945
Identification codes:	M 50 203
Commanders:	Oblt.z.S. Georg Goschzik[1] 4 December 1944 – 9 May 1945
Operations:	None
Victories:	None

German submarine U-2348 was a Type XXIII U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. She was ordered on 20 September 1944, and was laid down on 22 September 1944 at Deutsche Werft AG, Hamburg, as yard number 502. She was launched on 11 November 1944 and commissioned under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Georg Goschzik on 4 December 1944.^[2]

Like all Type XXIII U-boats, U-2348 had a displacement of 234 tonnes (230 long tons) when at the surface and 258 tonnes (254 long tons) while submerged. She had a total length of 34.68 m (113 ft 9 in) (o/a), a beam width of 3.02 m (9 ft 11 in) (o/a), and a draught depth of 3.66 m (12 ft). The submarine was powered by one MWM six-cylinder RS134S diesel engine providing 575–630 metric horsepower (423–463 kilowatts; 567–621 shaft horsepower), one AEG GU4463-8 double-acting electric motor electric motor providing 580 PS (430 kW; 570 shp), and one BBC silent running CCR188 electric motor providing 35 PS (26 kW; 35 shp).^[3]

The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 9.7 knots (18.0 km/h; 11.2 mph) and a submerged speed of 12.5 knots (23.2 km/h; 14.4 mph). When submerged, the boat could operate at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph) for 194 nautical miles (359 km; 223 mi); when surfaced, she could travel 2,600 nautical miles (4,800 km; 3,000 mi) at 8 knots (15 km/h; 9.2 mph). U-2348 was fitted with two 53.3 cm (21 in) torpedo tubes in the bow. She could carry two preloaded torpedoes. The complement was 14–18 men.^[3] This class of U-boat did not carry a deck gun.^[2]

On 9 May 1945, U-2348 surrendered at Stavanger, Norway. She was later transferred to Loch Ryan, Scotland on 27 May 1945. Of the 156 U-boats that eventually surrendered to the Allied forces at the end of the war, U-2348 was not one of 116 selected to take part in Operation Deadlight. U-2348 was broken up in Belfast in April 1949.^[2]

• Battle of the Atlantic

• Helgason, Guðmundur. "U-2348". Uboat.net. Retrieved 30 April 2016.