Like all Type XXIIIU-boats, U-2326 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 of3.66 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 BBCsilent 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-2326 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]
Service history
On 14 May 1945, a week after the end of the war, U-2326 surrendered at Dundee, Scotland. Karl Jobst and Leutnant Karl Bertsch were held aboard HMS Unicorn (1824), temporarily known as HMS Cressy. U-2326 would go on to become a British Type-N-class submarine renamed N35 and later be transferred to France in 1946. However, she was sunk 6 December 1946, in an accident in Toulon with the loss of 21 lives. While many sources claim that the boat was later raised and broken up for scrap, the French Navy does not raise warships that suffered a loss of life as they are viewed as military graves, so these claims seem highly unlikely.[2][4][5]
^Arkin, William M.; Handler, Joshua (June 1989). "Naval Accidents 1945 - 1988"(PDF). Greenpeace / Institute for Policy Studies. Archived from the original(PDF) on 29 June 2021. Retrieved 12 January 2021.
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.
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.