The German Type XXIII U-Boat in action

[bengtsson]

Just a little information to back up the abilities of the German type XXIIIs. They did see some combat action, and the results provide an insight into what the XXIs may have done out in the atlantic had the war gone on a few more months. Based mostly on the MoD U-Boat report and several other books.

The first two U.2324 and U.2322 sailed from Kristianstad on the 31st January and the 6th of February respectively, to operate off the British Coast between Aberdeen and Newcastle, their main activity being centered on the Firth of Fourth. As their commanders needed some time to familiarise themselves with the newly installed schnorkels and also the general features of their operating area, it was not until 18th of February that contact was made with the enemy. U.2324 encountered a convoy in bad visibility 15 miles east of the Coquet light and fired two torpedoes at a range of about 400 meters, both shots missed, owing to gyro-angling failures. Later on 25 February, U.2322 sank a freighter of 1.317 tons eight miles south-east of St. Abb's Head.
The type XXIII boats made a further six sorties before the war ended, U.2321, U.2326 and U.2336 patrolling in the same area as the first two boats, and U.2322- and presumably U.2324 and U.2329- patrolling between Lowestoft and the Thames.
The german naval archives in possession of the allies contained no further reference to these operations. So the table given below was based on memory, or from verbal accounts of the officers concerned, and can't be regarded a strictly accurate.
The commanding officers were unanimous in their opinions of the new boats, finding them fast, handy and easy to control, while their small silhouette reduced the chances of detection and counter attack. They considered the new boats to be ideal for short operations in coastal waters, their only inadequacy being in radio transmitting and receiving equipment. Using the full submerged speed of 13 knots, the commanders were always able to reach a close attacking position and to attack two targets in quick succession; however in four cases lack of experience caused them to underestimate their own speed, with the result that in the second of their attacks, the torpedo was fired inside the safety range and so failed to arm.
The only Boat to hit in both attacks was U.2336, which on 7th May sank two ships close south-east of May Island in the Firth of Forth. Her commanding officer-a former U-Boat staff officer-had been one of those responsible for developing the tactics on the new typr boats and anxious to prove his theory, carried out his attacks in truly academic style. Incidentally, this attack served to underline the inadequacy of the radio receiver fitted in type XXIIIs, for U.2336 received no radio messages subsequent to her sailing and therefore missed the signal of May 4th odering all boats to cease operations and return to base.
In their eight sorties the type XXIII boats entirely fulfilled German expectations. Although they had operated in difficult waters, not one was lost, while only two failed to achieve any results, both through torpedo failure. They exceeded our expectations in one respect, by remaining at sea for 4-5 weeks instead of two or three as was estimated. U.2321's patrol lasted for 33 days.
Some sources say that type XXIII captains reported that none of their boats was counter attacked or detected and attacked during the XXIIIs short operational career. This above all else showed their abilities to operate against strong ASW forces and survive.

U.2324 Newcastle to St Abb's head-30.1 to 24.2 no results- two torpedo failures
U.2322 " " - 6.2 to 3.3 One freighter of 1,317 tons
U.2321 " " -12.2 to 14.4 One freighter of 1,406 tons
U.2322 Lowestoft to Thames - 5.4 to 5.5 One ship of 7,029 tons
U.2324 " " - 3.4 to 26.4
U.2329 " " -12.4 to 27.4 One ship of 4,856 tons / unclear which of
two above sank it
U.2326 Newcastle to St Abb's head -19.4 to 28.4 two torpedo failures
U.2326 " " 1.5 to 14.5 two ships totalling 4,669 tons


For a totally new type being operated in combat for the first time with new crews, the results give just a hint of what could be done with the new type. A few more sorties with experience, and results would be better than 50% hit ratio for torpedo fired. The fact that none experienced an attack from ASW forces and returned home safely also hints at how hard they would be to counter. The type XXIs were faster and capable of long patrols to any part of the Atlantic. The U-Boat had just become a much more dangerous force by May of 45.

Bob B.