Type
XXIIIThe Type XXIII German U-boat was a coastal version of the larger Type XXI U-Boat in that they were built in sections elsewhere and the sections shipped to a central assembly plant. Further, they had the same inverted 'figure 8' hull design and much larger battery capacity than other small, coastal boats. This was the first of the German U-Boats in which there was not enough space internally for torpedo reloads, so all torpedoes were loaded externally when the boat was in port. The modern-day German submarines of the 205, 206, 206A and 212 Class are all loaded externally in much the same way as the World War II Type XXIII coastal U-Boats. Since there were no follow-on variants, there was no Type XXIII-A; just the Type XXIII.
Displacement................ 234 tons surface; 258 tons submerged
Dimensions..................... 113' 9" x 9' 9" x 12' 3"
Engines............................ single shaft diesel and electric
Power (diesel)........... 575 hp
(six-cylinder M.W.M. diesel-electric motors)
(electric)....... 600 hp
(silent creeping).... 35hp
Speed (diesel).......... 9.75 knots
(electric)...... 12½ knots
(silent creeping)... 4½ knots
Bunkers........................ 18 tons of fuel oil
Radius (diesel)..... 1,350 miles @ 9.75 knots
(electric).. 175 miles @ 4 knots
Tubes (fwd)........... Two 21 inch
(aft)............ None
Guns.......................... None
AA Guns.................. None
Crew........................ 14 men
The Type XXIII U-Boats all had the same telescoping snorkel as their larger Type XXI counterparts. Some of the Type XXIII U-Boats did get into combat and gave an outstanding account of themselves.
A great many Type XXIII German U-Boats were built and put into service, while many more were building or contracted for when the war ended.
U-2321 through U-2371 were built by Deutsche Werft in Hamburg and put into service.
U-2372 through U-2377 were scrapped incomplete at Deutsche Werft in Toulon, France.
U-2378 through U-2400 were contracted to Deutsche Werft at Toulon, France but were cancelled.
U-2401 through U-2430 were contracted to Deutsche Werft in Genoa, Italy but were cancelled.
U-2431 through U-2445 were contracted to Deutsche Werft at Monfalcone, Italy but were cancelled.
U-2446 through U-2460 were contracted to Deutsche Werft at Nicolaiev and Linz but were cancelled.
U-2461 through U-2500 were projected for Deutsche Werft at Nicolaiev and Linz but were cancelled.
U-4001 through U-4120 were scrapped incomplete at Deutsch Werft in Hamburg.
U-4121 through U-4500 were projected for Deutsche Werft in Hamburg but were cancelled.
U-4701 through U-4707 were built by Germania Werft in Kiel and put into service.
U-4708 and U-4712 were under construction at Germania Werft in Kiel, destroyed by bombing.
U-4713 through U-4891 were scrapped incomplete at Germania Werft in Kiel.
U-4892 through U-5000 were projected for Germania Werft in Kiel but were cancelled.
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