German submarine U-2324

German submarine U-2324 was a highly advanced submarine built for the Kriegsmarine in World War II. U-2324 was one of the last commissioned boats to undertake an operational patrol, and one of just three of her class to undergo two. During these patrols, she succeeded in sinking a single small British coastal freighter, one of just five ships sunk by this submarine class.

U-2321 was built as a German Type XXIII submarine at Hamburg during the spring of 1944. As an early production of a new class of boats which utilised new technologies, she required a lengthy period of sea trials and training to best develop the boat's offensive capabilities. It was thus not until January 1945 that her captain, Hans-Heinrich Haas, was permitted to take her on a patrol off the Eastern coast of Scotland.

War Patrol
The first patrol was unsuccessful, Allied precautions and counter-measures were effective enough to prevent her from successfully targeting even the small coastal vessels to be found in this area. She returned empty-handed, and Haas was replaced by Konstantin von Rappard, who now commanded her for the remainder of her service career.

The second patrol of U-2324 in April was more successful, with the SS Monarch being sunk. This 1,100 ton ship was torpedoed in a night attack on a coastal convoy, and was the only success of the boat during her operational career. U-2324 returned to Stavanger in May 1945 the day before the surrender. When Germany surrendered, U-2324 was at Stavanger in Norway, from where it sailed to Loch Ryan in Scotland for disposal in Operation Deadlight. Towed out to sea on the 27 November, the boat was destroyed as a naval gunnery target.