German submarine U-322

German submarine U-322 was a Type VIIC/41 U-boat of the Nazi German Kriegsmarine during World War II.

She carried out two patrols, sinking one ship of 5,149 GRT and causing two others, for a total of 14,367 tons, to be declared total losses.

The boat was sunk in December 1944 by a Canadian frigate in the English Channel.

Service history
The submarine was laid down on 13 February 1943 by the Flender Werke yard at Lübeck as 'werk' 322, launched on 18 December and commissioned on 5 February 1944 under the command of Oberleutnant Gerhard Wysk.

She served with the 4th U-boat Flotilla for training, from 5 February 1944 to 31 October and the 11th flotilla for operations until her sinking on 29 December.

1st patrol
U-322 departed Kiel on 2 November 1944 and arrived in Horten (south of Oslo), on the 6th.

2nd patrol and loss
The boat left Horten on 15 November 1944, heading for the 'gap' between the Faroe and Shetland Islands and passing west of Ireland. On 23 December, she sank the Dumfries off St Catherine's Point, Isle of Wight in the English Channel. On the 29th, seven miles off the Portland lighthouse near Weymouth, she attacked the Arthur Sewall and the Black Hawk, causing both vessels to be declared a total loss. She was sunk on the same day by depth charges dropped from the Canadian frigate HMCS Calgary.

Fifty two men died; there were no survivors.

Previously recorded fate
U-322 was sunk on 25 November 1944 west of the Shetland Islands by the British frigate HMS Ascension.

Discovery
The wreck has been found; although it was originally thought to be that of U-772, it has been identified as U-322.