German submarine U-322

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

She carried out two patrols, sinking one ship of and causing two others totaling 14,367 GRT to be declared total losses.

The boat was sunk on 29 December 1944 by a Canadian corvette in the English Channel.

Design
German Type VIIC/41 submarines were preceded by the heavier Type VIIC submarines. U-322 had a displacement of 759 t when at the surface and 860 t while submerged. She had a total length of 67.10 m, a pressure hull length of 50.50 m, a beam of 6.20 m, a height of 9.60 m, and a draught of 4.74 m. The submarine was powered by two Germaniawerft F46 four-stroke, six-cylinder supercharged diesel engines producing a total of 2800 to 3200 PS for use while surfaced, two Garbe, Lahmeyer & Co. RP 137/c double-acting electric motors producing a total of 750 PS for use while submerged. She had two shafts and two 1.23 m propellers. The boat was capable of operating at depths of up to 230 m.

The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 17.7 kn and a maximum submerged speed of 7.6 kn. When submerged, the boat could operate for 80 nmi at 4 kn; when surfaced, she could travel 8500 nmi at 10 kn. U-322 was fitted with five 53.3 cm torpedo tubes (four fitted at the bow and one at the stern), fourteen torpedoes, one 8.8 cm SK C/35 naval gun, (220 rounds), one 3.7 cm Flak M42 and two 2 cm C/30 anti-aircraft guns. The boat had a complement of between forty-four and sixty.

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

First patrol
U-322 departed Kiel on 2 November 1944 and arrived in Horten Naval Base (south of Oslo), on the sixth.

Second 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 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 Arthur Sewall and 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 corvette HMCS Calgary (K231).

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 (K502).

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