German submarine U-323

German submarine U-323 was a Type VIIC/41 U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

She carried out no patrols and sank or damaged no ships.

The boat was scuttled on 5 May 1945 in northern Germany.

Design
Like all Type VIIC/41 U-boats, U-323 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, and a draught of 4.74 m. The submarine was powered by two Germaniawerft F46 supercharged six-cylinder four-stroke diesel engines producing a total of 2800 to 3200 PS and two Garbe, Lahmeyer & Co. RP 137/c double-acting electric motors producing a total of 750 PS for use while submerged. The boat was capable of operating at a depth of 250 m.

The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 17.7 kn and a 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-323 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. Its complement was between forty-four and sixty.

Service history
The submarine was laid down on 12 March 1942 by the Flender Werke yard at Lübeck as yard number 323, launched on 12 January 1944 and commissioned on 2 March under the command of Kapitänleutnant Siegfried Pregel.

She served with the 4th U-boat Flotilla for training, from 2 March 1944 to 5 May 1945. The boat was scuttled on 5 May 1945 near Nordenham, (across the River Weser from Bremerhaven).