German submarine U-324

German submarine U-324 was a Type VIIC/41 U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

The submarine was laid down on 24 March 1943 at the Flender Werke at Lübeck, launched on 12 February 1944, and commissioned on 5 April 1944 under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Ernst Edelhoff.

Design
Like all Type VIIC/41 U-boats, U-324 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-324 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
U-324 served with the 4th U-boat Flotilla for training, and subsequently with the 11th U-boat Flotilla for front-line service from 15 March to 8 May 1945. U-324 departed in company with GS U-776 on 22 March 1945 but aborted the patrol due to engine trouble and returned to port. Still under repair at the cessation of hostilities, she surrendered at Bergen, Norway on 9 May 1945 and was broken up in March 1947.