German submarine U-345

German submarine U-345 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

She carried out no patrols. She did not sink or damage any ships.

She was damaged beyond repair on 13 December 1943 and mined in December 1945.

Design
German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-345 had a displacement of 769 t when at the surface and 871 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 AEG GU 460/8-276 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-345 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, and four twin 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 9 July 1942 at the Nordseewerke yard at Emden as yard number 217, launched on 11 March 1943 and commissioned on 4 May 1943 under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Ulrich Knackfuß. U-345 served with the 8th U-boat Flotilla from 4 May 1943. She was hit during a USAAF raid on Kiel on 13 December 1943. The damage was severe enough that she was paid off on the 23rd. After the German surrender in May 1945, she was mined off Warnemünde, (north of Rostock), in December.