Recognition Guide Warships of the Second World War
Kriegsmarine — Submarine

German submarine U-321

Type VIIC/41 submarine

Displacement
747 long tons (759 t)
Length
67.23 m (220.6 ft)
Beam
6.2 m (20.3 ft)
Speed
17.7 knots (32.8 km/h, 20.4 mph)
Main gun
88 mm (3.5 in)

Service

  1. Kriegsmarine as U-32120 January 1944 — 2 April 1945438 days of the war
Type VIIC/41 submarine Particulars
Name
U-321
Builder
Flender Werke, Lübeck
Ordered
14 October 1941
Laid down
21 January 1943
Launched
27 November 1943
Commissioned
20 January 1944
Fate
Sunk, 2 April 1945 (1945)
Status
Wreck

Specifications

Displacement, surfaced
747 long tons (759 t)
Displacement, submerged
846 long tons (860 t)
Length
67.23 m (220.6 ft) OA
Beam
6.2 m (20.3 ft)
Draught
4.74 m (15.6 ft)
Speed
17.7 knots (32.8 km/h, 20.4 mph)
Range
8,500 nmi (15,742 km)
Main gun
88 mm (3.5 in)

U-321 was a Type VIIC/41 submarine of the Kriegsmarine. Her keel was laid at Flender Werke, Lübeck on 21 January 1943. Launched on 27 November 1943, she entered service on 20 January 1944.

612 ships of the class were built. The class followed the Type UB III, Vetehinen class and was succeeded by the Type XXI (Late-war replacement).

The boat displaced 747 long tons surfaced and 846 long tons submerged. She measured 67.2 m (221 ft) long with a beam of 6.2 m (20 ft). Her designed speed was 17.7 knots.

Her main battery was one 88 mm (3.5 in) guns.

She was in commission for 438 days of the Second World War.

She was sunk on 2 April 1945. The wreck survives.

Written from the harvested record. Every figure above is sourced; the wording is this site's own.

Armament and machinery

Armament and machinery
Propulsion
  • 2 shafts
  • 2 × diesel engines
  • 2 × electric motors
Power
  • 2800 - 3200 PS (diesels)
  • 750 PS (electric)
Armament
  • 5 × 53.3 cm torpedo tubes (four bow, one stern)
  • 14 × torpedoes
  • 1 × 8.8 cm deck gun (220 rounds)
  • 1 × 3.7 cm Flak M42 AA gun
  • 2 × 2 cm C/30 AA guns

Sister ships

587 more in the class

Sources