Recognition Guide Warships of the Second World War
Kriegsmarine — Submarine

German submarine U-345

Type VIIC submarine

Displacement
757 long tons (769 t)
Length
67.1 m (220.1 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-3454 May 1943 — 13 December 1943223 days of the war
Type VIIC submarine Particulars
Name
U-345
Builder
Nordseewerke, Emden
Ordered
10 April 1941
Laid down
9 July 1942
Launched
11 March 1943
Commissioned
4 May 1943
Fate
Damaged beyond repair by US bombs on 13 December 1943; mined off at Warenmünde (Rostock) in December 1945
By aircraft (1943)
Status
Wreck

Specifications

Displacement, surfaced
757 long tons (769 t)
Displacement, submerged
857 long tons (871 t)
Length
67.1 m (220.1 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-345 was a Type VIIC submarine, operated by the Kriegsmarine. Her keel was laid at Nordseewerke, Emden on 9 July 1942. Launched on 11 March 1943, she entered service on 4 May 1943.

Her class ran to 612 ships. The class followed the Type UB III, Vetehinen class and was succeeded by the Type XXI (Late-war replacement).

The boat displaced 757 long tons surfaced and 857 long tons submerged. She measured 67.1 m (220 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 223 days of the Second World War.

She was sunk on 13 December 1943 by aircraft. 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 or 26 TMA mines
  • 1 × 8.8 cm deck gun (220 rounds)
  • 4 × twin 2 cm C/30 anti-aircraft guns

Sister ships

587 more in the class

Sources