German World War II submarine
 Postwar photo of Hecht (S 171), (former Type XXIII submarine U-2367). An identical sister ship of U-2353. |
| History |
|---|
 Nazi Germany |
|---|
| Name | U-2353 |
| Ordered | 20 September 1944 |
| Builder | Deutsche Werft AG, Hamburg |
| Yard number | 507 |
| Laid down | 10 October 1944 |
| Launched | 6 December 1944 |
| Commissioned | 9 January 1945 |
| Fate | Surrendered on 9 May 1945 |
 Soviet Union |
|---|
| Name | M-51 |
| Commissioned | 13 February 1946 |
| Stricken | 17 March 1952 |
| Fate | Broken up in 1963 |
| General characteristics |
|---|
| Class and type | Type XXIII submarine |
| Displacement |
- 234 t (230 long tons) (surfaced)
- 258 t (254 long tons) (submerged)
|
| Length |
- 34.68 m (113 ft 9 in) (o/a)
- 26.00 m (85 ft 4 in) (p/h)
|
| Beam |
- 3.02 m (9 ft 11 in) (o/a)
- 3.00 m (9 ft 10 in) (p/h)
|
| Draught | 3.66 m (12 ft) |
| Installed power |
- 575–630 PS (423–463 kW; 567–621 shp) (diesel drive)
- 580 PS (430 kW; 570 shp) (standard electric drive)
- 35 PS (26 kW; 35 shp) (silent electric drive)
|
| Propulsion | |
| Speed |
- 9.7 knots (18 km/h; 11 mph) (surfaced)
- 12.5 knots (23 km/h; 14 mph) (submerged)
|
| Range |
- 2,600 nautical miles (4,800 km; 3,000 mi) at 8 knots (15 km/h; 9.2 mph) surfaced
- 194 nmi (359 km; 223 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph) submerged
|
| Test depth | 180 m (590 ft) |
| Complement | 14–18 |
| Armament | |
| Service record (Kriegsmarine) |
| Part of: |
|
| Identification codes: |
M 50 310 |
| Commanders: |
|
| Operations: |
None |
| Victories: |
None |
German submarine U-2353 was a Type XXIII U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. She was ordered on 20 September 1944, and was laid down on 10 October 1944 at Deutsche Werft AG, Hamburg, as yard number 507. She was launched on 6 December 1944 and commissioned under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Jürgen Hillmann on 9 January 1945.[2]
Design
Like all Type XXIII U-boats, U-2353 had a displacement of 234 tonnes (230 long tons) when at the surface and 258 tonnes (254 long tons) while submerged. She had a total length of 34.68 m (113 ft 9 in) (o/a), a beam width of 3.02 m (9 ft 11 in) (o/a), and a draught depth of 3.66 m (12 ft). The submarine was powered by one MWM six-cylinder RS134S diesel engine providing 575–630 metric horsepower (423–463 kilowatts; 567–621 shaft horsepower), one AEG GU4463-8 double-acting electric motor providing 580 PS (430 kW; 570 shp), and one BBC silent running CCR188 electric motor providing 35 PS (26 kW; 35 shp).
The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 9.7 knots (18.0 km/h; 11.2 mph) and a submerged speed of 12.5 knots (23.2 km/h; 14.4 mph). When submerged, the boat could operate at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph) for 194 nautical miles (359 km; 223 mi); when surfaced, she could travel 2,600 nautical miles (4,800 km; 3,000 mi) at 8 knots (15 km/h; 9.2 mph). U-2353 was fitted with two 53.3 cm (21 in) torpedo tubes in the bow. She could carry two preloaded torpedoes. The complement was 14 – 18 men. This class of U-boat did not carry a deck gun.[2]
Service history
On 9 May 1945, U-2353 surrendered at Kristiansand, Norway. She was later transferred to Loch Ryan, Scotland on 29 May 1945.[2]
Post war service
The TNC allocated U-2353 to the Soviet Union. On 4 December 1945, she arrived in Libau, Latvia, as British N-class N31. On 13 February 1946, the Soviet Navy allocated her to the Baltic Fleet. She was renamed M-51 on 9 June 1949 then sent to the reserve fleet on 22 December 1950 as a training hulk. She was finally struck from the Soviet Navy on 17 March 1952, and broken up for scrap in 1963.[2]
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