German submarine U-2331

Template:U-Boat Frame Template:U-Boat Title Template:U-Boat Infobox Template:U-Boat Career Template:U-Boat Patrol Template:U-Boat Patrol Template:U Boat Commanders Template:U Boat Command Template:U Boat Sinkings Template:U Boat Sink Template:U Boat Sink Template:U Boat Sink Template:U-Boat End Frame Unterseeboot 2331 (usually abbreviated to U-2331) was a German Type XXIII submarine built during World War II intended for service against allied shipping in coastal waters. She was a brand new, high technology electric U-boat which was lost when only one month old in a bizarre training accident in the Baltic Sea. Built at Hamburg, she was constructed at speed, as she and her sisters were seen as war winning weapons and thus vitally important to the German war effort.

Completed in September 1944, U-2331 was under going a fast-track working-up period in the Baltic under her commander Kptlt. Hans-Walter Pahl under the observation of Klaus Vernier, a highly experienced U-boat commander and tactical expert. On the 10 October, just 28 days after her completion, U-2331 dived and failed to submerge in the sea off Hela. Four of the reduced crew (including the captain), escaped the sinking ship but 15 did not, including Vernier.

The Kriegsmarine conducted an investigation into the loss, at which it was revealed that either the captain or Vernier had ordered the submarine to submarge whilst travelling in reverse, thus unbalancing the boat and causing it to sink uncontrollably. A handful of men on the conning tower thus survived as the boat sank under them. The wreck was raised and taken to Gotenhafen, but the time submerged had irreperably damaged the boat's systems, and the remains were scrapped.

References

• Sharpe, Peter, U-Boat Fact File, Midland Publishing, Great Britain: 1998. ISBN 1-85780-072-9.
• U-boat.net webpage for U-2331

• See Also: List of U-boats