German submarine U-234

U-234 surrendering. Crewmen of Sutton (DE-771) in foreground with Kptlt. Johann-Heinrich Fehler (left-hand white cap)
History
Nazi Germany
Name:	U-234
Ordered:	7 December 1940
Builder:	Germaniawerft, Kiel
Yard number:	664
Laid down:	1 October 1941
Launched:	22 December 1943
Commissioned:	2 March 1944
Captured:	Surrendered to USS Sutton, 14 May 1945
Fate:	Sunk by torpedo from USS Greenfish during trials, 20 November 1947
General characteristics
Class and type:	German Type X submarine minelayer
Displacement:	1,763 tonnes (1,735 long tons) surfaced 2,177 tonnes (2,143 long tons) submerged
Length:	89.80 m (294 ft 7 in) o/a 70.90 m (232 ft 7 in) pressure hull
Beam:	9.20 m (30 ft 2 in) o/a 4.75 m (15 ft 7 in) pressure hull
Height:	10.20 m (33 ft 6 in)
Draught:	4.71 m (15 ft 5 in)
Propulsion:	2 × supercharged GW F 46 a 9 pu 9 cylinder, four-stroke diesel engines, 4,800 PS (4,700 bhp; 3,500 kW) 2 × AEG GU 720/8-287 electric motors, 1,100 PS (1,100 shp; 810 kW)
Speed:	16.4–17 knots (30.4–31.5 km/h; 18.9–19.6 mph) surfaced 7 knots (13 km/h; 8.1 mph) submerged
Range:	18,450 nautical miles (34,170 km; 21,230 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) surfaced 93 nmi (172 km; 107 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph) submerged
Test depth:	Calculated crush depth: 220 m (720 ft)
Complement:	5 officers, 47 enlisted
Sensors and processing systems:	FuMO-61 Hohentwiel U FuMB-26 Tunis
Armament:	2 × 53.3 cm (21 in) stern torpedo tubes 15 × G7e torpedoes 66 × SMA mines 1 × 10.5 cm SK C/32 naval gun (200 rounds)
Service record
Part of:	5th U-boat Flotilla 2 March 1944 - 28 February 1945 33rd U-boat Flotilla 1 March 1945 - 8 March 1945
Commanders:	Kptlt. Johann-Heinrich Fehler 2 March 1944 - 16 May 1945
Operations:	One patrol: 16 April - 19 May 1945
Victories:	None

German submarine U-234 was a Type XB U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. Her first and only mission into enemy or contested territory consisted of the attempted delivery of uranium oxide and German advanced weapons technology to the Empire of Japan. After receiving Admiral Dönitz' order to surface and surrender and of Germany's unconditional surrender, the submarine's crew surrendered to the United States on 14 May 1945.

Originally built as a minelaying submarine, she was laid down at the Germaniawerft in Kiel on 1 April 1942; U-234 was damaged during construction, but launched on 22 December 1943. Following the loss of U-233 in July 1944, it was decided not to use U-234 as a minelayer; she was completed instead as a long-range cargo submarine with missions to Japan in mind.

U-234 was one of the few U-boats that was fitted with a FuMO-61 Hohentwiel U-Radar Transmitter. This equipment was installed on the starboard side of the conning tower.

FuMO-61 Hohentwiel U-Radar Transmitter

U-234 was also fitted with the FuMB-26 Tunis antenna. The FuMB 26 Tunis combined the FuMB Ant. 24 Fliege and FuMB Ant. 25 Cuba II antennas. It could be mounted in either the Direction Finder Antenna Loop and separately on the bridge.

FuMB-26 Tunis Radar Detection

U-234 returned to the Germaniawerft yard at Kiel on 5 September 1944, to be refitted as a transport. Apart from minor work, she had a snorkel added and 12 of her 30 mineshafts were fitted with special cargo containers the same diameter as the shafts and held in place by the mine release mechanisms. In addition, her keel was loaded with cargo, thought to be optical-grade glass and mercury, and her four upper-deck torpedo storage compartments (two on each side) were also occupied by cargo containers.