German submarine U-345

German submarine U-345 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.
She carried out no patrols. She did not sink or damage any ships.
She was damaged beyond repair on 13 December 1943 and mined in December 1945.

Design

German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-345 had a displacement of when at the surface and while submerged. She had a total length of, a pressure hull length of, a beam of, a height of, and a draught of. The submarine was powered by two Germaniawerft F46 four-stroke, six-cylinder supercharged diesel engines producing a total of for use while surfaced, two AEG GU 460/8-276 double-acting electric motors producing a total of for use while submerged. She had two shafts and two propellers. The boat was capable of operating at depths of up to.
The submarine had a maximum surface speed of and a maximum submerged speed of. When submerged, the boat could operate for at ; when surfaced, she could travel at. U-345 was fitted with five torpedo tubes, fourteen torpedoes, one SK C/35 naval gun, 220 rounds, and four twin C/30 anti-aircraft guns. The boat had a complement of between forty-four and sixty.

The submarine was laid down on 9 July 1942 at the Nordseewerke yard at Emden as yard number 217, launched on 11 March 1943 and commissioned on 4 May 1943 under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Ulrich Knackfuß. U-345 served with the 8th U-boat Flotilla from 4 May 1943. She was hit during a USAAF raid on Kiel on 13 December 1943. The damage was severe enough that she was paid off on the 23rd. After the German surrender in May 1945, she was mined off Warnemünde,, in December.