U-234

Type

XB

Ordered

7 Dec, 1940

Laid down

1 Oct, 1941

Germaniawerft, Kiel (werk 664)

Launched

23 Dec, 1943

Commissioned

2 Mar, 1944

Kptlt. Johann-Heinrich Fehler

Commanders

2 Mar, 1944 - 16 May, 1945

Kptlt. Johann-Heinrich Fehler

Career

1 patrol

2 Mar, 1944 - 28 Feb, 1945 5. Flottille (training)
1 Mar, 1945 - 8 May, 1945 33. Flottille (front boat)

Successes

No ships sunk or damaged

Fate

Surrendered at Portsmouth, New Hampshire on May 16, 1945.

U-234 was sunk by a torpedo from USS Greenfish during trials approximately 40 miles north-east off Cape Cod, on the US east coast on 20 November, 1947.

View the 1 war patrol

General notes on this boat

U-234 suffered bomb damage while under construction in 1942. After the loss of U-233 in July 1944 it was decided not to use U-234 as a mine-laying boat. She was then rebuilt as a Japan-transporter. On 25 March 1945 they left Kiel and a few days later reached Kristiansand, Norway.

On 16 April, 1945 she left Norway and was enroute to Japan with extremely important cargo (drawings, a Me-262 jet fighter in crates and 560kg of uranium oxide, several high ranking German experts on various technologies and 2 Japanese officers) when Kptlt. Fehler, after hearing the cease-fire orders on May 4, 1945, decided to head for the USA and surrender.

Per tradition the Japanese men took their own life via sleeping pills rather than being captured.

Schnorchel-fitted U-boat
This boat was fitted with a Schnorchel underwater-breathing apparatus in November 1944. Read more about the Schnorchel and see list of fitted boats.

Men lost from U-boats

Unlike many other U-boats, which during their service lost men due to accidents and various other causes, U-234 did not suffer any casualties (we know of) until the time of her loss.