German submarine U-234

U-234 surrendering. Crewmen of Sutton (DE-771) in foreground with Kapitänleutnant 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	23 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	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 bhp; 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[1][2]
Part of:	5th U-boat Flotilla 2 March 1944 - 28 February 1945 33rd U-boat Flotilla 1 March 1945 - 8 May 1945
Identification codes:	M 53 388
Commanders:	Kptlt. Johann-Heinrich Fehler 2 March 1944 - 19 May 1945
Operations:	1 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, she was commanded by Kapitänleutnant Johann-Heinrich Fehler. 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.