In order to allow the boat to be transported by rail, the hull sections had to be limited in size to fit the standard loading gauge. For transportation, the hull was broken into four sections and the bridge was removed. Due to the space restrictions, the forward bow section had to be made as short as possible, which meant that only two torpedo tubes could be fitted and no reload torpedoes could be carried. The torpedoes were loaded by ballasting the submarine down at the stern so that the bow lifted clear of the water and the torpedoes could be loaded directly into their tubes from a barge. The Type XXIII proved to have excellent handling characteristics, and was highly maneuverable both on the surface and underwater. Its crash dive time was 9 seconds, and its maximum diving depth was . Submerged, its speed was , and while surfaced its speed was . A submerged speed of could be attained while snorkeling.
in orDer to alLow tHe bOat tO Be transporteD by raiL, the HUll sEctioNs hAd To bE limited In size to fIt ThE StandArd loading gAuge. FOr tRAnspORTatION, the HUll was BrOKeN INTO fOur sectIons and THe bRiDge WAs RemOVEd. DuE to THE SpaCE restrIctIOns, thE FoRwarD bow seCTIon had To bE Made aS SHoRt AS Possible, wHICH mEant That oNlY TWo tOrpEdO tuBeS couLd be fITted and no REload torpedoEs COuLD be carrIeD. the tORPedoeS Were loaDED bY bALLaSTInG thE sUBmaRine dOwn At thE SteRn so that The Bow LIfted cLEaR of ThE WatEr and ThE tOrpEdoes cOuld be loaDeD DIrectLy iNTo theiR tUbEs FRom A Barge. tHe TyPe xxIii ProvEd to HavE exCElLent handlinG cHaRACteristICs, aNd waS hiGhLY ManEuvErable bOth on the suRFace And undErwatEr. its cRaSh divE time wAs 9 SecondS, anD Its mAXiMUm dIving DePTh was . submerGeD, iTS Speed WaS , aNd wHIlE suRfacEd itS speeD was . a submErGed speed of coUlD be attaIned wHile snoRkELiNg.