U-37, (an identical U-boat to U-44) at Lorient in 1940. |
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| Career (Nazi Germany) | |
|---|---|
| Name: | U-44 |
| Ordered: | 21 November 1936[1] |
| Builder: | AG Weser, Bremen[1] |
| Yard number: | 949[1] |
| Laid down: | 15 September 1938[1] |
| Launched: | 5 August 1939[1] |
| Commissioned: | 4 November 1939[1] |
| Fate: | Sunk by a mine on 13 March 1940 off the coast of the Netherlands. All crew members were lost.[2] |
| General characteristics [3][4] | |
| Type: | Type IXA submarine |
| Displacement: | 1,032 t (1,016 long tons) surfaced 1,152 t (1,134 long tons) submerged |
| Length: | 76.6 m (251 ft 4 in) o/a 58.7 m (192 ft 7 in) pressure hull |
| Beam: | 6.5 m (21 ft 4 in) o/a 4.4 m (14 ft 5 in) pressure hull |
| Height: | 9.4 m (30 ft 10 in) |
| Draft: | 4.7 m (15 ft 5 in) |
| Propulsion: | 2 × MAN M9V40/46 supercharged 9-cylinder diesel engines, 4,400 hp (3,281 kW) 2 × SSW GU345/34 double-acting electric motors, 1,000 hp (746 kW) |
| Speed: | 18.2 knots (33.7 km/h) surfaced 7.7 knots (14.3 km/h) submerged |
| Range: | 19,425 nmi (35,975 km) at 10 knots (19 km/h) surfaced 144 nmi (267 km) at 4 kn (7.4 km/h) submerged |
| Test depth: | 230 m (750 ft) |
| Complement: | 47 |
| Armament: | • 6 × torpedo tubes (4 bow, 2 stern) • 22 × 533 mm (21 in) torpedoes • 1 × Utof 105 mm/45 deck gun (110 rounds) • AA guns |
German submarine U-44 was a Type IXA U-boat of the German Kriegsmarine that operated during World War II.[2] She was ordered by the German Kriegsmarine on 21 November 1936 and was laid down on 15 September 1938 by AG Weser, Bremen as Werk 949. She was launched on 5 August 1939 and commissioned on 4 November under the command of Korvettenkapitän Ludwig Mathes.[2]
During her service in the German Kriegsmarine, U-44 conducted only two war patrols and sank a total of eight enemy vessels for a loss of 30,885 GRT. On 13 March 1940, U-44 struck a mine that was located in minefield field Number 7 off the north coast of the Netherlands. All 47 of U-44's crew members went down with the submarine.[2]
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U-44 was ordered by the German Kriegsmarine on 21 November 1936 (as part of Plan Z and in violation of the Treaty of Versailles). She was laid down on 15 September 1938 by AG Weser, Bremen as Werk 949. U-44 was launched on 5 August 1939 and commissioned on 4 November of that same year under the command of Korvettenkapitän Ludwig Mathes.[2]
U-44 had 2 MAN M9V40/46 supercharged 9-cylinder diesel engines, that put out 4,400 hp (3,281 kW) as well as 2 SSW GU345/34 double-acting electric motors that produced 1,000 hp (746 kW) and allowed her to travel at 18.2 knots (33.7 km/h) while surfaced and 7.7 knots (14.3 km/h) submerged. She had a range of 19,425 nmi (35,975 km) at 10 knots (19 km/h) while on the surface and 144 nmi (267 km) at 4 kn (7.4 km/h) while submerged. U-44 had 6 torpedo tubes (4 in the bow, 2 in the stern). She also carried a total of 22 533 mm (21 in) torpedoes and had a Utof 105 mm/45 deck gun that held 110 rounds. She was equipped with the standard 2 cm FlaK 30 anti-aircraft guns. U-44 had a crew of forty seven men, however she could hold up to fifty six crew members at any given time. After being commissioned and deployed, U-44 was stationed in the German port city of Wilhelmshaven. This city was to be her home port for the rest of her short career.[3][4]
U-44 had a very short career. During her service with the German Kriegsmarine, U-44 took part in only two combat patrols. After training exercises with the 6th U-boat Flotilla from 4 November 1939 to 31 December 1939, U-44 was assigned as the front boat for the 2nd U-boat Flotilla on 1 January 1940. She was to remain a part of this flotilla until her loss.
The first of U-44's two patrols began on 6 January 1940 when she left her home port of Wilhelmshaven. She ventured into the North Sea and eventually circumnavigated the British Isles and travelled as far south as the Bay of Biscay and even Portugal. It was in these two locations that U-44 sank her first (and last) merchant ships. Following these victories, U-44 headed north again, travelling just north of the coast of Scotland and back into the North Sea. She then headed back to Wilhelmshaven, arriving there on 9 February 1940. Over a period of thirty-five days, U-44 sank eight merchant ships, for a total loss of 30,885 tons.[5]
Unlike her first patrol, U-44's second patrol was a failure, not even lasting through the first day. After spending more than a month in the port at Wilhelmshaven, U-44 began her second patrol, leaving port on 13 March 1940. A few hours after leaving Wilhelmshaven, U-44 entered mine field Number 7, just off of the northern coast of the Netherlands. This particular minefield was laid down by the British warships Esk, Express, Icarus, Faulknor, and Impulsive. Upon entering the mine field, U-44 struck a mine and sank at . All forty-seven of her crew were lost.[2][6]
During her service in the German Kriegsmarine, U-44 sank 8 commercial ships for a loss of 30,885 GRT. All of these ships were sunk during her first patrol.[7]
| Date[7] | Ship[7] | Nationality[7] | Tonnage[7] | Fate[7] |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 January 1940 | Arendskerk | Dutch | 7,906 | sunk |
| 15 January 1940 | Fagerheim | Norwegian | 1,590 | sunk |
| 16 January 1940 | Panachrandros | Greek | 4,661 | sunk |
| 18 January 1940 | Canadian Reefer | Danish | 1,831 | sunk |
| 20 January 1940 | Ekatontarchos Dracoulis | Greek | 5,329 | sunk |
| 24 January 1940 | Tourny | French | 3,819 | sunk |
| 25 January 1940 | Alsacien | French | 2,769 | sunk |
| 28 January 1940 | Flora | Greek | 2,980 | sunk |
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