German submarine U-244

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Career
Name: U-244
Ordered: 10 April 1941
Builder: Friedrich Krupp Germaniawerft, Kiel
Yard number: 678
Laid down: 14 May 1942
Launched: 2 September 1943
Commissioned: 9 October 1943
Fate: Sunk 14 May 1945 north of Northern Ireland
General characteristics
Type: Type VIIC submarine
Displacement: 769 tonnes (757 long tons) surfaced
871 t (857 long tons) submerged
Length: 67.1 m (220 ft 2 in) o/a
50.5 m (165 ft 8 in) pressure hull
Beam: 6.2 m (20 ft 4 in) o/a
4.7 m (15 ft 5 in) pressure hull
Draft: 4.74 m (15 ft 7 in)
Propulsion: 2 × supercharged Germaniawerft 6-cylinder 4-stroke F46 diesel engines, totalling 2,800–3,200 bhp (2,100–2,400 kW). Max rpm: 470-490
2 × electric motors, totalling 750 shp (560 kW) and max rpm: 296.
Speed: 17.7 knots (32.8 km/h; 20.4 mph) surfaced
7.6 knots (14.1 km/h; 8.7 mph) submerged
Range: 15,170 km (8,190 nmi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) surfaced
150 km (81 nmi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph) submerged
Test depth: 230 m (750 ft)
Crush depth: 250–295 m (820–968 ft)
Complement: 44–52 officers and ratings
Armament: 5 × 53.3 cm (21 in) torpedo tubes (four bow, one stern)
14 × G7e torpedoes or 26 TMA mines
1 × 8.8 cm (3.46 in) deck gun(220 rounds)
Various AA guns
Service record[1][2]
Part of: 5th U-boat Flotilla
(9 October 194331 July 1944)
9th U-boat Flotilla
(1 August31 October 1944)
11th U-boat Flotilla
(1 November 19448 May 1945)
Commanders: Kptlt. Ruprecht Fischer
(9 October 19439 April 1945)
Oblt.z.S. Hans-Peter Mackeprang
(10 April14 May 1945)
Operations: Four patrols:
9 August10 October 1944
12 December23 December 1944
9 January13 March 1945
15 April14 May 1945
Victories: None

German submarine U-244 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. The submarine was laid down on 24 October 1942 at the Friedrich Krupp Germaniawerft yard at Kiel as 'werk' 678, launched on 2 September 1943 and commissioned on 9 September under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Ruprecht Fischer.[1]

In four patrols, she sank no ships.

She surrendered to the Allies in May 1945.

Service history

After training with the 5th U-boat Flotilla at Kiel, U-244 was transferred to the 9th flotilla for front-line service on 1 August 1944. She was reassigned to the 11th flotilla on 1 November.[1]

1st patrol

The boat's first patrol was preceded by short trips between Kiel, Horten in Norway and Bergen, also in Norway. It was while she was travelling between these latter two places that she was attacked by two Norwegian Mosquito aircraft of No. 333 Squadron RAF on 25 July 1944. One man was killed, seven others were wounded.

The patrol proper began with U-244's departure from Bergen on 9 August 1944. Her route took her south of Iceland. She returned to Bergen on 1 November.

2nd and 3rd patrols

More short voyages followed, between Bergen and Stavanger, but they were not listed as patrols. The boat's second sortie in December 1944, passed without incident.

Her third foray saw her reach as far as the English Channel, off Worthing. At 64 days, it was her longest patrol.

4th patrol

The submarine surrendered at Loch Eriboll in Scotland on 14 May 1945. Later that same day, she was being towed to scuttling grounds as part of Operation Deadlight when the tow parted; the boat was then sunk with gunfire from the Polish destroyer Piorun.

References

Notes
Bibliography

External links

See also

  • List of German U-boats


Coordinates: 55°46′N 8°32′W / 55.767°N 8.533°W / 55.767; -8.533

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