SM U-44

Career (German Empire)
Name:	U-44
Ordered:	10 July 1913
Builder:	Kaiserliche Werft Danzig
Launched:	15 October 1914
Commissioned:	7 May 1915
Fate:	12 August 1917 - Rammed by HMS Oracle off S Norway at 58.51N 04.20E. 44 dead (all hands lost).
General characteristics
Type:	Type U-43 submarine
Displacement:	725 tons surfaced 940 tons submerged 1,059 tons (total)
Length:	65 m (213 ft) (oa 52.51 m (172.3 ft) (pressure hull)
Beam:	6.2 m (20 ft) (oa) 4.18 m (13.7 ft) (pressure hull)
Height:	8.7 m (29 ft)
Draught:	3.74 m (12.3 ft)
Installed power:	surfaced 2400 hp submerged 1200 hp
Speed:	17.1 kn (31.7 km/h; 19.7 mph) 9.1 kn (16.9 km/h; 10.5 mph)
Range:	•9,400 nmi (17,400 km; 10,800 mi) at 8 kn (15 km/h; 9.2 mph) surfaced •55 nmi (102 km; 63 mi) at 5 kn (9.3 km/h; 5.8 mph) submerged
Test depth:	50 m (160 ft)
Complement:	36
Armament:	•4 x 50 cm (19.7 in)[1] torpedo tubes (two bow, two stern; 6 torpedoes) •1 x 8.8 cm (3.5 in) deck gun with 276 rounds

SM U-44 was one of the 329 submarines serving in the Imperial German Navy in World War I. U-44 was engaged in the naval warfare and took part in the First Battle of the Atlantic. Launched in 1915, she was sunk in July 1917.

Operations

SM U-44, under the command of Paul Wagenführ, was completed at Danzig about June or July 1915. She later joined the Kiel School, where she remained until 20 August 1915 undergoing trials. She then proceeded to the North Sea and was attached to the 3rd Half Flotilla.

• 25 – 26 September 1915. On Bight patrol.

• 5–10 October, 16–21 October, and 26–29 October 1915. Bight patrols.

• 14–25 December 1915. North Sea cruise.

• 17–28 January 1916. North Sea cruise to N.E. coast of England.

• 18 March - 17 April 1916. Northabout to Channel approach, was possibly submarine which torpedoed H.M.S. BEGONIA. Sank 5 S.S., 2 sailing vessels.

• 17 May - 3 June 1916. North Sea patrol (Jutland Battle).

• 16–21 July 1916. North Sea patrol, Returned with defect.

• 26 July - 5 August 1916. North Sea. Returned owing to bad weather.

• 16–21 August 1916. North Sea patrol.

• 17–29 September 1916. Cruise to Fair Island Channel, sank 2 S.S., 1 armed yacht, 1 armed trawler.

• 1–25 January 1917. Northabout to S.W. of Ireland. Returned with fracture of propeller shaft. Sank 1 S.S., 3 prizes (trawlers).

• 19 February 1917. Left for the North, but returned next day with defect.

• 24 February - 24 March 1917. Northabout to Atlantic. Sank 3 sailing vessels, and 5 S.S.

• 23 April - ? 7 May 1917. Northabout ? to west of Ireland. Sank 1 sailing vessel ? 1 S.S.

• 17 July 1917. Northabout to north west of Ireland and the Atlantic. 2 S.S. sunk, also S.S. Belgian Prince on 31 July, survivors being lined up on submarines deck and drowned. On 12 August 1917 sunk by HMS Oracle at 58°50'N., 4°20'E.

References

1. ↑ Fitzsimons, Bernard, ed. "U-Boats (1905-18)", in The Illustrated Encyclopedia of 20th Century Weapons and Warfare, "(Phoebus Publishing, 1978), Volume 23, p.2534.

Coordinates: 58°50′N 4°20′E / 58.833°N 4.333°E / 58.833; 4.333