U-44
Type | IX | |||||||||
| Ordered | 21 Nov 1936 | |||||||||
| Laid down | 15 Sep 1938 | AG Weser, Bremen (werk 949) | ||||||||
| Launched | 5 Aug 1939 | |||||||||
| Commissioned | 4 Nov 1939 | Kptlt. Ludwig Mathes | ||||||||
| Commanders |
| |||||||||
| Career 2 patrols |
| |||||||||
| Successes | 8 ships sunk for a total of 30,885 GRT | |||||||||
| Fate | The boat hit a mine, in minefield Field No 7. laid by the destroyers HMS Express, HMS Esk, HMS Icarus and HMS Impulsive, on or around 13 March 1940. 47 dead (all hands lost). | |||||||||
Previously recorded fate
(Last revised by FDS/NHB during January 1981. More on revised fates.)
This loss had incorrectly been attributed to an attack by the British destroyer HMS Fortune.
Attacks on this boat
13 Mar 1940
The attack by the British destroyer HMS Fortune was mistakenly credited for sinking U-44 but later revised. (Sources: 1981-01-01 , FDS/NHB)
1 recorded attack on this boat.
Men lost from U-boats
Unlike many other U-boats, which during their service lost men due to accidents and various other causes, U-44 did not suffer any casualties (we know of) until the time of her loss.
 | We have an emblem for this boat! You can view it here. (The emblem on the left is not the emblem for this boat). |
Buy this title at amazon.com See more sellers |
Books dealing with this subject include:
|
There was another U-44 in World War One
That boat was launched from its shipyard on 15 Oct 1914 and commissioned into the Imperial Navy on 7 May 1915. The Naval war in WWI was brought to an end with the Armistice signed on 11 Nov, 1918. Read about the U 44 during WWI.