U-44

Type

IX

 
Ordered21 Nov 1936
Laid down 15 Sep 1938 AG Weser, Bremen (werk 949)
Launched5 Aug 1939
Commissioned4 Nov 1939Kptlt. Ludwig Mathes
Commanders
4 Nov 1939 - 13 Mar 1940  KrvKpt. Ludwig Mathes
Career2 patrols 4 Nov 1939 - 31 Dec 1939  6. Flottille (training)
1 Jan 1940 - 13 Mar 1940  2. Flottille (front boat)
Successes8 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).

See the 8 ships hit by U-44 - View the 2 war patrols

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.



U-Boat Operations of the Second World War - Vol 2
Wynn, Kenneth


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Books dealing with this subject include:

German U-Boat Losses During World War II. Niestle, Axel, 1998.
Hitler's U-boat War. Blair, Clay, 1996.
Hitler's U-boat War, Vol II. Blair, Clay, 1998.
U-Boat Operations of the Second World War - Vol 1. Wynn, Kenneth, 1998.
U-Boat Operations of the Second World War - Vol 2. Wynn, Kenneth, 1998.


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.