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 |
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| Career 2 patrols |
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| Successes | 8 ships sunk, total tonnage 30,885 GRT | |||||||||
| Fate |
Sunk on or about 13 March 1940 in the North Sea north of Terschelling, in approx. position 54.14N, 05.07E, by a mine in the British minefield Field No. 7, laid by the British destroyers HMS Express, HMS Esk, HMS Icarus and HMS Impulsive. 47 dead (all hands lost). (FDS/NHB, January 1981). | |||||||||
| Loss position | ||||||||||
U-44 was reported missing when no messages were received from it after sailing from Wilhelmshaven. It is very likely that the boat was mined and sunk in the barrage laid by British destroyers on its exit route on 3 March 1940. This mine field probably accounted for several U-boats on their outbound or return journey.
Previously recorded fate
- Sunk by the British destroyer HMS Fortune on 20 Mar 1940. (Postwar assessment)
Notes. This attack was probably against a nonsub target.
Attacks on this boat and other events
20 Mar 1940
An attack with depth charges by the British destroyer HMS Fortune was mistakenly credited with sinking U-44 but was probably not even against a submarine. (Sources: January 1981, 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 Emblems
We have 1 emblem entry for this boat. See the emblem page for this boat or view emblems individually below.
 Coat of Arms of Kaiserslautern |
Media links
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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 SM U 44 during WWI.
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