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 |
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| Career | 2 patrols | 4 Nov, 1939 - 31 Dec, 1939 6. Flottille (training) 1 Jan, 1940 - 13 Mar, 1940 2. Flottille (front boat) | ||
| 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). | |||
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 attacks 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.
 German U-Boat Losses During World War II Niestle, Axel Buy this title at amazon.co.uk See more sellers |
Books dealing with this subject include: German U-Boat Losses During World War II, Niestle, Axel, 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.