List of all U-boats

U-44

Type

IX

 
Ordered21 Nov 1936
Laid down15 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
Career
2 patrols
4 Nov 1939-31 Dec 1939  6. Flottille (training)
1 Jan 1940-13 Mar 1940  2. Flottille (active service)
Successes8 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

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

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


U-Boat Operations of the Second World War - Vol 1

Wynn, Kenneth


German U-Boat Losses During World War II

Niestle, Axel


Hitler's U-boat War

Blair, Clay

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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