U 44 (Navy)
|
U 44 (Kriegsmarine) ( previous / next - all submarines ) |
|
|---|---|
| Type : | IX A |
| Field Post Number : | M 13 206 |
| Shipyard: | AG Weser , Bremen |
| Construction contract: | November 21, 1936 |
| Build number: | 949 |
| Keel laying: | September 15, 1938 |
| Launch: | August 5, 1939 |
| Commissioning: | November 4, 1939 |
| Commanders: |
November 4, 1939 - March 13, 1940 |
| Calls: | 2 patrols |
| Sinkings: |
8 ships (30,885 GRT) |
| Whereabouts: | sunk on March 13, 1940 |
U 44 was a German submarine of type IX A , which in the Second World War by the Navy was used.
history
The construction contract for the boat was awarded to AG Weser in Bremen on November 21, 1936 . The keel was laid on September 15, 1938, the launch on August 5, 1939, and commissioning under Lieutenant Ludwig Mathes on November 4, 1939.
Until December 31, 1939, the boat was part of the “Hundius” submarine in Kiel as a training boat . After the reorganization of the U-Flotilla, it was part of the 2nd U-Flotilla in Wilhelmshaven from January 1, 1940 until it was sunk on March 13, 1940 .
U 44 undertook two enemy voyages on which it sank eight ships with a total tonnage of 30,885 GRT .
Mission history
First patrol
The boat left Wilhelmshaven on January 6, 1940 at 12.15 p.m. and returned there on February 9, 1940 at 5 p.m. Eight ships with 30,855 GRT were sunk on this 35-day and approximately 5,700 nm long undertaking in the North Atlantic .
- January 15, 1940: Sinking of the Norwegian steamer Fagerheim (1,590 GRT) ( location ) by a G7a torpedo . He had an unknown cargo and was on his way from Djidjelli ( Algeria ) for tea . It was a total loss with 14 dead.
- January 15, 1940: sinking of the Dutch steamer Arendskerk (7,906 GRT) ( location ) by a torpedo and artillery fire . He had loaded mail and general cargo and was on his way from Rotterdam and Antwerp to Durban . There were no dead.
- January 16, 1940: sinking of the Greek steamer Panachandros ( 4,661 GRT) ( location ) by a G7a torpedo. He had an unknown cargo and was on his way from Antwerp (Belgium) to Key West . It was a total loss with 32 dead.
- January 18, 1940: The Danish steamer Canadian Refeer (1,831 GRT) sunk by a G7a torpedo. He had oranges and grapefruit loaded and was on his way from Haifa to Glasgow . There were no deaths, 26 survivors.
- January 20, 1940: sinking of the Greek steamer Ekatontarchos Dracoulis. (5,329 GRT) ( location ) by a torpedo. He had loaded 7,511 t of wheat and was on the way from Rosario ( Argentina ) to the Tyne . There were six dead.
- January 24, 1940: sinking of the French steamer Alsacien (3,819 GRT) ( location ) by a torpedo. He had an unknown cargo and was on his way from Tunis to Rouen . The ship belonged to convoy KS 56. There were four dead.
- January 25, 1940: sinking of the French steamer Tourny. (2,769 GRT) ( location ) by a torpedo. He had a deck load and was on his way from Dakar to Bordeaux . The ship belonged to convoy KS 56. There were eight deaths.
- January 28, 1940: sinking of the Greek steamer Flora Nomicos. (2,980 GRT) by a torpedo. He was carrying coal and was on his way from Sunderland to Santa Fe . There were no deaths, 26 survivors.
Second patrol and whereabouts
The boat left Wilhelmshaven on March 13, 1940 at 1 p.m. The boat did not answer after sailing. It probably ran into a mine in the North Sea off Terschelling on the same day , which had been relocated by one of the British destroyers HMS Express , HMS Esk , HMS Icarus or HMS Impulsive on March 3, 1940, and sank with all 47 men on board . The probable position was 54 ° 14 ′ N , 5 ° 7 ′ E in marine grid reference AN 6941.
U 44 did not suffer any losses among its crew until it sank.
Map with all coordinates: