SM ''U-44'' was one of the 329
submarine
A submarine (or sub) is a watercraft capable of independent operation underwater. It differs from a submersible, which has more limited underwater capability. The term is also sometimes used historically or colloquially to refer to remotely op ...
s serving in the
Imperial German Navy in
World War I. She was engaged in the
naval warfare
Naval warfare is combat in and on the sea, the ocean, or any other battlespace involving a major body of water such as a large lake or wide river. Mankind has fought battles on the sea for more than 3,000 years. Even in the interior of large la ...
and took part in the
First Battle of the Atlantic. Launched in 1915, she was sunk in August 1917.
Operations
SM ''U-44'', under the command of
Paul Wagenführ, was completed at
Danzig about June or July 1915. She later joined the Kiel School, where she remained until 20 August 1915 undergoing trials. She then proceeded to the
North Sea and was attached to the 3rd Half Flotilla.
*25 – 26 September 1915. On Bight patrol.
*5–10 October, 16–21 October, and 26–29 October 1915. Bight patrols.
*14–25 December 1915. North Sea cruise.
*17–28 January 1916. North Sea cruise to NE coast of England.
*18 March – 17 April 1916. Northabout to Channel approach, was possibly submarine which torpedoed HMS ''Begonia''. Sank 5 S.S., 2 sailing vessels.
*17 May – 3 June 1916. North Sea patrol (
Battle of Jutland
The Battle of Jutland (german: Skagerrakschlacht, the Battle of the Skagerrak) was a naval battle fought between Britain's Royal Navy Grand Fleet, under Admiral John Jellicoe, 1st Earl Jellicoe, Sir John Jellicoe, and the Imperial German Navy ...
).
*16–21 July 1916. North Sea patrol, Returned with defect.
*26 July – 5 August 1916. North Sea. Returned owing to bad weather.
*16–21 August 1916. North Sea patrol.
*17–29 September 1916. Cruise to Fair Island Channel, sank 2 S.S., 1 armed yacht, 1 armed trawler.
*1–25 January 1917. Northabout to SW of Ireland. Returned with fracture of propeller shaft. Sank 1 S.S., 3 prizes (trawlers).
*19 February 1917. Left for the North, but returned next day with defect.
*24 February – 24 March 1917. Northabout to Atlantic. Sank 3 sailing vessels, and 5 S.S.
*23 April - ? 7 May 1917. Northabout ? to west of Ireland. Sank 1 sailing vessel ? 1 S.S.
On 12 August 1917, ''U-44'' was rammed and sunk in the North Sea south of
Norway () by the
Royal Navy destroyer
In naval terminology, a destroyer is a fast, manoeuvrable, long-endurance warship intended to escort
larger vessels in a fleet, convoy or battle group and defend them against powerful short range attackers. They were originally developed in ...
with the loss of all 44 of her crew.
Summary of raiding history
References
Notes
Citations
Bibliography
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{{DEFAULTSORT:U0044
World War I submarines of Germany
Type U 43 submarines
1914 ships
Ships built in Danzig
Maritime incidents in 1917
U-boats sunk in 1917
U-boats sunk by British warships
Submarines lost with all hands
World War I shipwrecks in the North Sea