German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-444 had a displacement of 769 tonnes (757 long tons) when at the surface and 871 tonnes (857 long tons) while submerged.[3] She had a total length of 67.10 m (220 ft 2 in), a pressure hull length of 50.50 m (165 ft 8 in), a beam of 6.20 m (20 ft 4 in), a height of 9.60 m (31 ft 6 in), and a draught of 4.74 m (15 ft 7 in). The submarine was powered by two Germaniawerft F46 four-stroke, six-cylinder superchargeddiesel engines producing a total of 2,800 to 3,200 metric horsepower (2,060 to 2,350 kW; 2,760 to 3,160 shp) for use while surfaced, two AEG GU 460/8–27 double-acting electric motors producing a total of 750 metric horsepower (550 kW; 740 shp) for use while submerged. She had two shafts and two 1.23 m (4 ft) propellers. The boat was capable of operating at depths of up to 230 metres (750 ft).[3]
The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 17.7 knots (32.8 km/h; 20.4 mph) and a maximum submerged speed of 7.6 knots (14.1 km/h; 8.7 mph).[3] When submerged, the boat could operate for 80 nautical miles (150 km; 92 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph); when surfaced, she could travel 8,500 nautical miles (15,700 km; 9,800 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph). U-444 was fitted with five 53.3 cm (21 in) torpedo tubes (four fitted at the bow and one at the stern), fourteen torpedoes, one 8.8 cm (3.46 in) SK C/35 naval gun, 220 rounds, and a 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 anti-aircraft gun. The boat had a complement of between forty-four and sixty.[3]
She served with the 8th U-boat Flotilla from 9 May 1942 for training, during which time U-444 accidentally rammed and sank U-612, and the 3rd flotilla from 1 January 1943 for operations.
First patrol
U-444's first patrol began from Kiel in Germany on 17 December 1942. She headed for the Atlantic Ocean, via the gap separating the Faroe and Shetland Islands. She arrived at La Pallice in occupied France on 3 February 1943.
Second patrol and loss
U-444 left La Pallice on 1 March 1943; on the 11th she was sunk in mid-Atlantic by a combination of depth charges and ramming by the British destroyer HMS Harvester and the Free French corvette Aconit.
Forty-one men went down with U-444; there were four survivors.[1][2]
Busch, Rainer; Röll, Hans-Joachim (1999). German U-boat commanders of World War II : a biographical dictionary. Translated by Brooks, Geoffrey. London, Annapolis, Md: Greenhill Books, Naval Institute Press. ISBN1-55750-186-6.
Busch, Rainer; Röll, Hans-Joachim (1999). Deutsche U-Boot-Verluste von September 1939 bis Mai 1945 [German U-boat losses from September 1939 to May 1945]. Der U-Boot-Krieg (in German). Vol. IV. Hamburg, Berlin, Bonn: Mittler. ISBN3-8132-0514-2.
Gröner, Erich; Jung, Dieter; Maass, Martin (1991). U-boats and Mine Warfare Vessels. German Warships 1815–1945. Vol. 2. Translated by Thomas, Keith; Magowan, Rachel. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN0-85177-593-4.
Kemp, Paul (1999). U-Boats Destroyed - German Submarine Losses in the World Wars. London: Arms & Armour. ISBN1-85409-515-3.
External links
Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-444". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 26 December 2014.
german, submarine, type, viic, boat, nazi, germany, kriegsmarine, during, world, historynazi, germanynameu, 444ordered13, april, 1940builderschichau, werke, danzigyard, number1499laid, down10, february, 1941launched26, february, 1942commissioned9, 1942fatesunk. German submarine U 444 was a Type VIIC U boat of Nazi Germany s Kriegsmarine during World War II HistoryNazi GermanyNameU 444Ordered13 April 1940BuilderSchichau Werke DanzigYard number1499Laid down10 February 1941Launched26 February 1942Commissioned9 May 1942FateSunk by Allied warships in mid Atlantic on 11 March 1943 1 General characteristicsClass and typeType VIIC submarineDisplacement769 tonnes 757 long tons surfaced 871 t 857 long tons submergedLength67 10 m 220 ft 2 in o a 50 50 m 165 ft 8 in pressure hullBeam6 20 m 20 ft 4 in o a 4 70 m 15 ft 5 in pressure hullHeight9 60 m 31 ft 6 in Draught4 74 m 15 ft 7 in Installed power2 800 3 200 PS 2 100 2 400 kW 2 800 3 200 bhp diesels 750 PS 550 kW 740 shp electric Propulsion2 shafts 2 diesel engines 2 electric motorsSpeed17 7 knots 32 8 km h 20 4 mph surfaced 7 6 knots 14 1 km h 8 7 mph submergedRange8 500 nmi 15 700 km 9 800 mi at 10 knots 19 km h 12 mph surfaced 80 nmi 150 km 92 mi at 4 knots 7 4 km h 4 6 mph submergedTest depth230 m 750 ft Crush depth 250 295 m 820 968 ft Complement4 officers 40 56 enlistedArmament5 53 3 cm 21 in torpedo tubes four bow one stern 14 torpedoes 1 8 8 cm 3 46 in deck gun 220 rounds 1 x 2 cm 0 79 in C 30 AA gunService record 2 Part of 8th U boat Flotilla 9 May 31 December 1942 3rd U boat Flotilla 1 January 11 March 1943Commanders Oblt z S Albert Langfeld 9 May 1942 11 March 1943Operations 2 patrols 1st patrol 17 December 1942 3 February 1943 2nd patrol 1 11 March 1943Victories NoneShe carried out two patrols and was a member of three wolfpacks but sank no ships She was sunk by Allied warships in mid Atlantic on 11 March 1943 1 Contents 1 Design 2 Service history 2 1 First patrol 2 2 Second patrol and loss 2 3 Wolfpacks 3 References 4 Bibliography 5 External linksDesign EditGerman Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines U 444 had a displacement of 769 tonnes 757 long tons when at the surface and 871 tonnes 857 long tons while submerged 3 She had a total length of 67 10 m 220 ft 2 in a pressure hull length of 50 50 m 165 ft 8 in a beam of 6 20 m 20 ft 4 in a height of 9 60 m 31 ft 6 in and a draught of 4 74 m 15 ft 7 in The submarine was powered by two Germaniawerft F46 four stroke six cylinder supercharged diesel engines producing a total of 2 800 to 3 200 metric horsepower 2 060 to 2 350 kW 2 760 to 3 160 shp for use while surfaced two AEG GU 460 8 27 double acting electric motors producing a total of 750 metric horsepower 550 kW 740 shp for use while submerged She had two shafts and two 1 23 m 4 ft propellers The boat was capable of operating at depths of up to 230 metres 750 ft 3 The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 17 7 knots 32 8 km h 20 4 mph and a maximum submerged speed of 7 6 knots 14 1 km h 8 7 mph 3 When submerged the boat could operate for 80 nautical miles 150 km 92 mi at 4 knots 7 4 km h 4 6 mph when surfaced she could travel 8 500 nautical miles 15 700 km 9 800 mi at 10 knots 19 km h 12 mph U 444 was fitted with five 53 3 cm 21 in torpedo tubes four fitted at the bow and one at the stern fourteen torpedoes one 8 8 cm 3 46 in SK C 35 naval gun 220 rounds and a 2 cm 0 79 in C 30 anti aircraft gun The boat had a complement of between forty four and sixty 3 Service history EditThe submarine was laid down on 10 February 1941 at Schichau Werke in Danzig now Gdansk as yard number 1499 launched on 26 February 1942 and commissioned on 9 May under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Albert Langfeld She served with the 8th U boat Flotilla from 9 May 1942 for training during which time U 444 accidentally rammed and sank U 612 and the 3rd flotilla from 1 January 1943 for operations First patrol Edit U 444 s first patrol began from Kiel in Germany on 17 December 1942 She headed for the Atlantic Ocean via the gap separating the Faroe and Shetland Islands She arrived at La Pallice in occupied France on 3 February 1943 Second patrol and loss Edit U 444 left La Pallice on 1 March 1943 on the 11th she was sunk in mid Atlantic by a combination of depth charges and ramming by the British destroyer HMS Harvester and the Free French corvette Aconit Forty one men went down with U 444 there were four survivors 1 2 Wolfpacks Edit U 444 took part in three wolfpacks namely Falke 28 December 1942 19 January 1943 Landsknecht 19 24 January 1943 Neuland 8 11 March 1943 References Edit a b c Kemp 1999 p 106 a b Helgason Gudmundur The Type VIIC boat U 444 German U boats of WWII uboat net Retrieved 21 September 2012 a b c d Groner 1991 pp 43 46 Bibliography EditBusch Rainer Roll Hans Joachim 1999 German U boat commanders of World War II a biographical dictionary Translated by Brooks Geoffrey London Annapolis Md Greenhill Books Naval Institute Press ISBN 1 55750 186 6 Busch Rainer Roll Hans Joachim 1999 Deutsche U Boot Verluste von September 1939 bis Mai 1945 German U boat losses from September 1939 to May 1945 Der U Boot Krieg in German Vol IV Hamburg Berlin Bonn Mittler ISBN 3 8132 0514 2 Groner Erich Jung Dieter Maass Martin 1991 U boats and Mine Warfare Vessels German Warships 1815 1945 Vol 2 Translated by Thomas Keith Magowan Rachel London Conway Maritime Press ISBN 0 85177 593 4 Kemp Paul 1999 U Boats Destroyed German Submarine Losses in the World Wars London Arms amp Armour ISBN 1 85409 515 3 External links EditHelgason Gudmundur The Type VIIC boat U 444 German U boats of WWII uboat net Retrieved 26 December 2014 Portals Military of Germany World War II Coordinates 51 14 N 29 18 W 51 233 N 29 300 W 51 233 29 300 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title German submarine U 444 amp oldid 1081669056, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
