SM U-44 was one of the 329 submarines serving in the Imperial German Navy in World War I. She was engaged in the naval warfare 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). 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 with the loss of all 44 of her crew.
Summary of raiding history DateNameNationalityTonnageMerchant ship tonnages are in gross register tons. Military vessels are listed by tons displacement.Fate25 March 1916Ottomar327Sunk27 March 1916Manchester Engineer4,302Sunk29 March 1916HMS Begonia1,250Damaged30 March 1916Bell3,765Sunk31 March 1916Achilles7,043Sunk31 March 1916Goldmouth7,446Sunk31 March 1916Hans Gude1,110Sunk1 April 1916Ashburton4,445Sunk27 September 1916Thurso1,244Sunk16 January 1917Baron Sempill1,607Sunk23 January 1917Agnes125Captured as prize23 January 1917George E. Benson155Captured as prize23 January 1917Vera150Captured as prize6 March 1917Caldergrove4,327Sunk6 March 1917Fenay Lodge3,223Sunk7 March 1917Ohio8,719Sunk8 March 1917Dunbarmoor3,651Sunk8 March 1917Silas750Sunk10 March 1917Aracataca4,154Damaged14 March 1917Bray Head3,077Sunk16 March 1917Narragansett9,196Sunk28 April 1917Vacuum2,551Sunk2 May 1917Natuna1,121Sunk21 July 1917HMT Robert Smith211Sunk24 July 1917Thorsdal2,200Sunk27 July 1917John Hays Hammond132Sunk5 August 1917HMS Bracondale2,095Sunk
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