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For other ships with the same name, see German submarine U-144.

German submarine U-144 was a Type IID U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. She was laid down on 10 January 1940 by Deutsche Werke of Kiel and commissioned on 2 October 1940.[1]

Design

German Type IID submarines were enlarged versions of the original Type IIs. U-144 had a displacement of 314 tonnes (309 long tons) when at the surface and 364 tonnes (358 long tons) while submerged. Officially, the standard tonnage was 250 long tons (250 t), however.[2] The U-boat had a total length of 43.97 m (144 ft 3 in), a pressure hull length of 29.80 m (97 ft 9 in), a beam of 4.92 m (16 ft 2 in), a height of 8.40 m (27 ft 7 in), and a draught of 3.93 m (12 ft 11 in). The submarine was powered by two MWM RS 127 S four-stroke, six-cylinder diesel engines of 700 metric horsepower (510 kW; 690 shp) for cruising, two Siemens-Schuckert PG VV 322/36 double-acting electric motors producing a total of 410 metric horsepower (300 kW; 400 shp) for use while submerged. She had two shafts and two 0.85 m (3 ft) propellers. The boat was capable of operating at depths of up to 80–150 metres (260–490 ft).[2]

The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 12.7 knots (23.5 km/h; 14.6 mph) and a maximum submerged speed of 7.4 knots (13.7 km/h; 8.5 mph).[2] When submerged, the boat could operate for 35–42 nautical miles (65–78 km; 40–48 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph); when surfaced, she could travel 3,800 nautical miles (7,000 km; 4,400 mi) at 8 knots (15 km/h; 9.2 mph). U-144 was fitted with three 53.3 cm (21 in) torpedo tubes at the bow, five torpedoes or up to twelve Type A torpedo mines, and a 2 cm (0.79 in) anti-aircraft gun. The boat had a complement of 25.[2]

Service history

In three patrols, U-144 sank one submarine for a total of 206 tons. The Soviet submarine M-78 was torpedoed and sunk, west of Windawa/Windau (Ventspils) in position 57°28′N 21°17′E / 57.467°N 21.283°E / 57.467; 21.283 on 23 June 1941.

Fate

U-144 was sunk on 10 August 1941 in the Gulf of Finland north of Hiiumaa, in approximate position 59°N 23°E / 59°N 23°E / 59; 23, by torpedoes from the Soviet submarine Shch-307. All 28 men inside were killed.

Summary of raiding history

Date Ship Nationality Tonnage[Note 1] Fate[3]
23 June 1941 M-78  Soviet Navy 206 Sunk

References

Notes

  1. ^ Merchant ship tonnages are in gross register tons. Military vessels are listed by tons displacement.

Citations

  1. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type IID boat U-144". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 6 December 2014.
  2. ^ a b c d Gröner 1991, pp. 39–40.
  3. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U-144". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 9 December 2014.

Bibliography

  • 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. ISBN 1-55750-186-6.
  • 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. ISBN 3-8132-0514-2.
  • 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. ISBN 0-85177-593-4.
  • Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type IID boat U-144". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 7 December 2014.
  • Hofmann, Markus. "U 144". Deutsche U-Boote 1935-1945 - u-boot-archiv.de (in German). Retrieved 7 December 2014.
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