German submarine U-144 (1940)

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]

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

History
Nazi Germany
NameU-144
Ordered25 September 1939
BuilderDeutsche Werke, Kiel
Yard number273
Laid down10 January 1940
Launched24 August 1940
Commissioned2 October 1940
FateSunk in the Gulf of Finland north of Hiiumaa, 10 August 1941
General characteristics
Class and typeType IID coastal submarine
Displacement
  • 314 t (309 long tons) surfaced
  • 364 t (358 long tons) submerged
Length
Beam
  • 4.92 m (16 ft 2 in) (o/a)
  • 4.00 m (13 ft 1 in) (pressure hull)
Height8.40 m (27 ft 7 in)
Draught3.93 m (12 ft 11 in)
Installed power
  • 700 PS (510 kW; 690 bhp) (diesels)
  • 410 PS (300 kW; 400 shp) (electric)
Propulsion
Speed
  • 12.7 knots (23.5 km/h; 14.6 mph) surfaced
  • 7.4 knots (13.7 km/h; 8.5 mph) submerged
Range
  • 3,450 nmi (6,390 km; 3,970 mi) at 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph) surfaced
  • 56 nmi (104 km; 64 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph) submerged
Test depth80 m (260 ft)
Complement3 officers, 22 men
Armament
Service record
Part of:
Commanders:
  • Oblt.z.S. Friedrich von Hippel
  • 2 October – 16 November 1940
  • Kptlt. Gert von Mittelstaedt
  • 17 November 1940 – 10 August 1941
Operations:
  • 3 patrols:
  • 1st patrol:
  • 18 – 30 June 1941
  • 2nd patrol:
  • 7 – 19 July 1941
  • 3rd patrol:
  • 28 July – 10 August 1941
Victories: 1 warships sunk
(206 tons)

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 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, 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. 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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