# SM U-44

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 (58°50′N 4°20′E﻿ / ﻿58.833°N 4.333°E﻿ / 58.833; 4.333) by the Royal Navy destroyer HMS Oracle with the loss of all 44 of her crew.

## Summary of raiding history

| Date | Name | Nationality | Tonnage | Fate |
| 25 March 1916 | Ottomar | Russian Empire | 327 | Sunk |
| 27 March 1916 | Manchester Engineer | United Kingdom | 4,302 | Sunk |
| 29 March 1916 | HMS Begonia | Royal Navy | 1,250 | Damaged |
| 30 March 1916 | Bell | Norway | 3,765 | Sunk |
| 31 March 1916 | Achilles | United Kingdom | 7,043 | Sunk |
| 31 March 1916 | Goldmouth | United Kingdom | 7,446 | Sunk |
| 31 March 1916 | Hans Gude | Norway | 1,110 | Sunk |
| 1 April 1916 | Ashburton | United Kingdom | 4,445 | Sunk |
| 27 September 1916 | Thurso | United Kingdom | 1,244 | Sunk |
| 16 January 1917 | Baron Sempill | United Kingdom | 1,607 | Sunk |
| 23 January 1917 | Agnes | United Kingdom | 125 | Captured as prize |
| 23 January 1917 | George E. Benson | United Kingdom | 155 | Captured as prize |
| 23 January 1917 | Vera | United Kingdom | 150 | Captured as prize |
| 6 March 1917 | Caldergrove | United Kingdom | 4,327 | Sunk |
| 6 March 1917 | Fenay Lodge | United Kingdom | 3,223 | Sunk |
| 7 March 1917 | Ohio | France | 8,719 | Sunk |
| 8 March 1917 | Dunbarmoor | United Kingdom | 3,651 | Sunk |
| 8 March 1917 | Silas | Norway | 750 | Sunk |
| 10 March 1917 | Aracataca | United Kingdom | 4,154 | Damaged |
| 14 March 1917 | Bray Head | United Kingdom | 3,077 | Sunk |
| 16 March 1917 | Narragansett | United Kingdom | 9,196 | Sunk |
| 28 April 1917 | Vacuum | United States | 2,551 | Sunk |
| 2 May 1917 | Natuna | Norway | 1,121 | Sunk |
| 21 July 1917 | HMT Robert Smith | Royal Navy | 211 | Sunk |
| 24 July 1917 | Thorsdal | Norway | 2,200 | Sunk |
| 27 July 1917 | John Hays Hammond | United States | 132 | Sunk |
| 5 August 1917 | HMS Bracondale | Royal Navy | 2,095 | Sunk |