Whaler fromHMCS Chilliwack alongside captured German submarineU-744 | |
| History | |
|---|---|
| Name | U-744 |
| Ordered | 5 June 1941 |
| Builder | F Schichau GmbH,Danzig |
| Yard number | 1547 |
| Laid down | 5 June 1942 |
| Launched | 11 March 1943 |
| Commissioned | 5 June 1943 |
| Fate | Sunk on 6 March 1944 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class & type | Type VIICsubmarine |
| Displacement | |
| Length |
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| Beam |
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| Height | 9.60 m (31 ft 6 in) |
| Draught | 4.74 m (15 ft 7 in) |
| Installed power |
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| Propulsion |
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| Speed |
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| Range | |
| Test depth |
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| Complement | 4 officers, 40–56 enlisted |
| Armament |
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| Service record | |
| Part of |
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| Identification codes | M 51 807 |
| Commanders |
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| Operations |
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| Victories |
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German submarineU-744 was atype VIICU-boat,launched on 11 March 1943, commanded byOberleutnant zur See Heinz Blischke.
German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorterType VIIB submarines.U-744 had a displacement of 769 tonnes (757 long tons) when at the surface and 871 tonnes (857 long tons) while submerged.[1] She had a total length of 67.10 m (220 ft 2 in), apressure hull length of 50.50 m (165 ft 8 in), abeam of 6.20 m (20 ft 4 in), a height of 9.60 m (31 ft 6 in), and adraught of 4.74 m (15 ft 7 in). The submarine was powered by twoGermaniawerft F46 four-stroke, six-cylindersuperchargeddiesel 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, twoAEG GU 460/8–27double-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).[1]
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).[1] 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-744 was fitted with five 53.3 cm (21 in)torpedo tubes (four fitted at the bow and one at the stern), fourteentorpedoes, one8.8 cm (3.46 in) SK C/35 naval gun, 220 rounds, and two twin2 cm (0.79 in) C/30anti-aircraft guns. The boat had acomplement of between forty-four and sixty.[1]
She had two patrols, one from 2 December 1943 until 15 January 1944 and 24 February 1944 until 6 March 1944. She sank two ships in total,Empire Housman on 3 January 1944, and thelanding ship tank HMSLST-362 on 2 March 1944.[2]
U-744 was forced to surface on 6 March 1944, after a 31-hour pursuit by British and Canadian ships. She was depth-charged byHMS Icarus, causing her crew to abandon her. They were picked up by the corvetteHMS Kenilworth Castle, the CanadianfrigateHMCS St. Catharines, corvettesHMCS Fennel andHMCS Chilliwack and destroyersHMCSChaudiere andHMCS Gatineau in theNorth Atlantic.U-744 was then boarded by Allied sailors, who retrieved code books and other documents. Most of this was lost while being transferred between the U-Boat and the Allied ships. After attempts to tow the submarine into port failed,U-744 was scuttled by the allied warships.[3]
U-744 took part in fivewolfpacks, namely:
| Date | Ship Name | Nationality | Tonnage[Note 1] | Fate[4] |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 January 1944 | Empire Housman | 7,359 | Sunk | |
| 2 March 1944 | HMSLST-362 | 1,625 | Sunk |