| History | |
|---|---|
 Nazi Germany | |
| Name | U-244 |
| Ordered | 10 April 1941 |
| Builder | Germaniawerft,Kiel |
| Yard number | 678 |
| Laid down | 24 October 1942 |
| Launched | 2 September 1943 |
| Commissioned | 9 October 1943 |
| Fate | Sunk 14 May 1945 north of Northern Ireland |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Type VIICsubmarine |
| Displacement | |
| Length |
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| Beam |
|
| Height | 9.60 m (31 ft 6 in) |
| Draught | 4.74 m (15 ft 7 in) |
| Installed power |
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| Propulsion |
|
| 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[1][2] | |
| Part of: |
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| Identification codes: | M 54 344 |
| Commanders: | |
| Operations: |
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| Victories: | None |
German submarineU-244 was aType VIICU-boat ofNazi Germany'sKriegsmarine duringWorld War II. The submarine waslaid down on 24 October 1942 at theFriedrich Krupp Germaniawerft yard atKiel as yard number 678,launched on 2 September 1943 andcommissioned on 9 September under the command ofOberleutnant zur See Ruprecht Fischer.[1]
In four patrols, she sank no ships.
She surrendered to the Allies on 14 May 1945.
German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorterType VIIB submarines.U-244 had a displacement of 769 tonnes (757 long tons) when at the surface and 871 tonnes (857 long tons) while submerged.[3] 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).[3]
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).[3] 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-244 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), one3.7 cm (1.5 in) Flak M42 and two twin2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 anti-aircraft guns. The boat had acomplement of between forty-four and sixty.[3]
After training with the5th U-boat Flotilla at Kiel,U-244 was transferred to the9th flotilla for front-line service on 1 August 1944. She was reassigned to the11th flotilla on 1 November.[1]
The boat's first patrol was preceded by short trips betweenKiel,Horten Naval Base in Norway andBergen, also in Norway. It was while she was travelling between these latter two places that she was attacked by two NorwegianMosquito aircraft ofNo. 333 Squadron RAF on 25 July 1944. One man was killed, seven others were wounded.
The patrol proper began withU-244's departure from Bergen on 9 August 1944. Her route took her south ofIceland. She returned to Bergen on 1 November.
More short voyages followed, between Bergen andStavanger, but they were not listed as patrols. The boat's second sortie in December 1944, passed without incident.
Her third foray saw her reach as far as theEnglish Channel, offWorthing. At 64 days, it was her longest patrol.
The submarine surrendered atLoch Eriboll in Scotland on 14 May 1945. Later that same day, she was being towed to scuttling grounds as part of OperationDeadlight when the tow parted; the boat was then sunk with gunfire from the Polish destroyerPiorun.