German submarine U-244

History
Nazi Germany
Name:	U-244
Ordered:	10 April 1941
Builder:	Germaniawerft, Kiel
Yard number:	678
Laid down:	14 May 1942
Launched:	2 September 1943
Commissioned:	9 October 1943
Fate:	Sunk 14 May 1945 north of Northern Ireland
General characteristics
Class & type:	Type VIIC submarine
Displacement:	769 tonnes (757 long tons) surfaced 871 t (857 long tons) submerged
Length:	67.10 m (220 ft 2 in) o/a 50.50 m (165 ft 8 in) pressure hull
Beam:	6.20 m (20 ft 4 in) o/a 4.70 m (15 ft 5 in) pressure hull
Height:	9.60 m (31 ft 6 in)
Draught:	4.74 m (15 ft 7 in)
Installed power:	2,800–3,200 PS (2,100–2,400 kW; 2,800–3,200 bhp) (diesels) 750 PS (550 kW; 740 shp) (electric)
Propulsion:	2 shafts 2 × diesel engines 2 × electric motors
Speed:	17.7 knots (32.8 km/h; 20.4 mph) surfaced 7.6 knots (14.1 km/h; 8.7 mph) submerged
Range:	8,500 nmi (15,700 km; 9,800 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) surfaced 80 nmi (150 km; 92 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph) submerged
Test depth:	230 m (750 ft) Crush depth: 250–295 m (820–968 ft)
Complement:	4 officers, 40–56 enlisted
Armament:	5 × 53.3 cm (21 in) torpedo tubes (four bow, one stern) 14 × G7e torpedoes or 26 TMA mines 1 × 8.8 cm (3.46 in) deck gun(220 rounds) various AA guns
Service record
Part of:	5th U-boat Flotilla 9 October 1943 – 31 July 1944 9th U-boat Flotilla 1 August – 31 October 1944 11th U-boat Flotilla 1 November 1944 – 8 May 1945
Commanders:	Kptlt. Ruprecht Fischer 9 October 1943 – 9 April 1945 Oblt.z.S. Hans-Peter Mackeprang 10 April – 14 May 1945
Operations:	Four patrols: 9 August – 10 October 1944 12–23 December 1944 9 January – 13 March 1945 15 April – 14 May 1945
Victories:	None

German submarine U-244 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. The submarine was laid down on 24 October 1942 at the Friedrich Krupp Germaniawerft yard at Kiel as yard number 678, launched on 2 September 1943 and commissioned on 9 September under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Ruprecht Fischer.

In four patrols, she sank no ships.

She surrendered to the Allies in May 1945.

Design

German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type 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. She had a total length of 67.10 m (220 ft 2 in), a pressure hull length of 50.50 m (165 ft 8 in), a beam of 6.20 m (20 ft 4 in), a height of 9.60 m (31 ft 6 in), and a draught of 4.74 m (15 ft 7 in). The submarine was powered by two Germaniawerft F46 four-stroke, six-cylinder supercharged diesel 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, two AEG GU 460/8–27 double-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).

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). 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), fourteen torpedoes, one 8.8 cm (3.46 in) SK C/35 naval gun, 220 rounds, and an anti-aircraft gun. The boat had a complement of between forty-four and sixty.

Service history

After training with the 5th U-boat Flotilla at Kiel, U-244 was transferred to the 9th flotilla for front-line service on 1 August 1944. She was reassigned to the 11th flotilla on 1 November.

1st patrol

The boat's first patrol was preceded by short trips between Kiel, Horten Naval Base in Norway and Bergen, also in Norway. It was while she was travelling between these latter two places that she was attacked by two Norwegian Mosquito aircraft of No. 333 Squadron RAF on 25 July 1944. One man was killed, seven others were wounded.

The patrol proper began with U-244's departure from Bergen on 9 August 1944. Her route took her south of Iceland. She returned to Bergen on 1 November.

2nd and 3rd patrols

More short voyages followed, between Bergen and Stavanger, 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 the English Channel, off Worthing. At 64 days, it was her longest patrol.

4th patrol

The submarine surrendered at Loch Eriboll in Scotland on 14 May 1945. Later that same day, she was being towed to scuttling grounds as part of Operation Deadlight when the tow parted; the boat was then sunk with gunfire from the Polish destroyer Piorun.