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| U-444 | Type VIIC |
| Feldpost Number | M 46 179 |
| Construction Yard | F.Schichau GmbH, Danzig |
| Yard Number | 1499 |
| Ordered | 13th Apr 1940 |
| Keel laid | 10th Feb 1941 |
| Launched | 26th Feb 1942 |
| Commissioned | 9th May 1942 |
| Baubelehrung | 7.KLA, Danzig-Neufahrwasser | | Training, Flotillas and Duties | | 05.42 - 12.42 | 8.U-Flottille, Danzig
Ausbildungsboot (under training)
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| 01.43 - 03.43 | 3.U-Flottille, La Pallice
Frontboot (operational)
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| Commanders | | 09.05.42 - 11.03.43 | OL Albert Langfeld |
| Operations information for U-444 | 17.12.1942 - 03.02.1943
First Sailing - active patrol
U-444 left Kiel under the command of Albert Langfeld on 17th Dec 1942 and arrived at La Pallice on 3rd Feb 1943 after nearly seven weeks.
| 01.03.1943 - 11.03.1943
Second Sailing - active patrol
On the 1st Mar 1943, U-444 left La Pallice under the command of Albert Langfeld. U-444 was lost on 11th Mar 1943.
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| Notes for U-444 | | On 11th March 1943, U-444 was operating with the Neuland group, attacking convoy HX-228. HMS Harvester (Cdr A A Tait) sighted U-444, which dived but was duly forced to the surface by D/C attacks from Harvester. The Destroyer made full speed and rammed the U-Boat aft, riding over it. Harver's props then became caught on U-444 which had refused to go down. As a result of the damage including warped prop shafts, Harvester could only crawl away. Because of fear of the other U-Boats operating nearby (about 18 in all) Tait only rescued 1 crewman of U-444. Tait summoned the Free French corvette Aconit (CdF Levasseur) to screen him. Tait then ordered repairs and managed to pick up survivors of the William C Gorgas earlier torpedoed by U-757. Before Aconit arrived U-432 found Harvester stopped, and torpedoed her, killing 149 crew including Tait. When Aconit eventually arrived she saw survivors in the water but rang up full speed to ram the still afloat and limping away U-444, cutting it in half. Aconit rescued 3 more of U-444's crew, making 4 in all rescued but 41 lost.
The Admiralty Report on interrogation of the survivors of U-444 is available. You can find how to obtain a report here.
We have 44 crew names for this boat. click here for crew names of U 444
You can perform other crew searches here. Note that the number of names we give possibly includes prior crew members. You can discuss this boat or ask questions at the ubootwaffe.net forums |
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