german submarine german submarine type boat nazi_germany kriegsmarine operated world war ordered november laid september bremen launched august commissioned november service kriegsmarine conducted war patrols sank total enemy vessels loss grt march struck located field number north coast netherlands crew members went submarine construction ordered kriegsmarine november violation treaty versailles laid september bremen yard number launched august commissioned november year command design original german type submarines later designated displacement tonnes long tons surface tonnes long tons submerged boat total length pressure hull length beam height draught submarine powered man stroke cylinder diesel engines producing total metric horsepower shp use surfaced double acting electric motors producing total metric horsepower shp use submerged shafts propellers boat capable operating depths metres submarine maximum surface speed knots mph maximum submerged speed knots mph submerged boat operate nautical miles knots mph surfaced travel nautical miles knots mph fitted torpedo tubes fitted bow stern torpedoes naval gun rounds anti aircraft gun boat complement service history short operational life service kriegsmarine took combat patrols training exercises 6th boat flotilla november december assigned boat 2nd boat flotilla january remain flotilla loss patrol patrols began january left wilhelmshaven north_sea eventually british isles travelling far south portugal locations sank merchant ships following victories headed north travelling north coast scotland north_sea returned wilhelmshaven arriving february period thirty days sank merchant ships total loss grt second patrol unlike outing second patrol disaster lasting day spending month wilhelmshaven began second patrol march hours leaving port entered minefield number northern coast netherlands particular minefield laid british destroyers hms express entering minefield struck devices sank seven crew lost previously recorded fate sunk hms fortune march summary raiding history service sank commercial ships loss grt ships sunk patrol
German submarine U-44 (1939)