SM U-44 was one of the 329 submarine

Submarine

A submarine is a watercraft capable of independent operation below the surface of the water. It differs from a submersible, which has more limited underwater capability...

s serving in the Imperial German Navy (Kaiserliche Marine

Kaiserliche Marine

The Imperial German Navy was the German Navy created at the time of the formation of the German Empire. It existed between 1871 and 1919, growing out of the small Prussian Navy and Norddeutsche Bundesmarine, which primarily had the mission of coastal defense. Kaiser Wilhelm II greatly expanded...

) in World War I

World War I

World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...

.
U-44 was engaged in the naval warfare

Naval warfare of World War I

Naval warfare in World War I was mainly characterized by the efforts of the Allied Powers, with their larger fleets and surrounding position, to blockade the Central Powers by sea, and the efforts of the Central Powers to break that blockade or to establish an effective blockade of the United...

 and took part in the First Battle of the Atlantic. Launched in 1915, she was sunk in July 1917.

Operations

SM U-44, under the command of Paul Wagenführ, was completed at Danzig about June or July 1915. She later joined the Kiel School, where she remained until 20 August 1915 undergoing trials. She then proceeded to the North Sea and was attached to the 3rd Half Flotilla.

• 25 – 26 September 1915. On Bight patrol.

• 5 - 10 October, 16 - 21 October, and 26 - 29 October 1915. Bight patrols.

• 14 - 25 December 1915. North Sea cruise.

• 17 - 28 January 1916. North Sea cruise to N.E. coast of England.

• 18 March - 17 April 1916. Northabout to Channel approach, was possibly submarine which torpedoed H.M.S. BEGONIA. Sank 5 S.S., 2 sailing vessels.

• 17 May - 3 June 1916. North Sea patrol (Jutland Battle).

• 16 - 21 July 1916. North Sea patrol, Returned with defect.

• 26 July - 5 August 1916. North Sea. Returned owing to bad weather.

• 16 - 21 August 1916. North Sea patrol.

• 17 September - 29 September 1916. Cruise to Fair Island Channel, sank 2 S.S., 1 armed yacht, 1 armed trawler.

• 1 - 25 January 1917. Northabout to S.W. of Ireland. Returned with fracture of propeller shaft. Sank 1 S.S., 3 prizes (trawlers).

• 19 February 1917. Left for the North, but returned next day with defect.

• 24 February - 24 March 1917. Northabout to Atlantic. Sank 3 sailing vessels, and 5 S.S.

• 23 April - ? 7 May 1917. Northabout ? to west of Ireland. Sank 1 sailing vessel ? 1 S.S.

• 17 July 1917. Northabout to north west of Ireland
  Ireland
  Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
  
   and the Atlantic. 2 S.S. sunk, also S.S. Belgian Prince on 31 July, survivors being lined up on submarines deck and drowned. On 12 August 1917 sunk by HMS Oracle
  HMS Oracle
  Two ships of the British Royal Navy have been named HMS Oracle:, an M-class destroyer launched in December 1915 and sold in October 1921., an Oberon class submarine launched in 1961 and paid off in 1993....
  
  at 58°50'N., 4°20'E.