German submarine U-144 was a Type IID U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. She was laid down on 10 January 1940 by Deutsche Werke of Kiel and commissioned on 2 October 1940.[1]
German Type IID submarines were enlarged versions of the original Type IIs. U-144 had a displacement of 314t when at the surface and 364t while submerged. Officially, the standard tonnage was 250LT, however. The U-boat had a total length of 43.97m (144.26feet), a pressure hull length of 29.8m (97.8feet), a beam of 4.92m (16.14feet), a height of 8.4m (27.6feet), and a draught of 3.93m (12.89feet). The submarine was powered by two MWM RS 127 S four-stroke, six-cylinder diesel engines of 700PS for cruising, two Siemens-Schuckert PG VV 322/36 double-acting electric motors producing a total of 410PS for use while submerged. She had two shafts and two 0.85abbr=onNaNabbr=on propellers. The boat was capable of operating at depths of up to 80-.
The submarine had a maximum surface speed of and a maximum submerged speed of . When submerged, the boat could operate for 35- at ; when surfaced, she could travel at . U-144 was fitted with three 53.30NaN0 torpedo tubes at the bow, five torpedoes or up to twelve Type A torpedo mines, and a 2cm (01inches) anti-aircraft gun. The boat had a complement of 25.
In three patrols, U-144 sank one submarine for a total of 206 tons. The Soviet submarine was torpedoed and sunk, west of Windawa/Windau (Ventspils) in position 57.4667°N 38°W on 23 June 1941.
U-144 was sunk on 10 August 1941 in the Gulf of Finland north of Hiiumaa, in approximate position 59°N 23°W, by torpedoes from the Soviet submarine Shch-307. All 28 men inside were killed.