HMS H44 was an H-class submarine of the Royal Navy. She was built by Armstrong Whitworth and launched on 17 February 1919. She served in the Second World War. She had a complement of twenty-two crew members. She was sold in 1944 and was broken up at Troon in February 1945.

HMS H44
History
United Kingdom
NameHMS H44
BuilderArmstrong Whitworth
Launched17 February 1919
Commissioned15 April 1920
FateSold in 1944; broken up in February 1945
General characteristics
Class and typeH-class submarine
Displacement423 tons surfaced (510 tons submerged)
Length171 ft 0 in (52.12 m)
Beam15 ft 4 in (4.67 m)
Propulsion480 hp (360 kW) diesel, 2 x 620 hp (460 kW) electric
Speed
  • 11.5 knots (21.3 km/h; 13.2 mph) surfaced
  • 9 knots (17 km/h; 10 mph) submerged
Range
  • 2,985 nautical miles (5,528 km; 3,435 mi) at 7.5 knots (13.9 km/h; 8.6 mph) on surface
  • 130 nautical miles (240 km; 150 mi) at 2 knots (3.7 km/h; 2.3 mph) submerged
Complement22
Armament

Design edit

Like all post-H20 British H-class submarines, H44 had a displacement of 423 long tons (430 t) at the surface and 510 long tons (520 t) while submerged.[1] It had a total length of 171 feet (52 m),[2] a beam of 15 feet 4 inches (4.67 m), and a draught of 12 metres (39 ft).[3] It contained a diesel engines providing a total power of 480 horsepower (360 kW) and two electric motors each providing 320 horsepower (240 kW) power.[3] The use of its electric motors made the submarine travel at 11 knots (20 km/h; 13 mph). It would normally carry 16.4 long tons (16.7 t) of fuel and had a maximum capacity of 18 long tons (18 t).[4]

The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 13 knots (24 km/h; 15 mph) and a submerged speed of 10.5 knots (19.4 km/h; 12.1 mph). Post-H20 British H-class submarines had ranges of 2,985 nautical miles (5,528 km; 3,435 mi) at speeds of 7.5 knots (13.9 km/h; 8.6 mph) when surfaced.[1][3] H44 was fitted with an anti-aircraft gun and four 21 inches (530 mm) torpedo tubes. Its torpedo tubes were fitted to the bows and the submarine was loaded with eight 21 inches (530 mm) torpedoes.[1] It is a Holland 602 type submarine but was designed to meet Royal Navy specifications. Its complement was twenty-two crew members.[1]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d Gardiner, Robert; Gray, Robert (1985). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1906-1921. London: Conway Maritime Press. p. 92. ISBN 0-85177-245-5.
  2. ^ Derek Walters (2004). The History of the British 'U' Class Submarine. Casemate Publishers. pp. 2–. ISBN 978-1-84415-131-8.
  3. ^ a b c Colledge, J. J.; Warlow, Ben (2006) [1969]. Ships of the Royal Navy: The Complete Record of all Fighting Ships of the Royal Navy (Rev. ed.). London: Chatham Publishing. ISBN 978-1-86176-281-8. Retrieved from Naval-History on 20 August 2015.
  4. ^ J. D. Perkins (1999). "Building History and Technical Details for Canadian CC-Boats and the Original H-CLASS". Electric Boat Company Holland Patent Submarines. Retrieved 20 August 2015.

Bibliography edit