THE BELL FROM THE GERMAN SUBMARINE U-44, 1939 cast in iron, the front with embossed eagle emblem over gothic 'U44', moulded rim and shoulder, single crown suspension with threaded hasp and clapper, finished in grey paint overall -- 9¾ x 11in. (24.5 x 28cm.) A Type IX submarine of 1032 tons ordered in 1936, the U-44 was laid down in November 1938, launched in August 1939 and commissioned on 4th November for crew training. Departing Wilhelmshaven on 6th January 1940, her first patrol lasted until 9th February and could be counted a great success: eight allied merchant ships totalling 30,885 tons were sunk over the thirty-five days and her commander, Kapitänleutnant Ludwig Mathes, was praised by Admiral Dönitz for having "perfectly executed" the fifth most successful mission of the War to date. Refitted and rearmed, U-44 embarked on her second mission on 13th March 1940 - but later the same day she hit a British mine off Holland and sank with all 47 hands. Second World War German U-Boat bells are rarely seen and, whilst in peacetime bells were fitted and used as in the traditional navy, they were removed on active service as submarines maintained silence to evade the increasingly sophistication sonar detection systems developed by the Allies. It has been further speculated that many bells for lost submarines were recycled later in the War as metals became acutely short in supply.
THE BELL FROM THE GERMAN SUBMARINE U-44, 1939 cast in iron, the front with embossed eagle emblem over gothic 'U44', moulded rim and shoulder, single crown suspension with threaded hasp and clapper, finished in grey paint overall -- 9¾ x 11in. (24.5 x 28cm.) A Type IX submarine of 1032 tons ordered in 1936, the U-44 was laid down in November 1938, launched in August 1939 and commissioned on 4th November for crew training. Departing Wilhelmshaven on 6th January 1940, her first patrol lasted until 9th February and could be counted a great success: eight allied merchant ships totalling 30,885 tons were sunk over the thirty-five days and her commander, Kapitänleutnant Ludwig Mathes, was praised by Admiral Dönitz for having "perfectly executed" the fifth most successful mission of the War to date. Refitted and rearmed, U-44 embarked on her second mission on 13th March 1940 - but later the same day she hit a British mine off Holland and sank with all 47 hands. Second World War German U-Boat bells are rarely seen and, whilst in peacetime bells were fitted and used as in the traditional navy, they were removed on active service as submarines maintained silence to evade the increasingly sophistication sonar detection systems developed by the Allies. It has been further speculated that many bells for lost submarines were recycled later in the War as metals became acutely short in supply.
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