HMS H44
HMS H44 was a Royal Navy submarine belonging to the H-class. Constructed by Armstrong Whitworth, she was launched on 17 February 1919. The vessel was active during the Second World War and operated with a crew of twenty-two. In 1944, she was sold and subsequently dismantled at Troon in February 1945.
Design
Following the design of all post-H20 British H-class submarine vessels, H44 displaced 423 long tons (430 t) on the surface and 510 long tons (520 t) when submerged. The submarine measured 171 feet (52 m) in length, had a beam of 15 feet 4 inches (4.67 m), and a draught of approximately 12 metres (39 ft). Propulsion was provided by diesel engines generating 480 horsepower (360 kW) combined, alongside two electric motors rated at 320 horsepower (240 kW) each. Utilizing its electric motors, the craft could reach speeds of up to 11 knots (20 km/h; 13 mph). Fuel capacity typically held 16.4 long tons (16.7 t), with a maximum limit of 18 long tons (18 t).
The maximum velocity on the surface was 13 knots (24 km/h; 15 mph), while submerged speed peaked at 10.5 knots (19.4 km/h; 12.1 mph). Vessels in this subclass generally achieved ranges of 2,985 nautical miles (5,528 km; 3,435 mi) at cruising speeds around 7.5 knots (13.9 km/h; 8.6 mph) when surfaced. Armament included an anti-aircraft gun and four bow-mounted torpedo tubes measuring 21 inches (530 mm), carrying a total of eight torpedoes of the same diameter. Classified as a Holland 602 type submarine, it was engineered to conform to Royal Navy standards. The standard crew complement consisted of twenty-two personnel.