Wikipedia

SM UB-38

For other ships with the same name, see German submarine U-38.

SM UB-38[Note 1] was a German Type UB II submarine or U-boat in the German Imperial Navy (German: Kaiserliche Marine) during World War I.

SM UB-45 a U-boat similar to UB-38
History
German Empire
NameUB-38
Ordered22 July 1915[2]
BuilderBlohm & Voss, Hamburg[2]
Cost1,152,000 German Papiermark[3]
Yard number262[1]
Launched1 April 1916[1]
Completed18 July 1916[1]
Commissioned19 July 1916[3]
FateSunk by mine 8 February 1918[3]
General characteristics
Class and typeGerman Type UB II submarine
Displacement
  • 274 t (270 long tons) surfaced
  • 303 t (298 long tons) submerged
Length
Beam
  • 4.37 m (14 ft 4 in) o/a
  • 3.85 m (12 ft 8 in) pressure hull
Draught3.69 m (12 ft 1 in)
Propulsion
Speed
  • 9.15 knots (16.95 km/h; 10.53 mph) surfaced
  • 5.81 knots (10.76 km/h; 6.69 mph) submerged
Range
  • 6,450 nmi (11,950 km; 7,420 mi) at 5 knots (9.3 km/h; 5.8 mph) surfaced
  • 45 nmi (83 km; 52 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph) submerged
Test depth50 m (160 ft)
Complement2 officers, 21 men
Armament
Notes42-second diving time
Service record
Part of:
  • Flandern Flotilla
  • 11 September 1916 – 8 February 1918
Commanders:
  • Kptlt. Erwin Waßner[4]
  • 10 September – 18 November 1916
  • Oblt.z.S. Wilhelm Amberger[5]
  • 19 November 1916 – 5 December 1917
  • Oblt.z.S. Waldemar von Fischer[6]
  • 6 – 24 December 1917
  • Oblt.z.S. Günther Bachmann[7]
  • 25 December 1917 – 8 February 1918
Operations: 21 patrols
Victories:
  • 47 merchant ships sunk
    (47,476 GRT)
  • 1 merchant ship damaged
    (4,577 GRT)

Design edit

A German Type UB II submarine, UB-38 had a displacement of 274 tonnes (270 long tons) when at the surface and 303 tonnes (298 long tons) while submerged. She had a total length of 36.90 m (121 ft 1 in), a beam of 4.37 m (14 ft 4 in), and a draught of 3.69 m (12 ft 1 in). The submarine was powered by two Körting six-cylinder diesel engines producing a total 284 metric horsepower (280 shp; 209 kW), two Siemens-Schuckert electric motors producing 280 metric horsepower (210 kW; 280 shp), and one propeller shaft. She was capable of operating at depths of up to 50 metres (160 ft).[3]

The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 9.15 knots (16.95 km/h; 10.53 mph) and a maximum submerged speed of 5.81 knots (10.76 km/h; 6.69 mph). When submerged, she could operate for 45 nautical miles (83 km; 52 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph); when surfaced, she could travel 6,450 nautical miles (11,950 km; 7,420 mi) at 5 knots (9.3 km/h; 5.8 mph). UB-38 was fitted with two 50 centimetres (20 in) torpedo tubes, four torpedoes, and one 8.8 cm (3.5 in) Uk L/30 deck gun. She had a complement of twenty-one crew members and two officers and a 42-second dive time.[3]

Construction and career edit

The U-boat was ordered on 22 July 1915 and launched on 1 April 1916. She was commissioned into the German Imperial Navy on 19 July 1916 as SM UB-38.

The submarine sank 47 ships in 21 patrols. UB-38 struck a mine and sank in the English Channel on 8 February 1918.[3]

Summary of raiding history edit

Date Name Nationality Tonnage[Note 2] Fate[8]
30 September 1916 Irma   France 844 Sunk
30 September 1916 Pearl   United Kingdom 144 Sunk
1 October 1916 Le Pelerin   France 31 Sunk
1 October 1916 Cap Mazagan   France 789 Sunk
1 October 1916 Le Blavet   France 1,010 Sunk
1 October 1916 Mallin   Norway 468 Sunk
1 October 1916 Musette   France 245 Sunk
3 October 1916 La Fraternite   France 477 Sunk
4 October 1916 Cantatrice   France 109 Sunk
5 October 1916 Cederic   Norway 1,129 Sunk
5 October 1916 Rosenvold   Norway 758 Sunk
13 November 1916 Bernicia   United Kingdom 957 Sunk
13 November 1916 Caterham   United Kingdom 1,912 Sunk
13 November 1916 Riquette   France 164 Sunk
13 November 1916 Saint Nicolas   France 261 Sunk
14 November 1916 Polpedn   United Kingdom 1,510 Sunk
14 November 1916 Professeur Jalaguier   France 223 Sunk
14 November 1916 Ullvang   Norway 639 Sunk
12 December 1916 Coath   United Kingdom 975 Sunk
12 December 1916 Conrad   United Kingdom 164 Sunk
15 December 1916 Naiad   United Kingdom 1,907 Sunk
17 December 1916 Ason   Spain 2,083 Sunk
19 December 1916 Ocean   France 339 Sunk
15 January 1917 Independent   France 153 Sunk
16 January 1917 Manuel   Spain 2,419 Sunk
18 January 1917 Asp   Norway 1,759 Sunk
19 January 1917 Lillian H.   United Kingdom 467 Sunk
11 February 1917 Dalmata   Norway 1,773 Sunk
11 April 1917 Precedent   United Kingdom 36 Sunk
12 April 1917 Lismore   United Kingdom 1,305 Sunk
13 April 1917 Maria   United Kingdom 175 Sunk
26 April 1917 Kong Oscar II   Norway 842 Sunk
27 April 1917 Jessie   United Kingdom 108 Sunk
1 May 1917 Ladywood   United Kingdom 2,314 Sunk
4 May 1917 Aghios Nikolaos   Greece 2,231 Sunk
4 May 1917 Assos   Greece 2,840 Sunk
4 May 1917 Joseph   United Kingdom 205 Sunk
24 May 1917 Gudrun   Norway 1,472 Sunk
24 May 1917 Thyra   Denmark 285 Sunk
20 August 1917 Claverley   United Kingdom 3,829 Sunk
26 August 1917 W. H. Dwyer   Canada 1,770 Sunk
15 September 1917 Dependence   United Kingdom 120 Sunk
21 September 1917 Aline Montreuil   France 1,624 Sunk
19 October 1917 Teespool   United Kingdom 4,577 Damaged
20 October 1917 Algarve   United Kingdom 1,274 Sunk
13 December 1917 Ottokar   United Kingdom 957 Sunk
5 January 1918 Birtley   United Kingdom 1,438 Sunk
3 February 1918 Lofoten   United Kingdom 942 Sunk

References edit

Notes edit

  1. ^ "SM" stands for "Seiner Majestät" (English: His Majesty's) and combined with the U for Unterseeboot would be translated as His Majesty's Submarine.
  2. ^ Tonnages are in gross register tons

Citations edit

  1. ^ a b c Rössler 1979, p. 65.
  2. ^ a b Rössler 1979, p. 64.
  3. ^ a b c d e f Gröner 1991, pp. 23–25.
  4. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Erwin Waßner (Pour le Mérite)". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 2 February 2015.
  5. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Wilhelm Amberger". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 2 February 2015.
  6. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Waldemar von Fischer". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 2 February 2015.
  7. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Günther Bachmann". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 2 February 2015.
  8. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by UB 38". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 2 February 2015.

Bibliography edit

50°56′N 1°25′E / 50.933°N 1.417°E / 50.933; 1.417

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