SM UB-38
Design
A 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).
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.
Construction and career
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.
Summary of raiding history
Date | Name | Nationality | Tonnage | Fate |
---|---|---|---|---|
30 September 1916 | Irma | ![]() |
844 | Sunk |
30 September 1916 | Pearl | ![]() |
144 | Sunk |
1 October 1916 | Le Pelerin | ![]() |
31 | Sunk |
1 October 1916 | Cap Mazagan | ![]() |
789 | Sunk |
1 October 1916 | Le Blavet | ![]() |
1,010 | Sunk |
1 October 1916 | Mallin | ![]() |
468 | Sunk |
1 October 1916 | Musette | ![]() |
245 | Sunk |
3 October 1916 | La Fraternite | ![]() |
477 | Sunk |
4 October 1916 | Cantatrice | ![]() |
109 | Sunk |
5 October 1916 | Cederic | ![]() |
1,129 | Sunk |
5 October 1916 | Rosenvold | ![]() |
758 | Sunk |
13 November 1916 | Bernicia | ![]() |
957 | Sunk |
13 November 1916 | Caterham | ![]() |
1,912 | Sunk |
13 November 1916 | Riquette | ![]() |
164 | Sunk |
13 November 1916 | Saint Nicolas | ![]() |
261 | Sunk |
14 November 1916 | Polpedn | ![]() |
1,510 | Sunk |
14 November 1916 | Professeur Jalaguier | ![]() |
223 | Sunk |
14 November 1916 | Ullvang | ![]() |
639 | Sunk |
12 December 1916 | Coath | ![]() |
975 | Sunk |
12 December 1916 | Conrad | ![]() |
164 | Sunk |
15 December 1916 | Naiad | ![]() |
1,907 | Sunk |
17 December 1916 | Ason | ![]() |
2,083 | Sunk |
19 December 1916 | Ocean | ![]() |
339 | Sunk |
15 January 1917 | Independent | ![]() |
153 | Sunk |
16 January 1917 | Manuel | ![]() |
2,419 | Sunk |
18 January 1917 | Asp | ![]() |
1,759 | Sunk |
19 January 1917 | Lillian H. | ![]() |
467 | Sunk |
11 February 1917 | Dalmata | ![]() |
1,773 | Sunk |
11 April 1917 | Precedent | ![]() |
36 | Sunk |
12 April 1917 | Lismore | ![]() |
1,305 | Sunk |
13 April 1917 | Maria | ![]() |
175 | Sunk |
26 April 1917 | Kong Oscar II | ![]() |
842 | Sunk |
27 April 1917 | Jessie | ![]() |
108 | Sunk |
1 May 1917 | Ladywood | ![]() |
2,314 | Sunk |
4 May 1917 | Aghios Nikolaos | ![]() |
2,231 | Sunk |
4 May 1917 | Assos | ![]() |
2,840 | Sunk |
4 May 1917 | Joseph | ![]() |
205 | Sunk |
24 May 1917 | Gudrun | ![]() |
1,472 | Sunk |
24 May 1917 | Thyra | ![]() |
285 | Sunk |
20 August 1917 | Claverley | ![]() |
3,829 | Sunk |
26 August 1917 | W. H. Dwyer | ![]() |
1,770 | Sunk |
15 September 1917 | Dependence | ![]() |
120 | Sunk |
21 September 1917 | Aline Montreuil | ![]() |
1,624 | Sunk |
19 October 1917 | Teespool | ![]() |
4,577 | Damaged |
20 October 1917 | Algarve | ![]() |
1,274 | Sunk |
13 December 1917 | Ottokar | ![]() |
957 | Sunk |
5 January 1918 | Birtley | ![]() |
1,438 | Sunk |
3 February 1918 | Lofoten | ![]() |
942 | Sunk |
References
Notes
- ^ "SM" stands for "Seiner Majestät" (English: His Majesty's) and combined with the U for Unterseeboot would be translated as His Majesty's Submarine.
- ^ Tonnages are in gross register tons
Citations
- ^ Rössler 1979, p. 65.
- ^ Rössler 1979, p. 64.
- ^ Gröner 1991, pp. 23–25.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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
- Bendert, Harald (2000). Die UB-Boote der Kaiserlichen Marine, 1914-1918. Einsätze, Erfolge, Schicksal (in German). Hamburg: Verlag E.S. Mittler & Sohn GmbH. ISBN 3-8132-0713-7.
- Gröner, Erich; Jung, Dieter; Maass, Martin (1991). U-boats and Mine Warfare Vessels. German Warships 1815–1945. Vol. 2. Translated by Thomas, Keith; Magowan, Rachel. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-593-4.
- Rössler, Eberhard (1979). Die deutschen U-Boote und ihre Werften: eine Bilddokumentation über den deutschen U-Bootbau; in zwei Bänden (in German). Vol. I. Munich: Bernard & Graefe. ISBN 3-7637-5213-7.