![]() SM UB-45 a U-boat similar to UB-38 | |
| History | |
|---|---|
| Name | UB-38 |
| Ordered | 22 July 1915[1] |
| Builder | Blohm & Voss, Hamburg[1] |
| Cost | 1,152,000 German Papiermark[2] |
| Yard number | 262[3] |
| Launched | 1 April 1916[3] |
| Completed | 18 July 1916[3] |
| Commissioned | 19 July 1916[2] |
| Fate | Sunk by mine 8 February 1918[2] |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | German Type UB II submarine |
| Displacement |
|
| Length |
|
| Beam |
|
| Draught | 3.69 m (12 ft 1 in) |
| Propulsion |
|
| Speed |
|
| Range |
|
| Test depth | 50 m (160 ft) |
| Complement | 2 officers, 21 men |
| Armament |
|
| Notes | 42-second diving time |
| Service record | |
| Part of: |
|
| Commanders: | |
| Operations: | 21 patrols |
| Victories: | |
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.
Design
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).[2]
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.[2]
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.[2]
Summary of raiding history
| Date | Name | Nationality | Tonnage[Note 2] | Fate[8] |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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
- 1 2 Rössler 1979, p. 64.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 Gröner 1991, pp. 23–25.
- 1 2 3 Rössler 1979, p. 65.
- ↑ 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). U-Bootbau bis Ende des 1. Weltkrieges, Konstruktionen für das Ausland und die Jahre 1935 – 1945 (in German). Vol. I. Munich: Bernard & Graefe. ISBN 3-7637-5213-7.
{{cite book}}:|work=ignored (help)
