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SM UB-38

Coordinates: 50°56′N 1°25′E / 50.933°N 1.417°E / 50.933; 1.417
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(Redirected from Unterseeboot B-38)
For other ships with the same name, see German submarine U-38.
SM UB-45 a U-boat similar to UB-38
History
German Empire
NameUB-38
Ordered22 July 1915[1]
BuilderBlohm & Voss, Hamburg[1]
Cost1,152,000 German Papiermark[2]
Yard number262[3]
Launched1 April 1916[3]
Completed18 July 1916[3]
Commissioned19 July 1916[2]
FateSunk by mine 8 February 1918[2]
General characteristics
Class and typeType 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)

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

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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).[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

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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

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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

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Notes

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  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

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  1. ^ a b Rössler 1979, p. 64.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Gröner 1991, pp. 23–25.
  3. ^ a b c Rössler 1979, p. 65.
  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

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

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