German submarineU-438

History
Nazi Germany
Name	U-438
Ordered	16 October 1939
Builder	Schichau-Werke,Danzig
Yard number	1480
Laid down	25 April 1940
Launched	6 September 1941
Commissioned	22 November 1941
Fate	Sunk on 6 May 1943
General characteristics
Class and type	Type VIICsubmarine
Displacement	769tonnes(757long tons) surfaced 871 t (857 long tons) submerged
Length	67.10 m (220 ft 2 in)o/a 50.50 m (165 ft 8 in)pressure hull
Beam	6.20 m (20 ft 4 in) o/a 4.70 m (15 ft 5 in) pressure hull
Height	9.60 m (31 ft 6 in)
Draught	4.74 m (15 ft 7 in)
Installed power	2,800–3,200 PS (2,100–2,400 kW; 2,800–3,200 bhp) (diesels) 750 PS (550 kW; 740 shp) (electric)
Propulsion	2 shafts 2 ×diesel engines 2 ×electric motors
Speed	17.7knots(32.8 km/h; 20.4 mph) surfaced 7.6 knots (14.1 km/h; 8.7 mph) submerged
Range	8,500nmi(15,700km;9,800mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) surfaced 80 nmi (150 km; 92 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph) submerged
Test depth	230 m (750 ft) Crush depth:250–295 m (820–968 ft)
Complement	4 officers, 40–56 enlisted
Armament	5 × 53.3 cm (21 in)torpedo tubes(four bow, one stern) 14 ×torpedoes 1 ×8.8 cm (3.46 in) deck gun(220 rounds) 1 x2 cm (0.79 in) C/30AA gun
Service record
Part of:	8th U-boat Flotilla 22 November 1941 – 31 July 1942 9th U-boat Flotilla 1 August 1942 – 6 May 1943
Identification codes:	M 42 302
Commanders:	Kptlt.Rudolf Franzius 22 November 1941 – 29 March 1943 K.Kapt.Heinrich Heinsohn 30 March – 6 May 1943
Operations:	4 patrols: 1st patrol: 1 August – 3 September 1942 2nd patrol: 6 October – 19 November 1942 3rd patrol: 31 December 1942 – 16 February 1943 4th patrol: 31 March – 6 May 1943
Victories:	3 merchant ships sunk (12,045GRT) 1 merchant ship damaged (5,496GRT)

German submarineU-438was aType VIICU-boatofNazi Germany'sKriegsmarineduringWorld War II.

The submarine waslaid downon 25 April 1940 at theSchichau-Werkeyard as yard number 1480 inDanzig,launchedon 6 September 1941 andcommissionedon 22 November 1941 under the command ofKapitänleutnantRudolf Franzius.

The city ofBerlinadopted the submarine within the popular sponsorship programme (Patenschaftsprogramm), organising gifts and holidays for the crew and earning her the honorary name ofU-438Berlin.The U-boat served with the8th U-Boat Flotillafor her training and later with the9th Flotillafrom 1 August 1942 to her loss on 6 May 1943.U-438completed four patrols, sinking three ships, totalling 12,045gross register tons(GRT) and damaging one ship totalling 5,496GRT.

She was a member of tenwolfpacks.

Design

German Type VIIC submarineswere preceded by the shorterType VIIB submarines.U-438had a displacement of 769 tonnes (757 long tons) when at the surface and 871 tonnes (857 long tons) while submerged.She had a total length of 67.10 m (220 ft 2 in), apressure hulllength of 50.50 m (165 ft 8 in), abeamof 6.20 m (20 ft 4 in), a height of 9.60 m (31 ft 6 in), and adraughtof 4.74 m (15 ft 7 in). The submarine was powered by twoGermaniawerftF46 four-stroke, six-cylindersuperchargeddiesel enginesproducing a total of 2,800 to 3,200 metric horsepower (2,060 to 2,350 kW; 2,760 to 3,160 shp) for use while surfaced, twoAEGGU 460/8–27double-acting electric motorsproducing a total of 750 metric horsepower (550 kW; 740 shp) for use while submerged. She had two shafts and two 1.23 m (4 ft)propellers.The boat was capable of operating at depths of up to 230 metres (750 ft).

The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 17.7 knots (32.8 km/h; 20.4 mph) and a maximum submerged speed of 7.6 knots (14.1 km/h; 8.7 mph).When submerged, the boat could operate for 80 nautical miles (150 km; 92 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph); when surfaced, she could travel 8,500 nautical miles (15,700 km; 9,800 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph).U-438was fitted with five 53.3 cm (21 in)torpedo tubes(four fitted at the bow and one at the stern), fourteentorpedoes,one8.8 cm (3.46 in) SK C/35 naval gun,220 rounds, and a2 cm (0.79 in) C/30anti-aircraft gun. The boat had acomplementof between forty-four and sixty.

Service history

First patrol

U-438sailed fromKielin Germany, on 1 August 1942 and headed for the mid-Atlantic. On 10 August she took part in a "wolfpack"attack onConvoy SC 94,south ofIceland.She fired a spread of torpedoes simultaneously withU-660,hitting the Greek 4,439 GRT cargo shipCondylisand the British 6,008 GRTOregonon the port side, whileU-660hit them from starboard. Both ships, badly damaged, fell behind the main convoy and were sunk byU-438several hours later.

On 11 AugustU-438joinedWolfpack 'Lohs',which operated in the north Atlantic.On 25 AugustU-438attackedconvoy ON 122,which she had been stalking since the 22nd,sinking the Norwegian 1,598 GRT merchant shipTrolla.Several hours laterU-438was detected on radar by the NorwegianFlower-classcorvetteHNoMSEglantine,and within a few minutes the ship spotted the surfaced U-boat in fog and opened fire with her4-inch gun,before attacking withdepth chargesasU-438crash-dived. The corvette continued to attack, forcing the U-boat to the surface after the bow compartment was flooded. Unable to dive,U-438escaped in the fog. After making repairs she was ordered to return to base, arriving atBrestin occupied France, on 3 September.

Second patrol

U-438sailed from Brest on 6 October 1942. On 2 November in an attack onConvoy SC 107about 450 miles east ofBelle Isle,she torpedoed the British 5,496 GRT cargo shipHartington,which had already been damaged by a torpedo fromU-522,the abandoned ship was finally sunk byU-521two hours later.U-438returned to Brest on 19 November.

Third patrol

U-438left Brest again on 31 December 1942 for another mid-Atlantic patrol, but had no successes before returning to base on 16 February.

Fourth patrol and loss

Since her commander, Rudolf Franzius, was ill,KapitänleutnantHeinrich Heinsohn, originally commander ofU-573and recently returned from Spanish internment, was given command ofU-438.She sailed from Brest on 31 March 1943and was unsuccessfully attacked by aCatalinaflying boat of5 squadron,RAF on 4 May 1943. On 6 May the U-boat was sunk with all hands, north-westNewfoundlandbydepth chargesfrom theEgret class sloopHMSPelican.

Wolfpacks

U-438took part in tenwolfpacks,namely:

• Lohs(11 – 25 August 1942)
• Tümmler(6 – 9 October 1942)
• Panther (13 – 20 October 1942)
• Veilchen(20 October – 5 November 1942)
• Habicht (11 – 19 January 1943)
• Haudegen (19 January – 8 February 1943)
• Adler (11 – 13 April 1943)
• Meise (13 – 22 April 1943)
• Specht (22 April – 4 May 1943)
• Fink (4 – 6 May 1943)

Summary of raiding history

Date	Ship Name	Nationality	Tonnage (GRT)	Fate
10 August 1942	Condylis	Greece	4,439	Sunk
10 August 1942	Oregon	United Kingdom	6,008	Sunk
25 August 1942	Trolla	Norway	1,598	Sunk
2 November 1942	Hartington	United Kingdom	5,496	Damaged

Bibliography

• Bishop, Chris (2006).Kriegsmarine U-Boats, 1939-45.London: Amber Books.ISBN978-1-904687-96-2.
• Busch, Rainer; Röll, Hans-Joachim (1999).German U-boat commanders of World War II: a biographical dictionary.Translated by Brooks, Geoffrey. London, Annapolis, Md: Greenhill Books, Naval Institute Press.ISBN1-55750-186-6.
• Busch, Rainer; Röll, Hans-Joachim (1999).Deutsche U-Boot-Verluste von September 1939 bis Mai 1945[German U-boat losses from September 1939 to May 1945]. Der U-Boot-Krieg (in German). Vol. IV. Hamburg, Berlin, Bonn: Mittler.ISBN3-8132-0514-2.
• Edwards, Bernard (1996).Dönitz and the Wolf Packs - The U-boats at War.Cassell Military Classics. pp. 91, 98, 99, 197, 200.ISBN0-304-35203-9.
• 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.ISBN0-85177-593-4.
• Kemp, Paul (1999).U-Boats Destroyed - German Submarine Losses in the World Wars.London: Arms & Armour.ISBN1-85409-515-3.

External links

• Helgason, Guðmundur."The Type VIIC boat U-438".German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net.Retrieved26 December2014.