U 38 (Navy)

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U 38 (Kriegsmarine)
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Type : IX A
Field Post Number : M 20 675
Shipyard: AG Weser , Bremen
Construction contract: July 29, 1936
Build number: 943
Keel laying: April 15, 1937
Launch: August 9, 1938
Commissioning: October 24, 1938
Commanders:
  • October 24, 1938 to July 22, 1941
    Lieutenant Heinrich Liebe
  • July 15, 1941 to January 6, 1942
    Lieutenant Heinrich Schuch
  • January 7, 1942 to January 4, 1943
    First Lieutenant Siegfried Keller
  • January 5, 1943 to August 22, 1943
    First Lieutenant Helmut Laubert
  • 23 August 1943 to 14 December 1943
    First Lieutenant Paul Sander
  • December 16, 1943 to ??. December 1943
    Oberleutnant zur See Goske von Möllendorf
  • ??. January 1944 to April 14, 1944
    First Lieutenant Herbert Kühn
  • April 15, 1944 to May 5, 1945
    Corvette Captain Georg Peters
Calls: 11 patrols
Sinkings:

35 ships (188,967 GRT )

Whereabouts: on May 5, 1945. Wesermünde scuttled

U 38 was a German submarine of type IX A , which in the Second World War by the Navy was used.

history

The boat was on 15 April 1937 at the AG Weser in Bremen laid down on and on 24 October 1938 Lieutenant love Henry put into service.

After its commissioning until December 31, 1939, the boat belonged to the U-Flotilla "Hundius" in Kiel as a service or front boat . After the reorganization of the U-Flotilla, U 38 belonged to the 2nd U-Flotilla in Wilhelmshaven as a front boat from January 1, 1940 . After that, from December 1, 1941, it served as a training boat with the 24th U-Flotilla in Memel , then from April 1, 1942 as a school boat with the 21st U-Flotilla in Pillau . From December 1, 1943, the U 38 served as a test boat in the 4th U-Flotilla in Stettin and from March 1, 1945 to May 8, 1945 as a test boat in the 5th U-Flotilla in Kiel.

U 38 undertook eleven enemy voyages on which it sank 35 ships with a total tonnage of 188,967 GRT.

Use statistics

First patrol

The boat left Wilhelmshaven on August 19, 1939 at midnight and returned there on September 18, 1939 at 2 p.m. On this 31-day undertaking in the North Atlantic west of Ireland and near Gibraltar , two ships with a total of 16,698 GRT were sunk.

  • September 6, 1939: Sinking of the British steamer Manaar (7,242 GRT) ( location ) by three G7 torpedoes . He had loaded agricultural and state goods and was on his way from Liverpool to Calcutta and Rangoon . The Manaar was the first British steamer to fire on a German submarine. Lieutenant love had first tried the prize regulations to take appropriate action and the ship with a shot across the bow to stop. But when the Manaar , herself armed with a cannon, began to fire deliberately at his boat, love dived and attacked the steamer with a torpedo. There were seven dead and 63 survivors
  • September 11, 1939: Sinking of the British tanker Inverliffey (9,456 GRT) ( location ) by a torpedo. He had loaded 13,000 tons of  gasoline and was on the way from Trinidad to Coryton . There were no dead, 49 survivors.

Second patrol

The boat left Wilhelmshaven on November 14, 1939 at 12:30 p.m. and returned there on December 16, 1939 at 3 p.m. On this 33-day trip in the North Sea and off the Norwegian north coast, three ships with a total of 13,629 GRT were sunk.

  • December 7, 1939: Sinking of the British steamer Thomas Walton (4,460 GRT) ( location ) by a G7a torpedo. He was ballasted and on his way from Port Talbot to Narvik . There were 13 dead and 21 survivors.
  • December 11, 1939: Sinking of the Greek steamer Garoufalia (4,708 GRT) ( location ) by a G7e torpedo. He drove in ballast and was on the way from Oslo to Kirkenes . There were four dead.
  • December 13, 1939: Sinking of the British steamer Deptford (4,101 GRT) ( location ) by a torpedo. He had loaded 6,000 tons of  iron ore and was on the way from Narvik to Middlesbrough . There were 33 dead and four survivors.

Third patrol

The boat left Wilhelmshaven on February 26, 1940 at 10:15 a.m. and returned there on April 5, 1940. On this 39 day long and 5,730 nm above and 738 nm underwater expedition  in the North Sea , the Shetland Islands and the Orkneys , five ships with a total tonnage of 14,309 GRT were sunk.

  • March 9, 1940: Sinking of the British fishing liner Leukos (216 GRT) ( Lage ) by artillery fire . He had loaded fish and was on his way to Dongal . It was a total loss with eleven dead.
  • March 17, 1940: Sinking of the Danish motor ship Argentina (5,375 GRT) ( location ) by a torpedo. It had an unknown cargo and was en route from Copenhagen to South America . It was a total loss with 33 dead.
  • March 21, 1940: Sinking of the Danish motor ship Algiers (1,654 GRT) ( location ) by a torpedo. He had cargo loaded and was on his way from New York to Copenhagen. There were five dead.
  • March 21, 1940: Sinking of the Danish motor ship Christiansborg (3,270 GRT) ( location ) by a torpedo. He had loaded 4,107 tons of  corn and was on his way from Philadelphia to Copenhagen. There was one dead and 24 survivors.
  • March 26, 1940: Sinking of the Norwegian motor ship Cometa (3,794 GRT) ( location ) by two torpedoes. It had loaded 3,500 tons of  general cargo and was on its way from Oslo to Buenos Aires . There were no dead.
  • April 2, 1940: The Finnish steamship Signe (1,540 GRT) is sunk by a torpedo. The ship had an unknown cargo and was on its way from Bergen to Bruntisland . It was a total loss.

Fourth patrol

The boat left Wilhelmshaven on April 8, 1940 at 11:30 a.m. and returned there on April 27, 1940 at 11:50 a.m. No ships were sunk on this 20-day, 2,777 nm above and 426 nm underwater undertaking south of Lofoten . This trip took place as part of the Weser Exercise Company , the German invasion of Norway, and Operation Hartmut . The use was frustrating, as many of the torpedoes fired did not work properly (see: Torpedo Crisis ). For example, the torpedo attacks on the British cruiser HMS Effingham had no effect.

Fifth patrol

The boat left Wilhelmshaven on June 6, 1940 at 8:15 a.m. and returned there on July 2, 1940 at 9 p.m. Six ships with a total of 30,353 GRT were sunk on this 27-day and approximately 6,500 nm long undertaking in the North Atlantic and the Bay of Biscay .

  • June 14, 1940: sinking of the Greek steamer Mount Myrto (5,403 GRT) ( location ) by a torpedo and artillery fire. He had loaded cargo and timber and was on his way from Galveston to London . There were four dead and 20 survivors.
  • June 15, 1940: Sinking of the Norwegian tanker Italia (9,973 GRT) ( location ) by a G7e torpedo. He had loaded 13,000 tons of gasoline and was on the way from Port Arthur to Stanlow . The ship belonged to convoy HX-47 . There were 19 dead and 16 survivors.
  • June 15, 1940: Sinking of the Danish steamer Erik Boye (2,238 GRT) ( Lage ) by a G7e torpedo. He had loaded 3,568 tons of  wheat and was on his way from Québec to Sharpness . The ship belonged to convoy HX-47. There were no deaths, 22 survivors.
  • June 20, 1940: sinking of the Swedish steamer Tilia Gorthon (1,776 GRT) ( location ) by a G7a torpedo. He had coal loaded and was on his way from Liverpool to Nantes . There were ten dead and eleven survivors.
  • June 21, 1940: sinking of the Belgian steamship Luxembourg (5,809 GRT) ( Lage ) by a G7e torpedo. He had weapons , meat and corn on board and was on his way from Buenos Aires to Antwerp . There were no dead.
  • June 22, 1940: sinking of the Greek steamer Neion (5,154 GRT) ( location ) by a G7a torpedo. He had general cargo and naphtha loaded and was on his way from New Orleans to Falmouth . There was one dead.

Sixth patrol

The boat left Wilhelmshaven on August 1, 1940 at 9:45 a.m. and entered Lorient on September 3, 1940 . On this 33-day, 5,887 nm above and 344 nm underwater expedition in the North Atlantic, in the North Canal and at the Rockall Bank, two ships with a total of 12,439 GRT were sunk and one ship with 2,508 GRT was damaged.

  • August 7, 1940: sinking of the Egyptian steamer Mohamed Ali El-Kebir (7,527 GRT) ( location ) by a torpedo. He had military equipment, mail and 697 soldiers on board and was en route from Avonmouth to Gibraltar. The ship belonged to convoy HX-61. Ten crew members and 50 soldiers were killed. 153 crew members and 647 soldiers were rescued.
  • August 11, 1940: Sinking of the British steamer Llanfair (4,966 GRT) ( location ) by a G7e torpedo. He had loaded 7,800 tons of  sugar and was on his way from Mackay via Freetown to Avonmouth. The ship belonged to convoy SL-41 with 39 ships.
  • August 31, 1940: Damage to the Belgian passenger liner Ville de Hasselt (2,508 GRT) ( location ) by a G7e torpedo. The ship was sunk by U 46 at 4 p.m. on the same day .

Seventh patrol

The boat left Lorient on September 25, 1940 at 11 a.m. and returned there on October 24, 1940 at 11:45 a.m. On this 30-day and approximately 5,800-nm-long undertaking in the North Atlantic, in the North Canal and at the Rockall Bank, four ships with a total of 30,345 GRT were sunk and one ship with 3,670 GRT was damaged.

  • October 1, 1940: sinking of the British motor ship Highland Patriot (14,172 GRT) ( location ) by two G7e and one G7a torpedo. It had 5,700 t of refrigerated and general cargo as well as 33 passengers on board and was on its way from Buenos Aires to Glasgow . There were three dead and 169 survivors.
  • October 17, 1940: sinking of the Greek steamer Aenos (3,554 GRT) ( Lage ). He had loaded 6,276 tons of wheat and was on the way from Sorel ( Canada ) to Manchester . The ship belonged to convoy SC-7 . There were four dead and 25 survivors.
  • October 18, 1940: Damage to the British steamer Carsbreck (3,670 GRT) by a torpedo. He had loaded wood and was on his way from Halifax, Nova Scotia to Grimsby . The ship belonged to convoy SC-7. It was sunk by U 564 on October 24, 1941 .
  • October 19, 1940: Sinking of the British steamer Matheran (7,653 GRT) ( location ) by a torpedo. He had loaded 3,000 tons of  iron , 1,200 tons of  zinc , wheat, machinery and freight and was on his way from New York via Halifax (Nova Scotia) to Liverpool. The ship belonged to convoy HX-79 with 49 ships. There were nine dead and 72 survivors.
  • October 19, 1940: Sinking of the British steamer Uganda (4,966 GRT) ( location ) by a G7a torpedo. He had loaded 1,006 tons of steel and 6,200 tons of wood and was on the way from Montreal via Halifax (Nova Scotia) to Milford Haven . The ship belonged to convoy HX-79. There were no deaths, 40 survivors.

Eighth patrol

The boat left Lorient on December 18, 1940 at 5:30 p.m. and returned there on January 22, 1941 at 2 p.m. Two ships with a total of 16,760 GRT were sunk on this 35-day and approximately 6,900 nm long undertaking in the North Atlantic and west of the North Canal.

  • December 27, 1940: Sinking of the British motor ship Waiotira (12,823 GRT) by a torpedo. The ship had already been torpedoed twice and badly damaged by U 95 on December 26, 1940 . It had 7,000 t of frozen and general cargo and eleven passengers on board and was on its way from Sydney (Australia) to England via the Panama Canal . There was a dead passenger; 79 crew members and ten passengers were rescued.
  • December 31, 1940: sinking of the Swedish steamer Valparaiso (3,760 GRT) ( location ) by a G7a torpedo. He had loaded cargo and was on the way from Montreal via Halifax (Nova Scotia) to Glasgow. The ship belonged to convoy HX-97. It was a total loss with 35 dead.

Ninth patrol

The boat left Lorient on April 9, 1941 at 5 p.m. and returned there on June 24, 1941 at 8:30 a.m. Eight ships with a total tonnage of 47,279 GRT were sunk on this 76-day and approximately 14,950 nm long undertaking in the Central Atlantic and off Freetown ( Sierra Leone ).

  • May 4, 1941: sinking of the Swedish steamer Japan (5,230 GRT) ( location ) by artillery fire and a torpedo. He had loaded coal and general cargo and was on his way from Newport to Freetown. The ship belonged to convoy OB-310. There were no dead, 54 survivors.
  • May 5, 1941: sinking of the British liner Queen Maud (4976 BRT) ( location ) by three torpedoes. He had loaded 7,350 tons of coal and aircraft parts and was on his way from Cardiff via Freetown to Alexandria . The ship belonged to convoy OB-209 with 42 ships. There was one dead and 43 survivors.
  • May 23, 1941: sinking of the Dutch motor ship Berhala (6,622 GRT) ( location ) by two torpedoes. It had loaded 7,200 tons of general cargo, tin plates, locomotives and airplanes and was on its way from Hull to Freetown. The ship belonged to convoy OB-318. There were three dead and 59 survivors.
  • May 24, 1941: sinking of the British steamer Vulcain (4,362 GRT) ( location ) by a G7a torpedo. He had loaded 4,617 tons of coal and was on the way from Newport via Barry (Wales) to Freetown. The ship belonged to convoy OG-59 with 43 ships. There were seven dead and 39 survivors.
  • May 29, 1941: Sinking of the British steamer Tabaristan (6,251 GRT) ( location ) by two G7a torpedoes. He had loaded 3,960 tons of  peanuts , 140 tons of general cargo, 560 tons of  magnesium ore and 2,200 tons of  iron and was on the way from Basra via Cape Town and Freetown to England. There were 21 dead and 39 survivors.
  • May 30, 1941: sinking of the British steamer Empire Protector (6,181 GRT) ( location ) by two G7a torpedoes. He had loaded 1,252 tons of  copper , 2,250 tons of  cotton and 4,200 tons of cotton cores and was on the way from Port Sudan via Cape Town and Freetown to London. There were five dead and 33 survivors.
  • May 31, 1941: sinking of the Norwegian steamer Rinda (6,029 GRT) ( location ) by two torpedoes. He had loaded 6,719 t of general cargo and was on the way from Haifa via Table Bay and Freetown to Great Britain. There were 13 dead and 18 survivors.
  • On June 6, should U 38 from the replenishment oiler Egerland with fuel supplies are. This failed, however, because the Egerland was attacked on June 5 by the British ships HMS London and HMS Brilliant and sunk by a torpedo hit by the destroyer Brilliant . U 38 spent the entire June 6th looking for survivors, but was unsuccessful.
  • June 8, 1941: sinking of the British steamer Kingston Hill (7628 BRT) ( position ) by two torpedoes. He had loaded 8,300 tons of coal and 400 tons of freight and was on the way from Cardiff via Glasgow and Cape Town to Alexandria (Egypt). The ship belonged to convoy OB-288 with 46 ships. There were 14 dead and 48 survivors.

Tenth patrol

The boat left Lorient on August 6, 1941 at 5:15 p.m. and returned there on September 14, 1941 at 10:50 a.m. A ship with 1,700 GRT was sunk on this 39-day and approximately 5,600-nm-long expedition southwest of Ireland.

  • August 18, 1941: Sinking of the Panamanian steamer Longtaker (1,700 GRT) ( location ) by two G7e torpedoes. He had loaded groceries and wood and was on his way to Reykjavík . There were 24 dead and three survivors.

Eleventh patrol

The boat left Lorient on October 15, 1941 at 1:30 p.m. and entered Stettin on November 29, 1941 . U 38 arrived in Bergen on November 21, 1941 at 4:30 p.m. to replenish fuel and left again on November 23, 1941 at 9:35 a.m. No ships were sunk or damaged during this 38-day and approximately 6,500-nm-long undertaking in the North Atlantic and southeast of Greenland .

Whereabouts

U 38 was self -scuttled by its crew on May 5, 1945 west of Wesermünde at position 53 ° 34 '  N , 8 ° 32'  E according to the rainbow order that had existed for a long time, but was canceled by Grand Admiral Dönitz on the evening of May 4, 1945 . In 1948 it was lifted and scrapped.

U 38 did not lose any crew members during its service.

swell

  1. ↑ Hans Poeppel , Wilhelm-Karl Prince of Prussia , Karl-Günther von Hase (Ed.) The soldiers of the Wehrmacht. Herbig, Munich 1998, ISBN 3-7766-2057-9 , p. 327.
  2. ↑ Norwegian Home Fleet - WW II under M / T North America