SM U-38 explained

SM U-38 was a German Type U 31 U-boat which operated in the Mediterranean Sea during World War I. It ended up being the third most successful U-boat participating in the war, sinking 134 merchant ships sunk for a total of 287,811 GRT.

Its longest serving captain was Kptlt. Max Valentiner, who was awarded the Pour le Mérite while in command of U-38. Valentiner was in command of U-38 in November and December 1915 when she sank the passenger liners and ; both were controversial since the ships were sunk by torpedoes without warning, in defiance of the then-current Prize rules, which stated that merchant vessels carrying passengers be given an opportunity to evacuate their passengers before being sunk.

In 1917 Valentiner was succeeded as commander of U-38 by Kptlt. Wilhelm Canaris, who decades later became an Admiral and head of the Abwehr (German Military Intelligence), in 1935–1944.

Design

Type U 31 submarines were double-hulled ocean-going submarines similar to Type 23 and Type 27 subs in dimensions and differed only slightly in propulsion and speed. They were considered very good high sea boats with average manoeuvrability and good surface steering.

U-38 had an overall length of 64.7m (212.3feet), her pressure hull was 52.36m (171.78feet) long. The boat's beam was 6.32m (20.73feet) (o/a), while the pressure hull measured 4.05m (13.29feet). Type 31s had a draught of 3.56m (11.68feet) with a total height of 7.68-. The boats displaced a total of 971t; 685t when surfaced and 878t when submerged.

U-38 was fitted with two Germania 6-cylinder two-stroke diesel engines with a total of 18500NaN0 for use on the surface and two Siemens-Schuckert double-acting electric motors with a total of 12000NaN0 for underwater use. These engines powered two shafts each with a 1.6m (05.2feet) propeller, which gave the boat a top surface speed of 16.4kn, and when submerged. Cruising range was 8790nmi at on the surface, and 80nmi at under water. Diving depth was 50m (160feet).

The U-boat was armed with four 50adj=onNaNadj=on torpedo tubes, two fitted in the bow and two in the stern, and carried 6 torpedoes. Additionally U-38 was equipped in 1915 with one 8.8sp=usNaNsp=us Uk L/30 deck gun, which was replaced with a 10.5cm (04.1inches) gun in 1916/17.The boat's complement was 4 officers and 31 enlisted.

Fate

After World War I ended, U-38 was surrendered to France and docked in Brest in 1919, and then broken up.

Summary of raiding history

Date	Name	Nationality	Tonnage^[1]	Fate^[2]
18 April 1915	Brilliant		1,441	Captured as prize
22 April 1915	Eva		312	Sunk
22 April 1915	Oscar		766	Sunk
24 April 1915	Nidaros		1,024	Captured as prize
27 April 1915	Torwald		1,085	Captured as prize
30 April 1915	Elida		1,693	Sunk
20 June 1915			10,850	Damaged
21 June 1915	Carisbrook		2,352	Sunk
22 June 1915	Leo		269	Sunk
23 June 1915	Truma		1,557	Sunk
23 June 1915	Elizabeth		94	Sunk
23 June 1915	Four		84	Sunk
23 June 1915	Josephine		85	Sunk
23 June 1915	Piscatorial		84	Sunk
23 June 1915	Research		89	Sunk
23 June 1915	Uffa		79	Sunk
23 June 1915	Ugiebrae		79	Sunk
24 June 1915	Commander		149	Sunk
24 June 1915	J. M. S.		78	Sunk
24 June 1915	Lebanon		111	Sunk
24 June 1915	Monarda		87	Sunk
24 June 1915	Primrose		91	Sunk
24 June 1915	Quiet Waters		63	Sunk
24 June 1915	Star of Bethlehem		77	Sunk
24 June 1915	Viceroy		150	Sunk
24 June 1915	Vine		110	Sunk
5 August 1915	Hans Emil		106	Sunk
5 August 1915	Vanadis		484	Sunk
6 August 1915	Ocean Queen		185	Sunk
6 August 1915	Westminster		252	Sunk
9 August 1915	Thrush		264	Sunk
10 August 1915	Oakwood		4,279	Sunk
17 August 1915	Bonny		2,702	Sunk
17 August 1915	George Baker		91	Sunk
17 August 1915	Glenby		2,196	Sunk
17 August 1915	Isidoro		2,044	Sunk
17 August 1915	Kirkby		3,034	Sunk
17 August 1915	Maggie		269	Sunk
17 August 1915	Paros		3,596	Sunk
17 August 1915	Repeat		107	Sunk
17 August 1915	The Queen	United Kingdom	557	Sunk
17 August 1915	Thornfield		488	Sunk
19 August 1915	Baron Erskine		5,585	Sunk
19 August 1915	Restormel		2,118	Sunk
19 August 1915	Samara		3,172	Sunk
20 August 1915	Bittern		1,797	Sunk
20 August 1915	Carterswell		4,308	Sunk
20 August 1915	Daghestan		2,817	Sunk
20 August 1915	Martha Edmonds		182	Sunk
21 August 1915	Cober		3,060	Sunk
21 August 1915	Ruel		4,029	Sunk
21 August 1915	San Melito		10,160	Damaged
21 August 1915	Windsor		6,055	Sunk
22 August 1915	Diomed		4,672	Sunk
22 August 1915	Palmgrove		3,100	Sunk
23 August 1915	Silvia		5,268	Sunk
23 August 1915	Trafalgar		4,572	Sunk
3 November 1915	Woodfield		3,584	Sunk
3 November 1915	Yasukuni Maru		5,118	Sunk
4 November 1915	Dahra		2,127	Sunk
4 November 1915	Ionia		1,816	Sunk
4 November 1915	Le Calvados		1,658	Sunk, 740 people killed
4 November 1915	Mercian		6,305	Damaged
5 November 1915	Buresk		3,673	Sunk
5 November 1915	Sidi Ferruch		2,797	Sunk
6 November 1915	Elisa Francesca		208	Sunk
6 November 1915	Glenmoor		3,075	Sunk
6 November 1915	Ticino		1,470	Sunk
6 November 1915	Yser		3,545	Sunk
7 November 1915	France IV		4,025	Sunk
8 November 1915			8,210	Sunk, 206 people killed
9 November 1915	Firenze		3,960	Sunk
21 December 1915	Yasaka Maru		10,932	Sunk
30 December 1915	Clan Macfarlane		4,823	Sunk
30 December 1915			7,951	Sunk, 343 people killed
9 February 1916	Springwell		5,593	Sunk
9 February 1916	HMS Thornhill		3,848	Damaged
23 February 1916	Diadem		3,752	Sunk
23 February 1916	Roubine		327	Sunk
24 February 1916	Denaby		2,987	Sunk
24 February 1916	Fastnet		2,227	Sunk
24 February 1916	Torborg		1,266	Sunk
29 February 1916	Alexander Wentzel		2,832	Sunk
29 February 1916	Elisa S		209	Sunk
1 March 1916	Kilbride		3,712	Sunk
16 May 1916	HMS Clifford		487	Sunk
8 June 1916	Malorossija		893	Damaged
8 June 1916	Cementcrug		1,086	Sunk
8 June 1916	Ekaterina		70	Sunk
8 June 1916	Vera		1,231	Damaged
10 June 1916	Orion		429	Sunk
2 July 1916	Rockcliffe		3,073	Sunk
9 July 1916	Vperied		859	Sunk
10 July 1916	Florida		3,238	Sunk
14 August 1916	HMS Remembrance		3,660	Sunk
19 August 1916	Dea		166	Sunk
23 August 1916	Elios		190	Sunk
23 August 1916	Maria Brizzolari		152	Sunk
23 August 1916	Tanina		138	Sunk
24 August 1916	Isdalen		2,275	Sunk
24 August 1916	Liegeoise		3,895	Sunk
25 August 1916	Leandros		1,658	Sunk
25 August 1916	Nostra Signora Del Carmine		1,575	Sunk
26 August 1916	Atlantico		3,069	Sunk
29 August 1916	Antigoon		1,884	Sunk
29 August 1916	Francois Joseph		114	Sunk
29 August 1916	Stella Del Mare		1,166	Sunk
30 August 1916	Nostra Signora Della Guardia		1,588	Sunk
31 August 1916	Bacchus		3,583	Sunk
31 August 1916	Duart		3,108	Sunk
31 August 1916	Piero Maroncelli		3,225	Sunk
1 September 1916	S. Francesco Di Paola		68	Sunk
1 September 1916	Swift Wings		4,465	Sunk
1 September 1916	Antinous		3,682	Damaged
2 September 1916	Strathallan		4,404	Sunk
2 September 1916	Uranie		117	Sunk
3 September 1916	Villadoro		134	Sunk
4 September 1916	Laristan		3,675	Sunk
5 September 1916	Saint Marc		5,818	Sunk
25 November 1916	Michael		2,410	Sunk
26 November 1916	Chemung		3,062	Sunk
3 December 1916	Dacia		1,856	Sunk
3 December 1916	Kanguroo		2,493	Sunk
3 December 1916	Surprise		680	Sunk
8 December 1916	Brask		1,464	Sunk
8 December 1916	Britannia		1,814	Sunk
9 December 1916	Brizella		282	Sunk
10 December 1916	Esemplare		2,595	Sunk
13 December 1916	Angelo Parodi		3,825	Sunk
13 December 1916	Kaupanger		3,354	Sunk
15 December 1916	Emmanuele Accame		3,242	Sunk
17 December 1916	Tripoli		56	Sunk
20 December 1916	Itonus		5,340	Sunk
25 January 1917	Sylvie		2,591	Sunk
7 February 1917	Aphrodite		130	Sunk
14 February 1917	Trowbridge		3,712	Damaged
14 February 1917	Michele		41	Sunk
12 May 1917	Egyptian Prince		3,117	Sunk
13 May 1917	Rio Amazonas		2,970	Sunk
25 May 1917	Kohinur		2,265	Sunk
26 May 1917	Holmesbank		3,051	Sunk
1 July 1917	Corrado		121	Sunk
1 July 1917	Volto Santo G.		225	Sunk
7 July 1917	La Resolu		186	Sunk
12 July 1917	Claire		1,157	Sunk
15 July 1917	Atalante		124	Sunk
19 July 1917	Eloby		6,545	Sunk
20 August 1917	Incemore		3,060	Sunk
19 April 1918	Salambo		248	Sunk
5 May 1918	Alberto Treves		3,838	Damaged
8 May 1918	Ingleside		3,736	Sunk

References

Citations

Bibliography

Book: Gröner. Erich. Jung. Dieter. Maass. Martin. Thomas. Keith. Magowan. Rachel. 1991. U-boats and Mine Warfare Vessels. 2. German Warships 1815–1945. London. Conway Maritime Press. 0-85177-593-4. CITEREFGröner1991.
Eberhard Rössler: Geschichte des deutschen U-Bootbaus – Band 1. Bernard & Graefe Verlag 1996,
Bodo Herzog: Deutsche U-Boote 1906-1966. Manfred Pawlak Verlags GmbH, Herrschingen 1990,
Book: Spindler, Arno . Der Handelskrieg mit U-Booten. 5 Vols . 1932. 1966. Mittler & Sohn. Vols. 4+5, dealing with 1917+18, are very hard to find: Guildhall Library, London, has them all, also Vol. 1-3 in an English translation: The submarine war against commerce. Berlin .
Book: Beesly, Patrick . Room 40: British Naval Intelligence 1914-1918. 1982 . H Hamilton . London . 978-0-241-10864-2 .
Book: Halpern, Paul G. . A Naval History of World War I. 1938 . Routledge . New York . 978-1-85728-498-0 .
Book: Roessler, Eberhard . Die Unterseeboote der Kaiserlichen Marine . 1997 . Bernard & Graefe . Bonn . 978-3-7637-5963-7 .
Book: Schroeder, Joachim . Die U-Boote des Kaisers . 2002 . Bernard & Graefe . Bonn . 978-3-7637-6235-4 .
Book: Koerver, Hans Joachim . Room 40: German Naval Warfare 1914-1918. Vol I., The Fleet in Action. 2008 . LIS Reinisch . Steinbach . 978-3-902433-76-3 .
Book: Koerver, Hans Joachim . Room 40: German Naval Warfare 1914-1918. Vol II., The Fleet in Being. 2009 . LIS Reinisch . Steinbach . 978-3-902433-77-0 .

External links

Homepage for Christian August Max Ahlmann Valentiner:
Photos of cruises of German submarine U-54 in 1916-1918. Great photo quality, comments in German.
A 44 min. film from 1917 about a cruise of the German submarine U-35. A German propaganda film without dead or wounded; many details about submarine warfare in World War I.
38. U 38. 1sub.
Room 40: original documents, photos and maps about World War I German submarine warfare and British Room 40 Intelligence from The National Archives, Kew, Richmond, UK.

Notes and References

Merchant ship tonnages are in gross register tons. Military vessels are listed by tons displacement.
u38. U 38. 1boat. 14 December 2014.