# SM UB-38

SM UB-38 was a German Type UB II submarine or U-boat in the German Imperial Navy (German: Kaiserliche Marine) during World War I.

## Design

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).
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.

## 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.

## Summary of raiding history

| Date | Name | Nationality | Tonnage | Fate |
| 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 |