# List of ship launches in 1938

The list of ship launches in 1938 includes a chronological list of some ships launched in 1938.
| Date | Country | Builder | Location | Ship | Class | Notes |
| 22 January | Sweden | Öresundsvarvet | Landskrona | Rose | Cargo ship | For Hvalfangerselskapet Kosmos A/S |
| 14 February | United States | Bethlehem Shipbuilding | San Francisco | Maury | Gridley-class destroyer | |
| February | United States | Alabama Drydock and Shipbuilding Company | Mobile, Alabama | Citizen No. 1 | Tank barge | For Citizens Oil Co. |
| 3 March | United Kingdom | Harland & Wolff | Belfast | Lochavon | Cargo ship | For Royal Mail Line. |
| 13 March | United States | New York Shipbuilding Corporation | Camden, New Jersey | Phoenix | Brooklyn-class cruiser | |
| 14 March | United Kingdom | Blyth Dry Docks & Shipbuilding Co. Ltd. | Blyth, Northumberland | Barbican | Bar-class boom defence vessel | For Royal Navy. |
| 16 March | Germany | Deutsche Werft | Hamburg | Santa Cruz | Cargo ship | For Oldenburg Portuguese Line. |
| 17 March | United Kingdom | Harland & Wolff | Belfast | Belfast | Town-class cruiser | For Royal Navy. |
| 19 March | Japan | Mitsubishi | Nagasaki | Chikuma | Tone-class cruiser | For Imperial Japanese Navy. |
| 15 April | United States | Newport News Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Company | Newport News, Virginia | St. Louis | St. Louis-class cruiser | |
| 16 April | United States | Federal Shipbuilding | Kearny, New Jersey | Benham | Benham-class destroyer | |
| 28 April | United Kingdom | Harland & Wolff | Belfast | Donax | Tanker | For Anglo Saxon Petroleum Co. |
| 5 May | United States | Norfolk Navy Yard | Norfolk, Virginia | Rowan | Benham-class destroyer | |
| 5 May | United States | Norfolk Navy Yard | Norfolk, Virginia | Stack | Benham-class destroyer | |
| 14 May | United States | Boston Navy Yard | Boston, Massachusetts | Mayrant | Benham-class destroyer | |
| 14 May | United States | Boston Navy Yard | Boston, Massachusetts | Trippe | Benham-class destroyer | |
| 16 May | Japan | Kawasaki | Kobe | Mizuho | Seaplane carrier | |
| 28 May | United Kingdom | Blyth Dry Docks & Shipbuilding Co. Ltd. | Blyth, Northumberland | Barbrook | Bar-class boom defence vessel | For Royal Navy. |
| 31 May | United Kingdom | J. Samuel White | Cowes | Egret | Egret-class sloop | For Royal Navy. |
| 31 May | United Kingdom | Harland & Wolff | Belfast | Waimarama | Cargo ship | For Shaw Savill Line. |
| 11 June | United States | Federal Shipbuilding | Kearny, New Jersey | Ellet | Benham-class destroyer | |
| 14 June | United Kingdom | Harland & Wolff | Belfast | Durban Castle | Passenger ship | For Union-Castle Line. |
| 15 June | Germany | DeSchiMAG | Bremen | Karl Galster | Type 1936-class destroyer | |
| 28 June | United Kingdom | Harland & Wolff | Belfast | Dromus | Tanker | For Anglo Saxon Petroleum Co. |
| 28 June | Japan | Uraga Dock Company | Uraga | Shiranui | Kagerō-class destroyer | For Imperial Japanese Navy. |
| 29 June | United Kingdom | Caledon Shipbuilding & Engineering Co. Ltd. | Dundee | Glenearn | Cargo ship | For Blue Funnel Line. |
| 29 June | United Kingdom | Grangemouth Dockyard Co. Ltd. | Grangemouth | Robert Middleton | Icemaid type collier | For Ministry of War Transport. Completed as a Dundas-class coastal stores carrier for the Royal Fleet Auxiliary. |
| 30 June | United Kingdom | Denny | Dumbarton | Auckland | Egret-class sloop | For Royal Navy. |
| 7 July | Norway | Royal Norwegian Navy Shipyard | Horten | Gyller | Sleipner-class destroyer | |
| 17 July | United Kingdom | Smiths Dock Company | South Bank-on-Tees, Middlesbrough | Bembridge | Pilot cutter | For Trinity House. |
| 27 July | United Kingdom | Swan Hunter & Wigham Richardson | Wallsend, England | Dominion Monarch | Cargo liner | For Shaw, Savill & Albion Line |
| 28 July | United Kingdom | Cammell Laird | Birkenhead, England | Mauretania | Ocean liner | For Cunard Line |
| 28 July | United States | Philadelphia Naval Shipyard | Philadelphia | Rhind | Benham-class destroyer | |
| July | United States | Alabama Drydock and Shipbuilding Company | Mobile, Alabama | Todd Johnson 17 | Tank barge | For Todd Johnson Drydocks Inc. |
| July | United States | Alabama Drydock and Shipbuilding Company | Mobile, Alabama | 4 unnamed vessels | Tank barges | For Southern Kraft Corporation. |
| 22 August | Germany | Germaniawerft | Kiel | Prinz Eugen | Modified Admiral Hipper-class cruiser | |
| 23 August | United Kingdom | Blyth Dry Docks & Shipbuilding Co. Ltd. | Blyth, Northumberland | Barcastle | Bar-class boom defence vessel | For Royal Navy. |
| 25 August | United Kingdom | Harland & Wolff | Belfast | British Fidelity | Tanker | For British Tanker Company. |
| 28 August | Germany | DeSchiMAG | Bremen | Wilhelm Heidkamp | Type 1936-class destroyer | |
| 28 August | United States | Federal Shipbuilding | Kearny, New Jersey | Lang | Benham-class destroyer | |
| August | United States | Alabama Drydock and Shipbuilding Company | Mobile, Alabama | J.H.C. No. 4 | Tank barge | For J. H. Coppedge. |
| date | United States | Alabama Drydock and Shipbuilding Company | Mobile, Alabama | Error: {{SS}} missing name (help) | Steamship | For . |
| August | United States | Alabama Drydock and Shipbuilding Company | Mobile, Alabama | 2 unnamed vessels | Tank barges | For Southern Kraft Corporation. |
| 1 September | Denmark | Nylands Verksted | Copenhagen | Dr. Heinrich Wiegand | Cargo ship | For Argo Line. |
| 9 September | United Kingdom | Hawthorn Leslie and Company | Hebburn-on-Tyne | Jervis | J-class destroyer | |
| 12 September | United Kingdom | Thornycroft | Woolston | Pelican | Egret-class sloop | For Royal Navy. |
| 15 September | Germany | Germaniawerft | Kiel | Steiermark | Cargo ship | For Hamburg America Line. |
| 20 September | Germany | DeSchiMAG | Bremen | Anton Schmitt | Type 1936-class destroyer | |
| 22 September | Germany | Blohm + Voss | Hamburg | Mircea | Gorch-Fock-class sail training ship | For Romanian Navy |
| 24 September | Finland | Wärtsilä Hietalahti Shipyard | Helsinki | Sisu | Icebreaker | For Finnish Board of Navigation |
| 26 September | United Kingdom | J. Samuel White | Cowes | Jersey | J-class destroyer | |
| 27 September | United Kingdom | John Brown & Company | Clydebank, Scotland | Queen Elizabeth | Ocean liner | For Cunard Line |
| 27 September | Japan | Maizuru Naval Arsenal | Maizuru | Kagerō | Kagerō-class destroyer | |
| 29 September | Germany | Deschimag Seebeckwerft | Wesermünde | Jan Mayen | Fishing trawler | For Norddeutsche Hochseefischerei AG |
| September | Germany | Deschimag Seebeckwerft | Wesermünde | Weser | Fishing trawler | For Hanseatische Hochseefischerei AG |
| 11 October | United Kingdom | Swan Hunter & Wigham Richardson | Wallsend | Janus | J-class destroyer | |
| 11 October | United Kingdom | Blythwood Shipbuilding Co. Ltd. | Glasgow | San Demetrio | Tanker | For Eagle Oil & Shipping Co. Ltd. |
| 12 October | United Kingdom | Harland & Wolff | Belfast | Pretoria Castle | Passenger ship | For Union-Castle Line. |
| 25 October | United Kingdom | Harland & Wolff | Belfast | Cairndale | Tanker | For Royal Fleet Auxiliary. |
| 25 October | United Kingdom | John Brown & Company | Clydebank | Jackal | J-class destroyer | |
| 25 October | United Kingdom | Hawthorn Leslie and Company | Hebburn-on-Tyne | Kelly | K-class destroyer | |
| 25 October | Japan | Fujinagata Shipyard | Osaka | Kuroshio | Kagerō-class destroyer | For Imperial Japanese Navy. |
| 27 October | United Kingdom | Yarrow & Company | Scotstoun | Jupiter | J-class destroyer | |
| 27 October | United States | Charleston Naval Shipyard | North Charleston, South Carolina | Sterett | Benham-class destroyer | |
| October | Germany | Deutsche Schiff- und Maschinenbau AG | Bremen | Neidenfels | Cargo liner | For Deutsche Dampfschiffahrts-Gesellschaft "Hansa" |
| 8 November | United Kingdom | Blyth Dry Docks & Shipbuilding Co. Ltd | Blyth, Northumberland | Bayonet | Net-class boom defence vessel | For Royal Navy. |
| 8 November | United Kingdom | Harland & Wolff | Belfast | Richmond Castle | Refrigerated cargo ship | For Union-Castle Line. |
| 22 November | United Kingdom | William Denny & Brothers | Dumbarton | Jaguar | J-class destroyer | |
| 29 November | Japan | Maizuru Naval Arsenal | Maizuru | Oyashio | Kagerō-class destroyer | For Imperial Japanese Navy. |
| 5 December | United Kingdom | Blyth Dry Docks & Shipbuilding Co. Ltd | Blyth, Northumberland | Falconet | Net-class boom defence vessel | For Royal Navy. |
| 8 December | Germany | Deutsche Werke | Kiel | Graf Zeppelin | Graf Zeppelin-class aircraft carrier | |
| 8 December | United Kingdom | Fairfield Shipbuilding & Engineering Company | Govan | Juno | J-class destroyer | |
| 8 December | Japan | Harima Zōsen KK | Aioi, Harima | Kuroshio Maru | Kawasaki-type oiler | For Chigai Kisen KK |
| 8 December | United Kingdom | Harland & Wolff | Belfast | Rowallan Castle | Refrigerated cargo ship | For Union-Castle Line. |
| 20 December | United Kingdom | Harland & Wolff | Belfast | San Emiliano | Tanker | For Eagle Oil and Shipping Company. |
| 21 December | United Kingdom | John Brown & Company | Clydebank | Javelin | J-class destroyer | |
| December | United States | Alabama Drydock and Shipbuilding Company | Mobile, Alabama | B 5 | Dredger | For Atlantic Dredging. |
| Unknown date | Germany | Lübecker Maschinenbau Gesellschaft | Lübeck | Adler | Cargo liner | For Argo Reederei Richard Adler & Co |
| Unknown date | Danzig | Danziger Werft AG | Danzig | Amrum | Coastal tanker | For Kriegsmarine. |
| Unknown date | United Kingdom | Goole Shipbuilding & Repairing Co. Ltd. | Goole | Barcombe | Bar-class boom defence vessel | For Royal Navy. |
| Unknown date | United Kingdom | Goole Shipbuilding & Repairing Co. Ltd. | Goole | Barcroft | Bar-class boom defence vessel | For Royal Navy. |
| Unknown date | United Kingdom | Blyth Dry Docks & Shipbuilding Co. Ltd | Blyth, Northumberland | B.H.M. Motor Ferry No. 4 | Ferry | For Blyth Harbour Commissioners. |
| Unknown date | United Kingdom | Cochrane & Son Ltd. | Selby | Brahman | Tug | For United Towing Co. Ltd. |
| Unknown date | Germany | Schulte & Bruns | Emden | Coburg | Fishing trawler | For H. Bischoff & Co |
| Unknown date | Netherlands | Nederlands Scheepsbouw Maatschappij | Vlissingen | Denbighshire | Cargo ship | For Blue Funnel Line. |
| Unknown date | United Kingdom | Sir James Laing & Sons Ltd. | Sunderland | Eisdanger | Norwegian-type tanker | For Westfal-Larsen & Co. A/S. |
| Unknown date | Germany | Neptun Werft | Rostock | Friedrich Karl | Cargo ship | For Reederei Wendenhof GmbH |
| Unknown date | Germany | F. Schichau GmbH. | Elbing | Gabelsflach | tanker | For Kriegsmarine. |
| Unknown date | Germany | Flensburger Schiffbau-Gesellschaft | Flensburg | Haga | Cargo ship | For Mathies Reederei |
| Unknown date | Germany | Neptun AG | Rostock | Hannah Boge | Cargo ship | For J. M. K. Blumenthal. |
| Unknown date | Germany | Bremer Vulkan Schiffs- und Maschinenbau | Stettin | Hohenfels | Cargo ship | For Hansa Line. |
| Unknown date | United Kingdom | | | John Holt | Cargo ship | For John Holt & Co (Liverpool) Ltd. |
| Unknown date | United Kingdom | | | Johnathan Holt | Cargo ship | For John Holt & Co (Liverpool) Ltd. |
| Unknown date | United Kingdom | Cochrane & Son Ltd. | Selby | Krooman | Tug | For United Towing Co Ltd. |
| Unknown date | Germany | Schiffbau-Gesellschaft Unterweser AG, | Wesermünde | Luna | Passenger ship | For Dampfschiffahrts Gesellschaft Neptun AG (Neptun Line). |
| Unknown date | United Kingdom | British Power Boat Company | Hythe | MMS 51 | MMS-class minesweeper | For Royal Navy. |
| Unknown date | United Kingdom | Charles Connell & Co Ltd | Glasgow | Mountpark | Cargo ship | For J. & J. Denholm Ltd. |
| Unknown date | United Kingdom | Cochrne & Sons Ltd. | Selby | Marinia | tug | For Overseas Towage & Salvage Co. Ltd. |
| Unknown date | United Kingdom | Cochrne & Sons Ltd. | Selby | Neptunia | tug | For Overseas Towage & Salvage Co. Ltd. |
| Unknown date | United Kingdom | Cochrane & Son Ltd. | Selby | Norman | Tug | For United Towing Co. Ltd. |
| Unknown date | Germany | Deutsche Werft. | Hamburg | Patria | Ocean liner | For private owner. |
| Unknown date | Germany | Deutsche Werft | Hamburg | Pomona | Cargo ship | For F. Laiesz & Co. |
| Unknown date | United States | Campbell Industries | San Diego | Prospect | Tuna clipper | For Star & Crescent Boat Company |
| Unknown date | Germany | Studen und Reederei GmbH | Beidenfleth | Sachsen | Sealer | For Studen und Reederei GmbH. |
| Unknown date | United Kingdom | Cochrane & Sons Ltd. | Selby | Salvonia | tug | For Overseas Towage & Salvage Co. Ltd. |
| Unknown date | United Kingdom | Sir James Laing & Sons Ltd. | Sunderland | Sandanger | Norwegian-type tanker | For Westfal-Larsen & Co. A/S. |
| Unknown date | Germany | Howaldtswerke | Kiel | Schwan | Cargo ship | For Argo Line |
| Unknown date | Germany | H. C. Stulcken | Hamburg | Sperber | Light seaplane tender | For Luftwaffe use |
| Unknown date | Germany | Deutsche Schiff- und Maschinenbau AG | Bremen | Süderau | Cargo ship | For Bugsier Reederei und Bergungs AG |
| Unknown date | Sweden | Oresunds Varvet. | Landskrona | Viator | Cargo ship | For private owner. |
| Unknown date | Norway | Moss Vaerft & Dokk. | Moss | Wandsbek | Cargo ship | For Knohr & Burchard. |
| Unknown date | United Kingdom | Charles Connell & Co Ltd | Glasgow | Wellpark | Cargo ship | For J. & J. Denholm Ltd. |
| Unknown date | United States | Alabama Drydock and Shipbuilding Company | Mobile, Alabama | Unnamed | Tank barge | For private owner. |