# SM U-38

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 Ancona and Persia; 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 64.70 m (212 ft 3 in), her pressure hull was 52.36 m (171 ft 9 in) long. The boat's beam was 6.32 m (20 ft 9 in) (o/a), while the pressure hull measured 4.05 m (13 ft 3 in). Type 31s had a draught of 3.56 m (11 ft 8 in) with a total height of 7.68–8.04 m (25 ft 2 in – 26 ft 5 in). The boats displaced a total of 971 tonnes (956 long tons); 685 t (674 long tons) when surfaced and 878 t (864 long tons) when submerged.
U-38 was fitted with two Germania 6-cylinder two-stroke diesel engines with a total of 1,850 metric horsepower (1,361 kW; 1,825 bhp) for use on the surface and two Siemens-Schuckert double-acting electric motors with a total of 1,200 PS (883 kW; 1,184 shp) for underwater use. These engines powered two shafts each with a 1.60 m (5 ft 3 in) propeller, which gave the boat a top surface speed of 16.4 knots (30.4 km/h; 18.9 mph), and 9.7 knots (18.0 km/h; 11.2 mph) when submerged. Cruising range was 8,790 nautical miles (16,280 km; 10,120 mi) at 8 knots (15 km/h; 9.2 mph) on the surface, and 80 nmi (150 km; 92 mi) at 5 knots (9.3 km/h; 5.8 mph) under water. Diving depth was 50 m (164 ft 1 in).
The U-boat was armed with four 50 cm (20 in) 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 8.8 cm (3.5 in) Uk L/30 deck gun, which was replaced with a 10.5 cm (4.1 in) 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 | Fate |
| 18 April 1915 | Brilliant | Norway | 1,441 | Captured as prize |
| 22 April 1915 | Eva | Norway | 312 | Sunk |
| 22 April 1915 | Oscar | Norway | 766 | Sunk |
| 24 April 1915 | Nidaros | Denmark | 1,024 | Captured as prize |
| 27 April 1915 | Torwald | Sweden | 1,085 | Captured as prize |
| 30 April 1915 | Elida | Sweden | 1,693 | Sunk |
| 20 June 1915 | HMS Roxburgh | Royal Navy | 10,850 | Damaged |
| 21 June 1915 | Carisbrook | United Kingdom | 2,352 | Sunk |
| 22 June 1915 | Leo | Russia | 269 | Sunk |
| 23 June 1915 | Truma | Norway | 1,557 | Sunk |
| 23 June 1915 | Elizabeth | United Kingdom | 94 | Sunk |
| 23 June 1915 | Four | United Kingdom | 84 | Sunk |
| 23 June 1915 | Josephine | United Kingdom | 85 | Sunk |
| 23 June 1915 | Piscatorial | United Kingdom | 84 | Sunk |
| 23 June 1915 | Research | United Kingdom | 89 | Sunk |
| 23 June 1915 | Uffa | United Kingdom | 79 | Sunk |
| 23 June 1915 | Ugiebrae | United Kingdom | 79 | Sunk |
| 24 June 1915 | Commander | United Kingdom | 149 | Sunk |
| 24 June 1915 | J. M. S. | United Kingdom | 78 | Sunk |
| 24 June 1915 | Lebanon | United Kingdom | 111 | Sunk |
| 24 June 1915 | Monarda | United Kingdom | 87 | Sunk |
| 24 June 1915 | Primrose | United Kingdom | 91 | Sunk |
| 24 June 1915 | Quiet Waters | United Kingdom | 63 | Sunk |
| 24 June 1915 | Star of Bethlehem | United Kingdom | 77 | Sunk |
| 24 June 1915 | Viceroy | United Kingdom | 150 | Sunk |
| 24 June 1915 | Vine | United Kingdom | 110 | Sunk |
| 5 August 1915 | Hans Emil | Denmark | 106 | Sunk |
| 5 August 1915 | Vanadis | Norway | 484 | Sunk |
| 6 August 1915 | Ocean Queen | United Kingdom | 185 | Sunk |
| 6 August 1915 | Westminster | United Kingdom | 252 | Sunk |
| 9 August 1915 | Thrush | United Kingdom | 264 | Sunk |
| 10 August 1915 | Oakwood | United Kingdom | 4,279 | Sunk |
| 17 August 1915 | Bonny | United Kingdom | 2,702 | Sunk |
| 17 August 1915 | George Baker | United Kingdom | 91 | Sunk |
| 17 August 1915 | Glenby | United Kingdom | 2,196 | Sunk |
| 17 August 1915 | Isidoro | Spain | 2,044 | Sunk |
| 17 August 1915 | Kirkby | United Kingdom | 3,034 | Sunk |
| 17 August 1915 | Maggie | United Kingdom | 269 | Sunk |
| 17 August 1915 | Paros | United Kingdom | 3,596 | Sunk |
| 17 August 1915 | Repeat | United Kingdom | 107 | Sunk |
| 17 August 1915 | The Queen | United Kingdom | 557 | Sunk |
| 17 August 1915 | Thornfield | United Kingdom | 488 | Sunk |
| 19 August 1915 | Baron Erskine | United Kingdom | 5,585 | Sunk |
| 19 August 1915 | Restormel | United Kingdom | 2,118 | Sunk |
| 19 August 1915 | Samara | United Kingdom | 3,172 | Sunk |
| 20 August 1915 | Bittern | United Kingdom | 1,797 | Sunk |
| 20 August 1915 | Carterswell | United Kingdom | 4,308 | Sunk |
| 20 August 1915 | Daghestan | Belgium | 2,817 | Sunk |
| 20 August 1915 | Martha Edmonds | United Kingdom | 182 | Sunk |
| 21 August 1915 | Cober | United Kingdom | 3,060 | Sunk |
| 21 August 1915 | Ruel | United Kingdom | 4,029 | Sunk |
| 21 August 1915 | San Melito | United Kingdom | 10,160 | Damaged |
| 21 August 1915 | Windsor | United Kingdom | 6,055 | Sunk |
| 22 August 1915 | Diomed | United Kingdom | 4,672 | Sunk |
| 22 August 1915 | Palmgrove | United Kingdom | 3,100 | Sunk |
| 23 August 1915 | Silvia | United Kingdom | 5,268 | Sunk |
| 23 August 1915 | Trafalgar | United Kingdom | 4,572 | Sunk |
| 3 November 1915 | Woodfield | United Kingdom | 3,584 | Sunk |
| 3 November 1915 | Yasukuni Maru | Japan | 5,118 | Sunk |
| 4 November 1915 | Dahra | France | 2,127 | Sunk |
| 4 November 1915 | Ionia | Italy | 1,816 | Sunk |
| 4 November 1915 | Le Calvados | France | 1,658 | Sunk, 740 people killed |
| 4 November 1915 | Mercian | United Kingdom | 6,305 | Damaged |
| 5 November 1915 | Buresk | United Kingdom | 3,673 | Sunk |
| 5 November 1915 | Sidi Ferruch | France | 2,797 | Sunk |
| 6 November 1915 | Elisa Francesca | Italy | 208 | Sunk |
| 6 November 1915 | Glenmoor | United Kingdom | 3,075 | Sunk |
| 6 November 1915 | Ticino | Italy | 1,470 | Sunk |
| 6 November 1915 | Yser | France | 3,545 | Sunk |
| 7 November 1915 | France IV | France | 4,025 | Sunk |
| 8 November 1915 | Ancona | Italy | 8,210 | Sunk, 206 people killed |
| 9 November 1915 | Firenze | Italy | 3,960 | Sunk |
| 21 December 1915 | Yasaka Maru | Japan | 10,932 | Sunk |
| 30 December 1915 | Clan Macfarlane | United Kingdom | 4,823 | Sunk |
| 30 December 1915 | Persia | United Kingdom | 7,951 | Sunk, 343 people killed |
| 9 February 1916 | Springwell | United Kingdom | 5,593 | Sunk |
| 9 February 1916 | HMS Thornhill | Royal Navy | 3,848 | Damaged |
| 23 February 1916 | Diadem | United Kingdom | 3,752 | Sunk |
| 23 February 1916 | Roubine | France | 327 | Sunk |
| 24 February 1916 | Denaby | United Kingdom | 2,987 | Sunk |
| 24 February 1916 | Fastnet | United Kingdom | 2,227 | Sunk |
| 24 February 1916 | Torborg | Sweden | 1,266 | Sunk |
| 29 February 1916 | Alexander Wentzel | Russia | 2,832 | Sunk |
| 29 February 1916 | Elisa S | Italy | 209 | Sunk |
| 1 March 1916 | Kilbride | United Kingdom | 3,712 | Sunk |
| 16 May 1916 | HMS Clifford | Royal Navy | 487 | Sunk |
| 8 June 1916 | Malorossija | Russia | 893 | Damaged |
| 8 June 1916 | Cementcrug | Russia | 1,086 | Sunk |
| 8 June 1916 | Ekaterina | Russia | 70 | Sunk |
| 8 June 1916 | Vera | Russia | 1,231 | Damaged |
| 10 June 1916 | Orion | Russia | 429 | Sunk |
| 2 July 1916 | Rockcliffe | United Kingdom | 3,073 | Sunk |
| 9 July 1916 | Vperied | Russia | 859 | Sunk |
| 10 July 1916 | Florida | Russia | 3,238 | Sunk |
| 14 August 1916 | HMS Remembrance | Royal Navy | 3,660 | Sunk |
| 19 August 1916 | Dea | Italy | 166 | Sunk |
| 23 August 1916 | Elios | Italy | 190 | Sunk |
| 23 August 1916 | Maria Brizzolari | Italy | 152 | Sunk |
| 23 August 1916 | Tanina | Italy | 138 | Sunk |
| 24 August 1916 | Isdalen | Norway | 2,275 | Sunk |
| 24 August 1916 | Liegeoise | Belgium | 3,895 | Sunk |
| 25 August 1916 | Leandros | Greece | 1,658 | Sunk |
| 25 August 1916 | Nostra Signora Del Carmine | Italy | 1,575 | Sunk |
| 26 August 1916 | Atlantico | Italy | 3,069 | Sunk |
| 29 August 1916 | Antigoon | Belgium | 1,884 | Sunk |
| 29 August 1916 | Francois Joseph | France | 114 | Sunk |
| 29 August 1916 | Stella Del Mare | Italy | 1,166 | Sunk |
| 30 August 1916 | Nostra Signora Della Guardia | Italy | 1,588 | Sunk |
| 31 August 1916 | Bacchus | France | 3,583 | Sunk |
| 31 August 1916 | Duart | United Kingdom | 3,108 | Sunk |
| 31 August 1916 | Piero Maroncelli | Kingdom of Italy | 3,225 | Sunk |
| 1 September 1916 | S. Francesco Di Paola | Italy | 68 | Sunk |
| 1 September 1916 | Swift Wings | United Kingdom | 4,465 | Sunk |
| 1 September 1916 | Antinous | United Kingdom | 3,682 | Damaged |
| 2 September 1916 | Strathallan | United Kingdom | 4,404 | Sunk |
| 2 September 1916 | Uranie | France | 117 | Sunk |
| 3 September 1916 | Villadoro | Italy | 134 | Sunk |
| 4 September 1916 | Laristan | United Kingdom | 3,675 | Sunk |
| 5 September 1916 | Saint Marc | France | 5,818 | Sunk |
| 25 November 1916 | Michael | Greece | 2,410 | Sunk |
| 26 November 1916 | Chemung | United States | 3,062 | Sunk |
| 3 December 1916 | Dacia | United Kingdom | 1,856 | Sunk |
| 3 December 1916 | Kanguroo | France | 2,493 | Sunk |
| 3 December 1916 | Surprise | French Navy | 680 | Sunk |
| 8 December 1916 | Brask | Norway | 1,464 | Sunk |
| 8 December 1916 | Britannia | United Kingdom | 1,814 | Sunk |
| 9 December 1916 | Brizella | Portugal | 282 | Sunk |
| 10 December 1916 | Esemplare | Italy | 2,595 | Sunk |
| 13 December 1916 | Angelo Parodi | Italy | 3,825 | Sunk |
| 13 December 1916 | Kaupanger | Norway | 3,354 | Sunk |
| 15 December 1916 | Emmanuele Accame | Italy | 3,242 | Sunk |
| 17 December 1916 | Tripoli | Italy | 56 | Sunk |
| 20 December 1916 | Itonus | United Kingdom | 5,340 | Sunk |
| 25 January 1917 | Sylvie | France | 2,591 | Sunk |
| 7 February 1917 | Aphrodite | France | 130 | Sunk |
| 14 February 1917 | Trowbridge | United Kingdom | 3,712 | Damaged |
| 14 February 1917 | Michele | Italy | 41 | Sunk |
| 12 May 1917 | Egyptian Prince | United Kingdom | 3,117 | Sunk |
| 13 May 1917 | Rio Amazonas | Italy | 2,970 | Sunk |
| 25 May 1917 | Kohinur | United Kingdom | 2,265 | Sunk |
| 26 May 1917 | Holmesbank | United Kingdom | 3,051 | Sunk |
| 1 July 1917 | Corrado | Italy | 121 | Sunk |
| 1 July 1917 | Volto Santo G. | Italy | 225 | Sunk |
| 7 July 1917 | La Resolu | France | 186 | Sunk |
| 12 July 1917 | Claire | Belgium | 1,157 | Sunk |
| 15 July 1917 | Atalante | France | 124 | Sunk |
| 19 July 1917 | Eloby | United Kingdom | 6,545 | Sunk |
| 20 August 1917 | Incemore | United Kingdom | 3,060 | Sunk |
| 19 April 1918 | Salambo | French Navy | 248 | Sunk |
| 5 May 1918 | Alberto Treves | Italy | 3,838 | Damaged |
| 8 May 1918 | Ingleside | United Kingdom | 3,736 | Sunk |