page_title: SM U-38
hierarchical_section_title: SM U-38
caption_attribution_description: English: SM U-38 of the german imperial navy, original title: „In sicheren Gewässern. Erfrischendes Morgenluftbad nach anstrengender Nachtfahrt“ („In safe water. Refreshing bath of air in the morning after exhausting night-cruise“) Deutsch: U38 aus der kaiserlichen deutschen Marine, Original-Bildunterschrift: „In sicheren Gewässern. Erfrischendes Morgenluftbad nach anstrengender Nachtfahrt“
context_page_description: 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 138 ships sunk for a total of 299.985 tons.
  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, in 1935-44.
context_section_description: 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 138 ships sunk for a total of 299.985 tons.
  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 1935-44.
caption: SM U-38 with crew
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