Patrol info for U-438
| Departure | Arrival / Fate | Duration | ||
| 1 Aug 1942 | Kiel | 3 Sep 1942 | Brest | 34 days |
Commander | Officers * |
 Rudolf Franzius |
Daily positions, sinkings and allied attacks during the patrol of U-438
Legend
means a ship hit (sunk or damaged).
indicates an Allied attack on the boat.
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We have daily positions for all 34 days on this patrol.
Departure from Kiel on 1 Aug 1942.
2 Aug 1942 - 3 Aug 1942 - 4 Aug 1942 - 5 Aug 1942 - 6 Aug 1942 - 7 Aug 1942 - 8 Aug 1942 - 9 Aug 1942 - 10 Aug 1942 - 11 Aug 1942 - 12 Aug 1942 - 13 Aug 1942 - 14 Aug 1942 - 15 Aug 1942 - 16 Aug 1942 - 17 Aug 1942 - 18 Aug 1942 - 19 Aug 1942 - 20 Aug 1942 - 21 Aug 1942 - 22 Aug 1942 - 23 Aug 1942 - 24 Aug 1942 - 25 Aug 1942 - 26 Aug 1942 - 27 Aug 1942 - 28 Aug 1942 - 29 Aug 1942 - 30 Aug 1942 - 31 Aug 1942 - 1 Sep 1942 - 2 Sep 1942 -
Arrival at Brest on 3 Sep 1942.
Wolfpack operations during this patrol
U-438 operated with the following Wolfpacks during this patrol
Lohs (11 Aug 1942 - 25 Aug 1942)
Ships hit by U-438 during this patrol
| Date | U-boat | Commander | Name of ship | Tons | Nat. | Convoy | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 Aug 1942 | U-438 | Rudolf Franzius |  | Condylis | 4,439 |  | gr | SC-94 |
| 10 Aug 1942 | U-438 | Rudolf Franzius | Oregon | 6,008 |  | br | SC-94 | |
| 25 Aug 1942 | U-438 | Rudolf Franzius | | Trolla | 1,598 |  | nw | ONS-122 |
| 12,045 | ||||||||
3 ships sunk (12,045 tons). Legend | ||||||||
General Events during this patrol
We have no events listed for this patrol.
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Attacks on U-438 during this patrol
25 Aug 1942
At 07.05 hours, HNoMS Eglantine obtained a radar contact between her and HNoMS Montbretia on the starboard quarter of convoy ONS-122 and opened fire with the 4in gun when spotting U-438 in fog five minutes later. The corvette intended to attack with ten depth charges after the boat crash-dived but only dropped two charges because both traps jammed and six throwers misfired. They hold contact and delivered a second attack with only one depth charge because the other weapons were not ready yet. At 07.26 hours, a third and last attack was carried out with five depth charges before the ship returned to the convoy. The U-boat had dived to 180 meters, but the depth charges had caused a flooding in the bow compartment that could not be stopped and forced U-438 to surface shortly afterwards. Unable to dive, they escaped in the fog and repaired the damage in six hours but being low on fuel was ordered to return to base. (Sources: ADM reports, KTB U-438)
About this data
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See all patrols for U-438
* These are officers that later became commanders themselves.
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