U-138

Type

IID

Ordered

25 Sep, 1939

Laid down

16 Nov, 1939

Deutsche Werke, Kiel (werk 267)

Launched

18 May, 1940

Commissioned

27 Jun, 1940

Oblt.Wolfgang Lüth (Knights Cross)

Commanders

27 Jun, 1940 - 20 Oct, 1940	Oblt. Wolfgang Lüth (Knights Cross)
21 Oct, 1940 - 31 Dec, 1940	Peter Lohmeyer
1 Jan, 1941 - 18 Jun, 1941	Franz Gramitzky

Career

5 patrols

27 Jun, 1940 - 31 Aug, 1940  1. Flottille (training)
1 Sep, 1940 - 31 Dec, 1940  1. Flottille (front boat)
1 Jan, 1941 - 30 Apr, 1941  22. Flottille (school boat)
1 May, 1941 - 18 Jun, 1941  3. Flottille (front boat)

Successes

6 ships sunk for a total of 48.564 GRT
1 ship damaged for a total of 6.993 GRT

Fate

Sunk 18 June, 1941 west of Cadiz, in position 36.04N, 07.29W, by depth charges from the British destroyers HMS Faulknor, HMS Fearless, HMS Forester, HMS Foresight and HMS Foxhound. 27 survivors (No casualties).

See the 7 ships hit by U-138 - View the 5 war patrols

Attacks on this boat

26 Sep, 1940
A few hours before reaching her base at Lorient, U-138 encountered the British submarine HMS Tribune which fired four torpedoes towards the German sub. None hit the U-boat, which escaped and reached its base.

1 recorded attacks on this boat.

Men lost from U-boats

Unlike many other U-boats, which during their service lost men due to accidents and various other causes, U-138 did not suffer any casualties (we know of) until the time of her loss.