U-438

Type

VIIC

Ordered

16 Oct 1939

Laid down

25 Apr 1940

F Schichau GmbH, Danzig (werk 1480)

Launched

6 Sep 1941

Commissioned

22 Nov 1941

Kptlt. Rudolf Franzius

Commanders

22 Nov 1941	-	29 Mar 1943		Rudolf Franzius
30 Mar 1943	-	6 May 1943		KrvKpt. Heinrich Heinsohn

Career
4 patrols

22 Nov 1941	-	31 Jul 1942	8. Flottille (training)
1 Aug 1942	-	6 May 1943	9. Flottille (front boat)

Successes

3 ships sunk, total tonnage 12,045 GRT
1 ship damaged, total tonnage 5,496 GRT

Fate

Sunk 6 May, 1943 in the North Atlantic north-east of Newfoundland, in approximate position 52.00N, 45.10W, by depth charges from the British sloop HMS Pelican. 48 dead (all hands lost).

See the 4 ships hit by U-438 - View the 4 war patrols

Wolfpack operations

U-438 operated with the following Wolfpacks during its career:
   Lohs (11 Aug 1942 - 25 Aug 1942)
   Tümmler (6 Oct 1942 - 9 Oct 1942)
   Panther (13 Oct 1942 - 20 Oct 1942)
   Veilchen (20 Oct 1942 - 5 Nov 1942)
   Habicht (11 Jan 1943 - 19 Jan 1943)
   Haudegen (19 Jan 1943 - 8 Feb 1943)
   Adler (11 Apr 1943 - 13 Apr 1943)
   Meise (13 Apr 1943 - 22 Apr 1943)
   Specht (22 Apr 1943 - 4 May 1943)
   Fink (4 May 1943 - 6 May 1943)

Attacks on this boat

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)

4 May 1943
A Catalina aircraft (Sqdn 5) attacked an U-boat, believed to have been the U-438 on this day. The boat fought back and escaped with some damage. (Sources: Blair, vol 2, page 291)

2 recorded attacks on this boat.

General notes on this boat

1 Jan 1943. On 1 January, 1943 U-438 was damaged by underwater explosions, forcing her to return from patrol in the North Atlantic.

Men lost from U-boats

Unlike many other U-boats, which during their service lost men due to accidents and various other causes, U-438 did not suffer any casualties (we know of) until the time of her loss.