List of ship commissionings in 1938
The list of ship commissionings in 1938 includes a chronological list of all ships commissioned in 1938.
| Date | Operator | Ship | Class and type | Pennant | Other notes |
| 9 February | Luftwaffe | ' | Completion date | ||
| 21 May | ' | ||||
| 25 June | ' | Type VIIB submarine | U-45 | ||
| 4 August | ' | Type IX ocean-going submarine | U-37 | ||
| 6 August | ' | Type VIIB submarine | U-51 | ||
| 15 September | ' | ||||
| 24 October | ' | Type IX ocean-going submarine | U-38 | ||
| 2 November | ' | Type VIIB submarine | U-46 | ||
| 26 November | ' | Type VIIB submarine | U-56 | ||
| 26 November | Luftwaffe | ' | Light seaplane tender | Completion date | |
| 17 December | ' | Type VIIB submarine | U-47 | ||
| 24 December | ' | Type IX ocean-going submarine | U-39 | ||
| 29 December | Type VIIB submarine | U-57 |