SM U-38
SM U-38 was a German Type [U 31 submarine|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 134 merchant ships sunk for a total of 287,811 GRT.
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 and ; 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 1935–1944.
Design
s were double-hulled ocean-going submarines similar to Type [U 23 submarine|Type 23] and Type [U 27 submarine|Type 27] subs in dimensions and differed only slightly in propulsion and speed. They were considered very good high sea boats with average manoeuvrability and good surface steering.U-38 had an overall length of, her pressure hull was long. The boat's beam was , while the pressure hull measured. Type 31s had a draught of with a total height of. The boats displaced a total of ; when surfaced and when submerged.
U-38 was fitted with two Germania 6-cylinder two-stroke diesel engines with a total of for use on the surface and two Siemens-Schuckert double-acting electric motors with a total of for underwater use. These engines powered two shafts each with a propeller, which gave the boat a top surface speed of, and when submerged. Cruising range was at on the surface, and at under water. Diving depth was.
The U-boat was armed with four torpedo tubes, two fitted in the bow and two in the stern, and carried 6 torpedoes. Additionally U-38 was equipped in 1915 with one Uk L/30 deck gun, which was replaced with a gun in 1916/17.
The boat's complement was 4 officers and 31 enlisted.