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| U-438 | Type VIIC |
| Feldpost Number | M 42 302 |
| Construction Yard | F.Schichau GmbH, Danzig |
| Yard Number | 1480 |
| Ordered | 16th Oct 1939 |
| Keel laid | 25th Apr 1940 |
| Launched | 6th Sep 1941 |
| Commissioned | 22nd Nov 1941 |
| Baubelehrung | 7.KLA, Danzig-Neufahrwasser | | Training, Flotillas and Duties | | 11.41 - 07.42 | 8.U-Flottille, Königsberg & Danzig
Ausbildungsboot (under training)
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| 08.42 - 05.43 | 9.U-Flottille, Brest
Frontboot (operational)
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| Commanders | | 22.11.41 - 29.03.43 | KL Rudolf Franzius
see also: U-145 |
| 30.03.43 - 06.05.43 | KL Heinrich Heinsoh
see also: U-8 |
| Operations information for U-438 | 01.08.1942 - 03.09.1942
First Sailing - active patrol
U-438 left Kiel under the command of Rudolf Franzius on 1st Aug 1942 and arrived at Brest on 3rd Sep 1942 after more than four weeks.
Rudolf Franzius hit four ships on this patrol and all of them were in convoy: two were from convoy ON-122 and two were from convoy SC-94.
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On 10th Aug 1942 he sank the Greek 4,439 ton Condylis, sailing with convoy SC-94.
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On 10th Aug 1942 he sank the British 6,008 ton Oregon, a member of convoy SC-94.
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On 25th Aug 1942 he sank the Norwegian 1,598 ton Trolla, part of convoy ON-122.
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On 25th Aug 1942 he sank the British 7,457 ton Empire Breeze, from convoy ON-122.
You can read more about the Norwegian ship listed for this patrol at www.warsailors.com.
Click the link for more information on Trolla.
| 06.10.1942 - 19.11.1942
Second Sailing - active patrol
On the 6th Oct 1942, U-438 left Brest under the command of Rudolf Franzius and returned to Brest on 19th Nov 1942 after over six weeks on patrol.
Rudolf Franzius hit one ship on this patrol from convoy SC-107.-
On 2nd Nov 1942 he damaged the British 5,496 ton Hartington, sailing with convoy SC-107.
| 31.12.1942 - 16.02.1943
Third Sailing - active patrol
U-438 departed under Rudolf Franzius from Brest on 31st Dec 1942 and arrived back at Brest on 16th Feb 1943 after more than six weeks on patrol.
| 29.03.1943 - 06.05.1943
Fourth Sailing - active patrol
U-438 left Brest under the command of Heinrich Heinsohn on 29th Mar 1943. The boat was lost on 6th May 1943.
On 5th Apr 1943 U-438 came under attack from an unidentified aircraft. The boat defended itself with flak and the aircraft was possibly destroyed.
On 4th May 1943 in square AJ 61, U-438 came under attack from an aircraft of RCAF 5 Squadron. The boat defended itself with flak without destroying the aircraft.
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