Patrol info for U-438
| Departure | Arrival / Fate | Duration | ||
| 1 Aug 1942 | Kiel | 3 Sep 1942 | Brest | 34 days |
Commander | Officers * |
 Kptlt. Rudolf Franzius |
Daily positions, sinkings and allied attacks during the patrol of U-438
We have daily positions for all 34 days on this patrol.
Departure from Kiel on 1 Aug 1942.
2 Aug 1942 - 3 Aug 1942 - 4 Aug 1942 - 5 Aug 1942 - 6 Aug 1942 - 7 Aug 1942 - 8 Aug 1942 - 9 Aug 1942 - 10 Aug 1942 - 11 Aug 1942 - 12 Aug 1942 - 13 Aug 1942 - 14 Aug 1942 - 15 Aug 1942 - 16 Aug 1942 - 17 Aug 1942 - 18 Aug 1942 - 19 Aug 1942 - 20 Aug 1942 - 21 Aug 1942 - 22 Aug 1942 - 23 Aug 1942 - 24 Aug 1942 - 25 Aug 1942 - 26 Aug 1942 - 27 Aug 1942 - 28 Aug 1942 - 29 Aug 1942 - 30 Aug 1942 - 31 Aug 1942 - 1 Sep 1942 - 2 Sep 1942 -
Arrival at Brest on 3 Sep 1942.
Wolfpack operations during this patrol
U-438 operated with the following Wolfpacks during this patrol
Lohs (11 Aug 1942 - 25 Aug 1942)
Ships hit by U-438 during this patrol
| Date | U-boat | Commander | Name of ship | Tons | Nat. | Convoy | Map | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 Aug 1942 | U-438 | Rudolf Franzius |  | Condylis | 4,439 |  | gr | SC-94 | A |
| 10 Aug 1942 | U-438 | Rudolf Franzius | Oregon | 6,008 |  | br | SC-94 | B | |
| 25 Aug 1942 | U-438 | Rudolf Franzius | | Trolla | 1,598 |  | nw | ONS-122 | C |
| 12,045 | |||||||||
3 ships sunk (12,045 tons). Legend | |||||||||
General Events during this patrol
We have no events listed for this patrol.
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Attacks on U-438 during this patrol
25 Aug 1942
At 07.05 hrs 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 on sighting U-438 through fog five minutes later. After U-438 dived the corvette intended to attack with ten depth charges, but only dropped two because both traps jammed and six throwers misfired. They held contact and delivered a second attack, but with only one depth charge because the launchers were still out of action. At 07.26 hrs a third and final attack was made with five depth charges before the ship returned to the convoy. The U-boat had dived to 180m (590 ft), but the depth charges caused a leak in the bow compartment that could not be stopped, which forced U-438 to surface shortly afterwards. Despite being unable to dive, they escaped in the fog, and six hours later had managed to repair the damage, but were ordered to return to base because their fuel supplies were low. (Sources: ADM reports, KTB U-438)
About this data
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See all patrols for U-438
* These are officers that later became commanders themselves.