List of all U-boats

U-638

Type

VIIC

 
Ordered20 Jan 1941
Laid down16 Oct 1941 Blohm & Voss, Hamburg (werk 614)
Launched8 Jul 1942
Commissioned3 Sep 1942Kptlt. Oskar Staudinger
Commanders
3 Sep 1942 - 8 Dec 1942  Oblt. Oskar Staudinger
9 Dec 1942 - 31 Mar 1943  Kptlt. Hinrich-Oscar Bernbeck
1 Apr 1943 - 5 May 1943  Kptlt. Oskar Staudinger
Career
2 patrols
3 Sep 1942-31 Jan 1943  5. Flottille (training)
1 Feb 1943-5 May 1943  9. Flottille (active service)
Successes1 ship sunk, total tonnage 5,507 GRT
1 ship damaged, total tonnage 6,537 GRT
Fate

Sunk on 5 May 1943 in the North Atlantic north-east of Newfoundland, in position 54.12N, 44.05W, by depth charges from the British corvette HMS Sunflower. 44 dead (all hands lost). (FDS/NHB, October 1991).

Loss position

See the 2 ships hit by U-638 - View the 2 war patrols

Previously recorded fate

  • Sunk 5 May, 1943 in the North Atlantic northeast of Newfoundland, in position 53.06N, 45.02W, by depth charges from the British corvette HMS Loosestrife. (Postwar assessment)
    Notes. This attack resulted in the loss of U-192.

Wolfpack operations

U-638 operated with the following Wolfpacks during its career:
   Burggraf (26 Feb 1943 - 28 Feb 1943)
   Wildfang (28 Feb 1943 - 5 Mar 1943)
   Raubgraf (7 Mar 1943 - 15 Mar 1943)
   Amsel 1 (3 May 1943 - 5 May 1943)

Men lost from U-boats

Unlike many other U-boats, which during their service lost men due to accidents and various other causes, U-638 did not suffer any casualties (we know of) until the time of her loss.


Media links


Hitler's U-boat War, Vol II

Blair, Clay


German U-Boat Losses During World War II

Niestle, Axel


U-Boat Operations of the Second World War - Vol 2

Wynn, Kenneth




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