German submarine U-138 (1940)

History
Nazi Germany
Name	U-138
Ordered	25 September 1939
Builder	Deutsche Werke AG, Kiel
Laid down	16 November 1939
Launched	18 May 1940
Commissioned	27 June 1940
Fate	Sunk 18 June, 1941 west of Cadiz, in position 36.04N, 07.29W, by depth charges from British warships. 27 survivors (no casualties).
General characteristics
Class and type	Type IID Diesel-electric submarine
Displacement	314 Tons (Surfaced) 364 Tons (Submerged)
Length	144 ft. 3 in. (43.97 meters)
Beam	16 ft. 2 in. (4.92 meters)
Draught	12 ft. 11 in (3.93 meters)
Propulsion	2 × MWM RS127S 6-cylinder diesel engines, 700 hp (522 kW) 2 × SSW PGVV322/26 double-acting electric motors, 402 hp (300 kW)
Speed	12.7 knots (Surfaced) 7.4 knots (Submerged)
Range	5,650 miles @ 8 knots (Surfaced) 56 miles @ 4 knots (Submerged)
Test depth	492 ft. (150 meters)
Complement	22-24
Armament	3 × torpedo tubes (bow), 5 torpedoes 1 × 20mm anti-aircraft gun
Service record
Part of:	Kriegsmarine: 1st U-boat Flotilla (1940) 22nd U-boat Flotilla (1941)
Commanders:	Obtlt. Wolfgang Lüth Peter Lohmeyer Oblt. Franz Gramitsky
Operations:	Five: 1st patrol: 10–26 September 1940 2nd patrol: 8–19 October 1940 3rd patrol: 5 November–1 December 1940 4th patrol: 12–27 May 1941 5th patrol: 12 –18 June 1941
Victories:	Six ships sunk for a total of 48,564 GRT One ship damaged (6,993 GRT)

German submarine U-138 was a Type IID U-boat of the German Kriegsmarine in World War II. Her keel was laid down on 16 November 1939 by Deutsche Werke in Kiel as 'werk' 267. She was launched on 18 May 1940 and commissioned on 27 June 1940 with Oberleutnant zur See Wolfgang Lüth in command.

U-138 conducted five patrols, sinking six ships totalling 48,564 GRT and damaged one vessel of 6,993 GRT.

She was sunk in June 1941 by British warships west of Cadiz in Spain. There were no casualties from her crew of 27.

Operational career

1st patrol

U-138 departed Kiel on her first patrol on 10 September 1940. Her route took her through the Kattegat and Skagerrak before entering the North Sea. She then reached her area of operations off western Scotland and northern Northern Ireland after negotiating the 'gap' between the Faoroe and Shetland Islands.

Her first victim was the New Sevilla, quickly followed by the Boka and the City of Simla. The three ships all went down 52 mi (84 km) northwest of Rathlin Island on 20 September. The following day, she hit the Empire Adventure. The ship sank while under tow by HMS Superman.

The boat docked in Lorient on the French Atlantic coast on 26 September.

2nd patrol

For her second foray, U-137 sank the Bonheur and damaged the British Glory on 15 October 1940 northwest of the Butt of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides. The British Glory was repaired and returned to service in January 1942.

3rd patrol

Patrol number three involved another passage west of the British Isles so that the submarine could safely dock in Kiel, but she did not add to her score.

4th patrol

The boat returned to Lorient on 27 May 1941, having sunk the Javanese Princess on the 20th.

5th patrol

U-138 was sunk by the British destroyers HMS Faulknor, Fearless, Forester, Foresight and Foxhound west of Cadiz in Spain on 18 June 1941. There were no casualties amongst her crew of 27.

Summary of raiding History

Date	Ship Name	Flag	Tonnage (GRT)	Fate
20 September 1940	Boka	Panama	5,560	Sunk
20 September 1940	City of Simla	Great Britain	10,138	Sunk
20 September 1940	New Sevilla	Great Britain	13,801	Sunk
21 September 1940	Empire Adventure	Great Britain	5,145	Sunk
15 October 1940	Bonheuer	Great Britain	5,327	Sunk
15 October 1940	British Glory	Great Britain	6,993	Damaged
15 May 1941	Javanese Princess	Great Britain	8,593	Sunk

External links

• U-138 at uboat.net