U-638

Type

VIIC

Ordered

20 Jan 1941

Laid down

16 Oct 1941

Blohm & Voss, Hamburg (werk 614)

Launched

8 Jul 1942

Commissioned

3 Sep 1942

Kptlt. 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)

Successes

1 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.