Ub 38 Wreck

Field Value
Wreck Category non-dangerous wreck
Ub 38 Wreck Location
Marine Coordinates (DMM) 		50 57.892 N,1 23.125 E
Latitude, Longitude
Decimal Degrees
  • Latitude: 50.964867
  • Longitude: 1.385417
Wreck Depth 36 m
Water Depth 40 m
Water Level Effect always under water/submerged
Vertical Datum Approximate Lowest Astronomical Tide
Name UB 38
Type submarine
Flag DE
Length 36.9 m
Width 4.3 m
Draught 3.7
Sonar Length 24.7
Sonar Width 6.5
Shadow Height 3.6
Orientation 160
Tonnage 305
Tonnage Type displacement
Conspic Visual not visually conspicuous
Conspic Radar not radar conspicuous
Date Sunk Feb 8, 1918
Bottom Texture Shells
Scour Dimensions ,,000.4,000
Debris Field 0070.0,225
Original Detection Year 1971
Last Detection Year 2025
Original Source survey vessel
Surveying Details SUNK IN 505600N, 012500E APPROX. (DER KRIEG ZUR SEE & DIE DEUTSCHEN KRIEGSSCHIFFE 1815-1945). NCA. H2873/71 5.4.71 WK LOCATED IN 505751N, 012145E [OGB] USING DECCA. LENGTH ABOUT 120FT AND STANDING 25FT CLEAR OF SEABED. SWEPT CLEAR BY DRIFT SWEEP AT 72FT, FOUL AT 74FT. CONFIRMED BY DIVERS AS A SUBMARINE. (SOISS, VARNE SWEEP, 1.5.71). CHART AS WK SW 12FMS [22.0MTRS]. - NM 510/71. H2343/84 26.2.86 EXAM'D 10.7.85 IN 505749N, 012144E [OGB] USING TRISPONDER [4 LOP]. LEAST E/S DEPTH 24.7 IN GEN DEPTH 28.3MTRS. SCOUR DEPTH 29.3MTRS. DCS3 HT 5.1MTRS, LENGTH 40MTRS, LYING 010/190DEGS. 'ON TOP' SOUNDINGS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO OBTAIN. (NP 1016, HI 253). SHADOW HEIGHT BY HYDROSEARCH 4.4MTRS GIVING LEAST DEPTH 23.6MTRS. (HMS BULLDOG). RETAIN AS WK SW 22MTRS IN REVISED POSN. BR STD. H2343/84 2.4.87 LEAST E/S DEPTH 23.6 IN GEN DEPTH 28MTRS. SCOUR DEPTH 28.6MTRS. (HMS HECLA, HI 253 REWORK). NCA. H3850/86 22.11.88 EXAM'D BY HMS FAWN 28.6.88 IN 505749N, 012144E [OGB] USING TRISPONDER [3 LOP]. SWEPT CLEAR AT 23.3, FOUL AT 23.5MTRS. LEAST E/S DEPTH 24.1 IN GEN DEPTH 28.2MTRS. SCOUR 0.5MTR DEEP. DCS3 HT 4.9MTRS. ALSO EXAM'D BY HMS ROEBUCK 17.9.88 USING HYDROSEARCH. INTACT, LYING 045/225DEGS APPARENTLY ON ITS SIDE IN A VERY SHALLOW SCOUR. LENGTH 86MTRS. A SAND RIDGE HAS BUILT UP E OF WK. NO MAST OR OTHER PROJECTION OBSERVED. NO FURTHER EXAMINATION REQ'D. (HMS FAWN, HI 411 & HMS ROEBUCK, HI 369). AMEND TO WK SW 23MTRS. - NM 3650/88. HH091/082/01 29.10.04 EXAM'D 11.8.04 IN 5057.841N, 0121.622E [WGD] USING DGPS. SWEPT CLEAR 23.5, FOUL 23.7MTRS. LEAST M/B DEPTH 23.57 IN GEN DEPTH 28MTRS. SCOUR 1MTR EXTENDS 60MTRS NE FROM MIDSHIPS AND SW FROM STERN SECTION. LENGTH 33MTRS, WIDTH 7MTRS, HT 4MTRS. LIES 020/200 DEGS WITH BOWS TOWARDS 020 DEGS. LOCAL DIVERS REPORT WK IS ON PORT SIDE WITH STERN FULLY DETACHED. STERN IS 3MTRS FROM THE MAIN SECTION WITH LENGTH 4MTRS, WIDTH 3MTRS. TWO TORPEDOES ARE IN CLOSE PROXIMITY. (NP 1016, HI 1082). AMEND WK SW 23.5MTRS. BR STD. HH226/420/09 20.7.05 TH HAVE TAKEN POSESSION OF WK. (TH NM 40/05). NCA. 18.5.07 CONSIDERED THAT THIS SUBMARINE IS UB 38 NOT UC 78, AS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED. WK HAS ALL THE DESIGN FEATURES OF A UB II CLASS SUBMARINE AND NONE OF THOSE OF A MINELAYING UC CLASS. THE PROPS WERE APPARENTLY SALVAGED SOME YEARS AGO AND STAMPED UB38. WK IS CURRENTLY BEING MOVED AS IT IS A NAVIGATIONAL HAZARD. (INNES MCCARTNEY/J DILLON TELECON APR '07 & E-MAIL DTD 18.5.07). NCA. 25.6.07 WK LIES ON HER PORT SIDE, THE STERN HAS BEEN ENTIRELY BLOWN OFF. (LOST PATROLS, I MCCARTNEY) NCA. HH091/159/01 23.7.07 EXAM'D 30.1.07 IN 5057.844N, 0121.626E [WGD] USING DPGS. LEAST M/B DEPTH 23.80 IN GEN DEPTH 27.8MTRS. LENGTH 27.4MTRS, WIDTH 8MTRS, HT 4MTRS. LIES 020/200 DEGS. NO MAGNETIC ANOMALY. (OSAE, HI 1159). RETAIN SW 23.5MTRS IN REVISED POSN. BR STD. SEP 2007/000065602 12.9.07 CONSENT GRANTED TO TH TO MOVE WK TO 5058.166N, 0123.472E [WGD]. (MARINE & FISHERIES AGENCY, UNDATED LTD REC'D 10.9.07). NCA. 24.4.08 CONTRACT PLACED WITH TO MOVE WRECK DURING JUNE/JULY 2008. (MCA, EMAIL DTD 11.4.08). NCA. SEP 2008/000049669 12.6.08 OPERATIONS TO MOVE WK DUE TO COMMMENCE 18.6.08. (TH NM 18/08). NCA. SEP 2008/000050944 13.6.08 OPERATIONS WILL COMMENCE 18.6.08 FOR APPROX 14 DAYS. 'NORMA' WILL BE STATIONED ABOVE WK TOGETHER WITH GUARD SHIP. (TH NM 19/08). NCA. SEP 2008/000060734 21.7.08 NOW RELOCATED TO 5057.89N, 0123.12E [WGD]. CLEARANCE DEPTH IN EXCESS OF 30MTRS. (TH NM 24/08). AMEND WK 30MTRS IN REVISED POSN. - NM 4727/08. SEP 2008/000068819 19.8.08 LEAST M/B DEPTH 36MTRS. (TH, POST MOVE SURVEY DTD 15.7.08). AMEND WK 36MTRS. BR STD. SEP 2008/000068962 21.8.08 EXAM'D 15.8.08 IN 5057.891N, 0123.118E [WGD] USING DGPS. SWEPT CLEAR 36.2 AND 34.8MTRS, FOUL 37.9MTRS. LEAST M/B DEPTH 36.9 IN GEN DEPTH 40MTRS. NO SCOUR. SEABED BROKEN SHELLS, SAND & GRAVEL. (TH, ROS DTD 15.8.08). AMEND SW 34MTRS. BR STD. 24.2.14 LOCATED 10.2.14 IN 5750.890N, 0123.130E [WGD]. LEAST M/B DEPTH 36.02 N GEN DEPTH 39.8MTRS. SCOUR .04MTR DEEP. LENGTH 24.7MTRS, WIDTH 6.55MTRS, HT 3.6MTRS. LIES 160/340 DEGS. INTACT. (EGS, HI 1434). MINOR SCOUR AT WK. AMEND WK 36MTRS IN REVISED POSN. RSDRA2025000461388 03.10.25 LOCATED IN M/B DATASET (2025). LEAST M/B DEPTH 36.38MTRS. DEEPER THAN CHARTED. NFS. (NJORD SURVEY, DTD 16.05.2025). RETAIN WK 36MTRS.
Last Amended Date Oct 5, 2025

Circumstances of loss

FORCED TO SUBMERGE BY DRIFTER 'GOWAN II' AND STRUCK MINE. (DER KRIEG ZUR SEE). BUILT IN 1916 BY BLOHM & VOSS, HAMBURG. 27 LIVES LOST. (DIE DEUTSCHEN KRIEGSSCHIFFE 1815-1945)

General Comments

INTACT, MINOR SCOUR AT WK

WRECK MAP LOADING ... 50 57.892 N,1 23.125 E
Ub 38 on Wreck Map Ub 38 Wreck on Google Map

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FAQ

Where is the UB 38 wreck located?

The UB 38 wreck is located at coordinates 50 57.892 N,1 23.125 E.

How deep is the UB 38 and where exactly is it located?

The UB 38 lies at a depth of about 36 meters and is located at coordinates 50 57.892 N,1 23.125 E.

How deep is the seabed around the UB 38?

The seabed around the UB 38 lies at approximately 40 meters deep.

When did the UB 38 sink?

The UB 38 sank on Feb 8, 1918.

When was the wreck of the UB 38 discovered?

The wreck of the UB 38 was discovered in 1971.

What country did the UB 38 belong to?

The UB 38 belonged to DE.

What was the tonnage of the UB 38?

The UB 38 had a tonnage of 305 tons.

What type of wreck is the UB 38?

The UB 38 is classified as a submarine.

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