German submarine U-438 was a Type VIIC U-boat of the Nazi German Kriegsmarine during World War II. The submarine was laid down on 25 April 1940 at the Schichau-Werke yard as 'Werk' 1480 in Danzig, launched on 6 September 1941 and commissioned on 22 November 1941 under the command of Kapitänleutnant Rudolf Franzius.