SMS G38

SMS G38 was a Großes Torpedoboot 1913-class torpedo boat of the Imperial German Navy (Kaiserliche Marine) during World War I, and the 14th ship of her class.

Service
Built by Germaniawerft in Kiel, Germany, she was launched in December 1914.

G38 was assigned to the First Torpedo Boat Flotilla of the High Seas Fleet of the Kaiserliche Marine. When she participated in the Battle of Jutland she was assigned to escort the battlecruiser SMS Lützow. In this action, Lützow was severely damaged such that she was unable to return to German waters. After assisting SMS G37, G40 and V45 in the evacuation of survivors, G38 was ordered to scuttle Lützow by launching two torpedos into her.

After the end of hostilities, G38 was interned at Scapa Flow in November 1918 and scuttled along with most of the fleet on 21 June 1919. She was salvaged for scrap by Ernest Cox in 1924.