German submarine U-398

German submarine U-398 was a Type VIIC U-boat built for the Nazi German Kriegsmarine for service during World War II. The U-boat was laid down at the Howaldswerke in Kiel on 26 August 1942, launched on 6 November 1943 and commissioned on 18 December of that same year, under Korvettenkapitän Johan Reckhoff. He was replaced by Oberleutnant Wilhelm Kranz on 8 November 1944.

The boat served initially with the 5th U-boat Flotilla, a training organization, between 18 December 1943 and 31 July 1944, before moving over to the operational 3rd flotilla between 1 August and 31 October 1944 and the 33rd flotilla between 1 November 1944 and her loss.

Operational history
U-388 carried out two patrols, the first, commencing on 23 August 1944, took her as far as the west coast of Ireland; starting from Horten in Norway and finishing with her arrival in Bergen on 15 October. A total of 54 days were spent at sea. It was uneventful.

Her second patrol ended abruptly after just four days in April 1945. She vanished without trace in either the North Sea or possibly the Arctic Ocean. The cause for her disappearance remains unknown.