SM U-35 (Germany) explained

SM U-35 was a German U 31-class U-boat which operated in the Mediterranean Sea during World War I. It ended up being the most successful U-boat participating in the war, sinking 220 merchant ships for a total of .

Her longest-serving captain was Lothar von Arnauld de la Perière. Under his command, U-35 sank 191 ships, making him the most successful submarine commander in history.

Design

Type U 31 submarines were double-hulled ocean-going submarines similar to Type 23 and Type 27 subs in dimensions and differed only slightly in propulsion and speed. They were considered very good high seas boats with average manoeuvrability and good surface steering.

U-35 had an overall length of 64.7m (212.3feet), her pressure hull was 52.36m (171.78feet) long. The boat's beam was 6.32m (20.73feet) (o/a), while the pressure hull measured 4.05m (13.29feet). Type 31s had a draught of 3.56m (11.68feet) with a total height of 7.68-. The boats displaced a total of 971t; 685t when surfaced and 878t when submerged.

U-35 was fitted with two Germania 6-cylinder two-stroke diesel engines with a total of 18500NaN0 for use on the surface and two Siemens-Schuckert double-acting electric motors with a total of 12000NaN0 for underwater use. These engines powered two shafts each with a 1.6m (05.2feet) propeller, which gave the boat a top surface speed of 16.4kn, and when submerged. Cruising range was 8790nmi at on the surface, and 80nmi at under water. Diving depth was 50m (160feet).

The U-boat was armed with four 50adj=onNaNadj=on torpedo tubes, two fitted in the bow and two in the stern, with carried 6 torpedoes. In 1915 U-35 was equipped with a 8.8sp=usNaNsp=us Uk L/30 deck gun, which was replaced with a 10.5cm (04.1inches) gun in 1916–17. The boat's complement was 4 officers and 31 enlisted men.

Service history

U-35s keel was laid on 20 December 1912 at the Friedrich Krupp Germaniawerft shipyard in Kiel. Its delivery date was supposed to be 1 March 1914, but it was delayed due to development problems with its diesel engines. U-35 officially entered service on 3 November 1914, under the command of Kapitänleutnant Waldemar Kophamel. The lead engineer was Hans Fechter. It sailed with the II Flottille, stationed in Heligoland.

U-35 completed its first two deployments in reconnaissance actions in the North Sea. In its following three actions, U-35 sunk 17 merchant ships, for a total of . Later, it was paired with after a battle near Cattaro, Montenegro, and sunk two merchant ships for a total of . U-35 made two more voyages and destroyed 13 more merchant ships totaling . These included on 23 October 1915 the British transport in the Aegean Sea. She was carrying an Ammunition Column of the 29th Division; and also staff of the 1st New Zealand Stationary Hospital, despite a British hospital ship Grantully Castle sailing on the same route on the same day.[1]

On 9 November 1915, with the help of sister U-34, U-35 sank the SS Californian, a cargo ship best known for its inaction during the sinking of the RMS Titanic on 15 April 1912, despite being the closest ship in the area. U-35 delivered a coup-de-grace after U-34 had attacked Californian earlier. She was under tow from a French patrol boat when U-35 moved in to finish her off.[2] Coincidentally, U-35 would also come within close proximity of the ill-fated Titanics sister ship RMS Olympic on an unknown date in 1916, but "conditions made attack impossible."[3]

On 13 November 1915, Kptlt. de la Perière took command of U-35. He led 15 missions, primarily in the Mediterranean, and sank 187 merchant ships for a total of . Additionally, U-35 sank the British gunboat on 29 February 1916 and the French gunboat Rigel on 2 October 1916.

On 26 February 1916, she successfully torpedoed and sank the Armed merchant cruiser, carrying 1,800 French troops, near Cerigo Island with a loss of 990 men.[4]

U-35s fourteenth patrol (26 July to 20 August 1916) under de la Perière stands as the most successful submarine patrol of all time. During that period, 54 merchant ships totaling were sunk.

She also sank on 4 October 1916, the French transport ship, leading to the death of between 600 and 1,800 men.

Kptlt. Ernst von Voigt took command of U-35 on 17 March 1918. He undertook two patrols, an enemy engagement and a redeployment cruise, between 7 September and 9 October 1918, but both were promptly broken off because of engine damage. On 14 October 1918, Kptlt. Heino von Heimburg took command and U-35 was transferred to Kiel.

Fate

After World War I ended, U-35 was transferred to England and docked in Blyth from 1919 to 1920, then broken up.

Summary of raiding history

Date! width="140px"
NameNationality[5] TonnageFate
Blackwood United Kingdom1,230Sunk
Gris Nez France208Sunk
Hyndford United Kingdom4,286Damaged
Laila Norway748Sunk
Cubano Norway4,352Sunk
George & Mary United Kingdom100Sunk
Sunlight United Kingdom1,433Sunk
Trudvang Norway1,041Sunk
Express United Kingdom115Sunk
La Liberte France302Sunk
Strathcarron United Kingdom4,347Sunk
Susannah United Kingdom115Sunk
Thomasina1,869Sunk
Bellglade Norway664Sunk
Crown of India United Kingdom2,034Sunk
Diamant France324Sunk
Hopemount United Kingdom3,300Sunk
Pelham United Kingdom3,534Sunk
Baltzer343Damaged
Francois France2,212Sunk
Morna Norway1,512Sunk
Ravitailleur France2,815Sunk
Ramazan United Kingdom3,477Sunk
Linkmoor United Kingdom4,306Sunk
Scilla1,220Sunk
United Kingdom7,057Sunk
Woolwich United Kingdom2,936Sunk
1,862Sunk
Abbas298Sunk
Nour-el-bahr450Damaged
Caria United Kingdom3,032Sunk
United Kingdom4,835Sunk
Lumina United Kingdom6,218Sunk
Moorina United Kingdom4,994Sunk
Den of Crombie United Kingdom4,949Sunk
Sir Richard Awdry United Kingdom2,234Sunk
Norway3,521Sunk
United Kingdom6,223Sunk
Sutherland United Kingdom3,542Sunk
Marere United Kingdom6,443Sunk
Trematon United Kingdom4,198Sunk
13,753Sunk
Giava2,755Sunk
Masunda United Kingdom4,952Sunk
HMS Primula1,250Sunk
Minneapolis United Kingdom13,543Sunk
Maria C.77Sunk
Motia500Sunk
San Francesco Di Paola43Sunk
Antonia V132Sunk
Giosue20Sunk
S. Francesco28Sunk
Tavolara701Sunk
Adelina170Sunk
Annette112Sunk
Audace144Sunk
S. Maria515Sunk
Sardinia United Kingdom1,119Sunk
Dolmetta M48Sunk
Era1,078Sunk
Eufrasia71Sunk
Gafsa United Kingdom3,922Sunk
Rondine112Sunk
Poviga3,360Sunk
Aquila Norway2,191Sunk
Beachy United Kingdom4,718Sunk
Olga France2,964Sunk
Rona United Kingdom1,312Sunk
France Et Russie France329Sunk
Mario C.398Sunk
Giuseppina1,872Sunk
Herault France2,299Sunk
Canford Chine United Kingdom2,398Sunk
Checchina France184Sunk
Daiyetsu Maru Japan3,184Sunk
San Francesco1,060Sunk
Saturnina Fanny1,568Sunk
Clara5,503Sunk
Fournel France2,047Sunk
Mongibello4,059Sunk
Pino1,677Sunk
Roma2,491Sunk
Windermere United Kingdom2,292Sunk
Carlo Alberto312Sunk
Giuseppina214Sunk
Teano United Kingdom1,907Sunk
Dandolo4,977Sunk
Britannic United Kingdom3,487Sunk
Ethelbryhta United Kingdom3,084Sunk
Giuseppe Marta Tunisia111Sunk
Katholm Denmark1,324Sunk
Citta Di Messina2,464Sunk
Einar Norway135Sunk
Emilio G.166Sunk
Erling Norway122Sunk
Generale Ameglio222Sunk
Heighington United Kingdom2,800Sunk
Eugenia550Sunk
Neptune France151Sunk
Tricoupis Greece2,387Sunk
Favonian United Kingdom3,049Sunk
Siena4,372Sunk
Teti2,868Sunk
Tottenham United Kingdom3,106Sunk
Achilleus Greece843Sunk
Mount Coniston United Kingdom3,018Sunk
Newburn United Kingdom3,554Sunk
Trident United Kingdom3,129Sunk
Imperial United Kingdom3,818Sunk
Speme1,229Sunk
Antiope United Kingdom2,973Sunk
Ganekogorta Mendi Spain3,061Sunk
Sebastiano3,995Sunk
Temmei Maru Japan3,360Sunk
Pagasarri Spain3,287Sunk
Gina443Sunk
Nereus3,980Sunk
Regina Pacis2,228Sunk
Saint Gaetan (aux) France125Sunk
Balmoral2,542Sunk
Eurasia1,898Sunk
Francesco Saverio214Sunk
Ivar Denmark2,139Sunk
Emilia319Sunk
Francesca161Sunk
Henriette B.176Sunk
Ida242Sunk
Lavinia243Sunk
Louis B.212Sunk
Pausania107Sunk
Rosario188Sunk
S. Francesco Di Paola S.113Sunk
San Giovanni Battista1,066Sunk
S. Giuseppe Patriarca63Sunk
Augusta523Sunk
Candida Altieri282Sunk
Vergine Di Pompei146Sunk
Madre665Sunk
Swedish Prince United Kingdom3,712Sunk
Erix923Sunk
Doride1,250Sunk
Teresa270Sunk
Garibaldi1,374Sunk
Giovanni Zambelli2,485Sunk
Charterhouse United Kingdom3,021Sunk
Bronwen United Kingdom4,250Sunk
Bufjord Norway2,284Sunk
Nicolo5,466Sunk
Benpark3,842Sunk
Newby United Kingdom2,168Sunk
Roddam United Kingdom3,218Sunk
Stathe United Kingdom2,623Sunk
Rallas United Kingdom1,752Sunk
Secondo United Kingdom3,912Sunk
Vindeggen Norway2,610Sunk
Venus3,976Sunk
Rigel1,250Sunk
Samos Greece1,186Sunk
Birk Norway715Sunk
14,966Sunk
Aurora2,806Sunk
Vera Sweden2,308Sunk
United Kingdom2,555Sunk
Salvatore Padre200Sunk
Hudworth United Kingdom3,966Sunk
Mohacsfield United Kingdom3,678Sunk
Andoni United Kingdom3,188Sunk
Lynfield United Kingdom3,023Sunk
Assunta132Sunk
Lyman M. Law United States1,300Sunk
Percy Roy United Kingdom110Sunk
Mery178Sunk
Oceania4,217Sunk
Buranda United Kingdom3,651Damaged
Oriana3,132Sunk
Prudenza3,307Sunk
Pierre Hubert112Sunk
Giuseppe1,856Sunk
Guido T324Sunk
Skogland Sweden3,264Sunk
Longhirst United Kingdom3,053Sunk
Mont Viso France4,820Damaged
Dorothy United Kingdom3,806Sunk
Prikonisos Greece3,537Sunk
Ardgask United Kingdom4,542Sunk
Marguerite United States1,553Sunk
Parkgate United Kingdom3,232Sunk
Maplewood United Kingdom3,239Sunk
Miss Morris United Kingdom156Sunk
India Greece2,933Sunk
Giuseppe Accame3,224Sunk
Odysseus Greece3,463Sunk
Stromboli5,466Sunk
Patagonier United Kingdom3,832Sunk
Panaghi Drakatos Greece2,734Sunk
Brisbane River United Kingdom4,989Sunk
Corfu United Kingdom3,695Sunk
Fernmoor United Kingdom3,098Sunk
Trekieve United Kingdom3,087Sunk
Sowwell United Kingdom3,781Sunk
Leasowe Castle United Kingdom9,737Damaged
Lowdale United Kingdom2,260Sunk
Nentmoor United Kingdom3,535Sunk
Bandiera E Moro2,086Sunk
Bien Aime Prof. Luigi265Sunk
Nordsøen Denmark1,055Sunk
Torvore Norway1,667Sunk
Vilhelm Krag Norway3,715Sunk
Triana Spain748Damaged
Alavi United Kingdom3,627Sunk
Despina G. Michalinos Greece2,851Sunk
Doris3,979Sunk
Lilla2,819Sunk
HMS City Of Belfast1,055Damaged
Lorenzo2,498Sunk
Ikoma Maru Japan3,048Sunk
Fannie Prescott United States404Sunk
Namur United Kingdom6,694Sunk
Cambric United Kingdom3,403Sunk
Maria Di Porto Salvo91Sunk
San Francesco Di Paola G.91Sunk
Persier United Kingdom3,874Sunk
Fiscus United Kingdom4,782Sunk
Waverley United Kingdom3,853Sunk
Pietro3,860Sunk
Turnbridge United Kingdom2,874Sunk
Argo United Kingdom3,071Sunk
Cliftondale United Kingdom3,811Sunk
Nordpol Norway2,053Sunk
Humberto Portugal274Sunk
Pytheas Norway2,690Sunk
Kerman United Kingdom4,397Damaged
Marconi United Kingdom7,402Damaged
Daiten Maru Japan4,555Sunk
Begona No.4 Spain1,850Sunk
Silverdale United Kingdom3,835Sunk
Sunk:
Damaged:
Total:		538,500
36,889
575,389

Bibliography

External links

Notes and References

  1. Cloud over Marquette by J M Smith (1990, Auckland NZ)
  2. Web site: Californian.
  3. The SS Californian and Dundee: Scotland's Forgotten Leviathan. Encyclopedia Titanica . 18 October 2018 . Duzen . Harland .
  4. 3447. La Provence sunk. 1ship. 23 December 2014.
  5. Merchant ship tonnages are in gross register tons. Military vessels are listed by tons displacement

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