German submarine U-435

History
Nazi Germany
Name: U-435
Ordered: 16 October 1939
Builder: F Schichau GmbH, Danzig
Yard number: 1477
Laid down: 11 April 1940
Launched: 31 May 1941
Commissioned: 30 August 1941
Fate: Sunk by depth charges on 9 July 1943 west of Figueira, Portugal at position 39°48′N 14°22′W / 39.800°N 14.367°W / 39.800; -14.367 by a RAF Wellington bomber of 179 Squadron operating out of Gibraltar.
General characteristics
Class & type: Type VIIC submarine
Displacement:
  • 769 tonnes (757 long tons) surfaced
  • 871 t (857 long tons) submerged
Length:
Beam:
  • 6.20 m (20 ft 4 in) o/a
  • 4.70 m (15 ft 5 in) pressure hull
Height: 9.60 m (31 ft 6 in)
Draught: 4.74 m (15 ft 7 in)
Installed power:
  • 2,800–3,200 PS (2,100–2,400 kW; 2,800–3,200 bhp) (diesels)
  • 750 PS (550 kW; 740 shp) (electric)
Propulsion:
Speed:
  • 17.7 knots (32.8 km/h; 20.4 mph) surfaced
  • 7.6 knots (14.1 km/h; 8.7 mph) submerged
Range:
  • 8,500 nmi (15,700 km; 9,800 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) surfaced
  • 80 nmi (150 km; 92 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph) submerged
Test depth:
  • 230 m (750 ft)
  • Crush depth: 250–295 m (820–968 ft)
Complement: 4 officers, 40–56 enlisted
Armament:
Service record[1]
Part of:
Commanders:
Operations:
  • 1st patrol: 20 January – 16 February 1942
  • 2nd patrol: 16 March – 5 April 1942
  • 3rd patrol: 7–26 April 1942
  • 4th patrol: 25 July – 31 August 1942
  • 5th patrol: 16–28 September 1942
  • 6th patrol: 30 November 1942 – 10 January 1943
  • 7th patrol: 18 February – 25 March 1943
  • 8th patrol: 20 May – 9 July 1943
Victories:
  • 9 merchant ships sunk (53,712 GRT
  • 4 warships sunk (3,311 tons)

German submarine U-435 was a Type VIIC U-boat built for Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine for service during World War II. She was laid down on 11 April 1940 by F Schichau GmbH in Danzig as yard number 1477, launched on 31 May 1941 and commissioned on 30 August 1941 under Korvettenkapitän Siegfried Strelow (Knight’s Cross).

The boat's service began on 30 August 1941 with training as part of the 5th U-boat Flotilla. She was transferred to the 1st flotilla on 1 January 1942 for active service and then to the 11th flotilla on 1 July 1942. She returned to the 1st flotilla on 1 February 1943.

Design

German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-435 had a displacement of 769 tonnes (757 long tons) when at the surface and 871 tonnes (857 long tons) while submerged.[2] She had a total length of 67.10 m (220 ft 2 in), a pressure hull length of 50.50 m (165 ft 8 in), a beam of 6.20 m (20 ft 4 in), a height of 9.60 m (31 ft 6 in), and a draught of 4.74 m (15 ft 7 in). The submarine was powered by two Germaniawerft F46 four-stroke, six-cylinder supercharged diesel engines producing a total of 2,800 to 3,200 metric horsepower (2,060 to 2,350 kW; 2,760 to 3,160 shp) for use while surfaced, two AEG GU 460/8–27 double-acting electric motors producing a total of 750 metric horsepower (550 kW; 740 shp) for use while submerged. She had two shafts and two 1.23 m (4 ft) propellers. The boat was capable of operating at depths of up to 230 metres (750 ft).[2]

The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 17.7 knots (32.8 km/h; 20.4 mph) and a maximum submerged speed of 7.6 knots (14.1 km/h; 8.7 mph).[2] When submerged, the boat could operate for 80 nautical miles (150 km; 92 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph); when surfaced, she could travel 8,500 nautical miles (15,700 km; 9,800 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph). U-435 was fitted with five 53.3 cm (21 in) torpedo tubes (four fitted at the bow and one at the stern), fourteen torpedoes, one 8.8 cm (3.46 in) SK C/35 naval gun, 220 rounds, and an anti-aircraft gun. The boat had a complement of between forty-four and sixty.[2]

Service history

In eight patrols she sank 13 ships for a total of 53,712 GRT, plus three warships and one auxiliary warship.

Convoy PQ 13

U-456 attacked and damaged the American freighter Effingham straggling the convoy. U-435 then finished off the abandoned vessel.

Convoy QP 10

U-435 was more successful in April sinking both the Panamanian freighter El Occidente and British steamer Harpalion. The straggler Harpalion was finished off after being abandoned having been previously heavily damaged by Luftwaffe Ju 88 dive bombers.

Convoy QP 14

U-435 had even more success when she was part of a combined attack on Arctic Convoy QP 14. She sank 4 vessels, comprising the minesweeper HMS Leda, RFA fleet oiler Gray Ranger, British Liberty ship Ocean Voice and American freighter Bellingham.

Convoy ONS 154

U-435 continued her earlier successes sinking 5 vessels in total namely the CAM ship Empire Shackleton, Norse King, the special service vessel and former freighter HMS Fidelity, HMS LCV-752 and HMS LCV-754; although the two landing craft were being carried as deck cargo when HMS Fidelity was sunk.

Wolfpacks

She took part in eleven wolfpacks, namely,

Fate

She was depth charged and sunk by on 9 July 1943 at position 39°48′N 14°22′W / 39.800°N 14.367°W / 39.800; -14.367 west of Figueira, Portugal by a RAF Wellington bomber from 179 Squadron.

Summary of raiding history

Date Name Nationality Tonnage Fate[3]
30 March 1942 Effingham  United States 6,421 Sunk
13 April 1942 El Occidente  Panama 6,008 Sunk
13 April 1942 Harpalion  United Kingdom 5,486 Sunk
20 September 1942 HMS Leda  Royal Navy 835 Sunk
22 September 1942 Bellingham  United Kingdom 5,345 Sunk
22 September 1942 RFA Grey Ranger  Royal Fleet Auxiliary 3,313 Sunk
22 September 1942 Ocean Voice  United Kingdom 7,174 Sunk
29 December 1942 Empire Shackleton  United Kingdom 7,068 Sunk
29 December 1942 Norse King  Norway 5,701 Sunk
30 December 1942 HMS Fidelity  Royal Navy 2,456 Sunk
30 December 1942 HMS LCV-752  Royal Navy 10 Sunk
30 December 1942 HMS LCV-754  Royal Navy 10 Sunk
17 March 1943 William Eustis  United States 7,196 Sunk

References

  1. ↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-435". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 18 April 2014.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Gröner 1991, pp. 43-46.
  3. ↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U-435". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 18 April 2014.

Bibliography

  • Busch, Rainer; Röll, Hans-Joachim (1999). Deutsche U-Boot-Verluste von September 1939 bis Mai 1945. Der U-Boot-Krieg (in German) IV (Hamburg, Berlin, Bonn: Mittler). ISBN 3-8132-0514-2. 
  • Gröner, Erich; Jung, Dieter; Maass, Martin (1991). U-boats and Mine Warfare Vessels. German Warships 1815–1945 2. Translated by Thomas, Keith; Magowan, Rachel (London: Conway Maritime Press). ISBN 0-85177-593-4. 
  • Edwards, Bernard (1996). Dönitz and the Wolf Packs – The U-Boats at War. London, UK: Cassell Military Classics. pp. 138, 139. ISBN 0-304-35203-9. 

External links

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