SM U-35 (Germany)

SM U 35, Commander Lothar von Arnauld de la Perière, cruising in the Mediterranean
History
German Empire
NameU-35
Ordered29 March 1912
BuilderGermaniawerft, Kiel
Yard number195
Laid down20 December 1912
Launched18 April 1914
Commissioned3 November 1914
FateSurrendered 26 November 1918. Broken up at Blyth in 1919–20
General characteristics
Class and typeType U 31 submarine
Displacement
  • 685 t (674 long tons) (surfaced)
  • 878 t (864 long tons) (submerged)
Length
Beam
  • 6.32 m (20 ft 9 in) (o/a)
  • 4.05 m (13 ft 3 in) (pressure hull)
Draught3.56 m (11 ft 8 in)
Installed power
Propulsion
  • 2 × shafts
  • 2 × 1.60 m (5 ft 3 in) propellers
Speed
  • 16.4 knots (30.4 km/h; 18.9 mph) (surfaced)
  • 9.7 knots (18.0 km/h; 11.2 mph) (submerged)
Range
  • 8,790 nmi (16,280 km; 10,120 mi) at 8 knots (15 km/h; 9.2 mph) (surfaced)
  • 80 nmi (150 km; 92 mi) at 5 knots (9.3 km/h; 5.8 mph) (submerged)
Test depth50 m (164 ft 1 in)
Boats & landing
craft carried
1 dinghy
Complement4 officers, 31 enlisted
Armament
Service record
Part of:
  • II Flotilla
  • Unknown start - 1 August 1915
  • Pola / Mittelmeer Flotilla
  • 23 August 1915 - 11 November 1918
Commanders:
Operations: 17 patrols
Victories:
  • 220 merchant ships sunk
    (505,121 GRT)
  • 3 warships sunk
    (2798 tons)
  • 3 auxiliary warships sunk
    (30,581 GRT)
  • 8 merchant ships damaged
    (35,384 GRT)
  • 1 warship damaged
    (450 tons)
  • 1 auxiliary warship damaged
    (1,055 GRT)

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 505,121 gross register tons (GRT).

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.

  1. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Waldemar Kophamel (Pour le Mérite)". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 26 January 2015.
  2. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Lothar von Arnauld de la Perière (Pour le Mérite)". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 26 January 2015.
  3. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Ernst von Voigt". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 26 January 2015.
  4. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Heino von Heimburg (Pour le Mérite)". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 26 January 2015.