German submarine U-435

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 t when at the surface and 871 t while submerged. She had a total length of 67.10 m, a pressure hull length of 50.50 m, a beam of 6.20 m, a height of 9.60 m, and a draught of 4.74 m. The submarine was powered by two Germaniawerft F46 four-stroke, six-cylinder supercharged diesel engines producing a total of 2800 to 3200 PS for use while surfaced, two AEG GU 460/8–27 double-acting electric motors producing a total of 750 PS for use while submerged. She had two shafts and two 1.23 m propellers. The boat was capable of operating at depths of up to 230 m.

The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 17.7 kn and a maximum submerged speed of 7.6 kn. When submerged, the boat could operate for 80 nmi at 4 kn; when surfaced, she could travel 8500 nmi at 10 kn. U-435 was fitted with five 53.3 cm torpedo tubes (four fitted at the bow and one at the stern), fourteen torpedoes, one 8.8 cm SK C/35 naval gun, 220 rounds, and an anti-aircraft gun. The boat had a complement of between forty-four and sixty.

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

GS U-456 attacked and damaged the American freighter Effingham straggling the convoy. U-435 then finished off the abandoned vessel.
 * Convoy PQ 13

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 10

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 (J93), RFA fleet oiler Gray Ranger, British Liberty ship Ocean Voice and American freighter Bellingham.
 * Convoy QP 14

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 (D57), HMS LCV-752 and HMS LCV-754; although the two landing craft were being carried as deck cargo when HMS Fidelity was sunk.
 * Convoy ONS 154

Wolfpacks
She took part in eleven wolfpacks, namely,
 * Hecht (27 January – 4 February 1942)
 * Umbau (4 – 16 February 1942)
 * Eiswolf (28 – 31 March 1942)
 * Robbenschlag (7 – 13 April 1942)
 * Nebelkönig (27 July – 14 August 1942)
 * Ungestüm (11 – 30 December 1942)
 * Burggraf (24 February – 5 March 1943)
 * Raubgraf (7 – 19 March 1943)
 * Trutz (1 – 16 June 1943)
 * Trutz 3 (16 – 29 June 1942)
 * Geier 2 (30 June – 9 July 1943)

Fate
She was depth charged and sunk by on 9 July 1943 at position 39.8°N, -14.36667°W west of Figueira, Portugal by a RAF Wellington bomber from 179 Squadron.