SM U-35 (Germany)

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 224 ships for a total of 539,741 tons.

Her longest serving captain was Lothar von Arnauld de la Perière, who is famous for scrupulous adherence to prize rules, allowing crews of enemy merchant ships to board their lifeboats and giving them directions to the nearest port before sinking their ships. Under his command, U-35 claimed to have sunk 195 ships, making him the most successful submarine commander in history.

Career
U-35 was developed by engineer Hans Techel and his drafts also formed the basis for the dual-covered, high-sea U-boats numbered U-51 through U-56, U-63 through U-65, and U-81 through U-86. U-35's 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 engine. 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 Helgoland.

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 SMU U-34 (Germany) after a battle near Cattaro, Montenegro, and sunk three merchant ships for a total of. U-35 made two more voyages and destroyed 15 more merchant ships totaling.

On 18 November 1915, Kptlt. de la Perière took command of U-35. He led 15 missions, primarily in the Mediterranean, and sank 189 merchant ships for a total of. Additionally, U-35 sank the British gunboat HMS Primula 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 SS La Provence, carring 1,800 French troops, near Cerigo Island with a loss of 990 men.

U-35's 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 transportship SS Gallia, 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.

Ships sunk or damaged
* damaged but not sunk