| History | |
|---|---|
 Nazi Germany | |
| Name | U-535 |
| Ordered | 10 April 1941 |
| Builder | Deutsche Werft,Hamburg |
| Yard number | 353 |
| Laid down | 6 March 1942 |
| Launched | 8 October 1942 |
| Commissioned | 23 December 1942 |
| Fate | Sunk on 5 July 1943 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Type IXC/40submarine |
| Displacement | |
| Length |
|
| Beam |
|
| Height | 9.60 m (31 ft 6 in) |
| Draught | 4.67 m (15 ft 4 in) |
| Installed power |
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| Propulsion |
|
| Speed |
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| Range |
|
| Test depth | 230 m (750 ft) |
| Complement | 4 officers, 44 enlisted |
| Armament |
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| Service record[1][2] | |
| Part of: |
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| Identification codes: | M 49 383 |
| Commanders: |
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| Operations: |
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| Victories: | None |
German submarineU-535 was aType IXC/40U-boat ofNazi Germany'sKriegsmarine duringWorld War II. The submarine waslaid down on 6 March 1942 at theDeutsche Werft yard atHamburg,launched on 8 October 1942, andcommissioned on 23 December 1942 under the command ofKapitänleutnant Helmut Ellmenreich. After training with4th U-boat Flotilla in theBaltic Sea,U-535 was transferred to10th U-boat Flotilla for front-line service.U-535 completed one patrol, but did not sink any ships.[1]
German Type IXC/40 submarines were slightly larger than the originalType IXCs.U-535 had a displacement of 1,144 tonnes (1,126 long tons) when at the surface and 1,257 tonnes (1,237 long tons) while submerged.[3] The U-boat had a total length of 76.76 m (251 ft 10 in), apressure hull length of 58.75 m (192 ft 9 in), abeam of 6.86 m (22 ft 6 in), a height of 9.60 m (31 ft 6 in), and adraught of 4.67 m (15 ft 4 in). The submarine was powered by twoMAN M 9 V 40/46supercharged four-stroke, nine-cylinderdiesel engines producing a total of 4,400 metric horsepower (3,240 kW; 4,340 shp) for use while surfaced, twoSiemens-Schuckert 2 GU 345/34double-acting electric motors producing a total of 1,000 shaft horsepower (1,010 PS; 750 kW) for use while submerged. She had two shafts and two 1.92 m (6 ft)propellers. The boat was capable of operating at depths of up to 230 metres (750 ft).[3]
The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 18.3 knots (33.9 km/h; 21.1 mph) and a maximum submerged speed of 7.3 knots (13.5 km/h; 8.4 mph).[3] When submerged, the boat could operate for 63 nautical miles (117 km; 72 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph); when surfaced, she could travel 13,850 nautical miles (25,650 km; 15,940 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph).U-535 was fitted with six 53.3 cm (21 in)torpedo tubes (four fitted at the bow and two at the stern), 22torpedoes, one10.5 cm (4.13 in) SK C/32 naval gun, 180 rounds, and a3.7 cm (1.5 in) SK C/30 as well as a2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 anti-aircraft gun. The boat had acomplement of forty-eight.[3]
U-535 sailed fromKiel on 25 May 1943 on her first and only war patrol in the north Atlantic.[4]
On 8 June at about 14:00, the U-boat was attacked with depth charges by aHudsonlight bomber fromNo. 269 Squadron RAF, close toConvoy SC 132. A follow-up attack by another Hudson from the same squadron was aborted when the depth charges failed to release in two attack runs. The aircraft was damaged by the U-boat'sflak, and the pilot warned an arriving United States NavyCatalinapatrol bomber of Squadron VP-84 that the boat would stay up and fight, so the flying boat shadowedU-535 until it escaped at dusk.[1]
At 16:55 on 5 July 1943, a group of three inbound U-boats;U-170,U-535 andU-536 were attacked by a BritishLiberatormaritime reconnaissance aircraft ofNo. 53 Squadron RAF, north-east ofCape Finisterre, Spain. The U-boats evaded the first attack, andU-536 was strafed in the second.U-536 gave the signal to crash-dive, but for unknown reasonsU-535 remained on the surface. Despite hitting the aircraft with her AA guns, the U-boat was straddled by eight depth charges and sank with all hands in position43°38′N09°13′W / 43.633°N 9.217°W /43.633; -9.217. Damaged and with one crewman wounded, the aircraft immediately left the area and returned to base.[1]
