German submarine U-635

History
Nazi Germany
Name:	U-635
Ordered:	20 January 1941
Builder:	Blohm & Voss, Hamburg
Yard number:	611
Laid down:	3 October 1941
Launched:	24 June 1942
Commissioned:	13 August 1942
Fate:	Sunk 5 April 1943 in the North Atlantic in position , by depth charges from a RAF Liberator.
General characteristics
Class & type:	Type VIIC submarine
Displacement:	769 tonnes (757 long tons) surfaced 871 t (857 long tons) submerged
Length:	67.10 m (220 ft 2 in) o/a 50.50 m (165 ft 8 in) pressure hull
Beam:	6.20 m (20 ft 4 in) o/a 4.70 m (15 ft 5 in) pressure hull
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:	2 shafts 2 × diesel engines 2 × electric motors
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:	5 × 53.3 cm (21 in) torpedo tubes (4 bow, 1 stern) 14 × torpedoes or 26 TMA mines 1 × 8.8 cm (3.46 in) deck gun (220 rounds)*various AA guns
Service record
Part of:	5th U-boat Flotilla 13 August 1942 - 31 March 1943 - Training 3rd U-boat Flotilla 1–5 April 1943
Commanders:	Oblt.z.S. Heinz Eckelmann 13 August 1942 - 5 April 1943
Operations:	8–31 January 1942
Victories:	2 merchant ships damaged (14,894 GRT)

German submarine U-635 was a Type VIIC U-boat built for Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine for service during World War II. She was laid down on 3 October 1941 by Blohm & Voss, Hamburg as yard number 611, launched on 24 June 1942 and commissioned on 13 August 1942 under Oberleutnant zur See Heinz Eckelmann.

Design

German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-635 had a displacement of 769 tonnes (757 long tons) when at the surface and 871 tonnes (857 long tons) while submerged. 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 Brown, Boveri & Cie GG UB 720/8 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).

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). 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-635 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.

Service history

The boat's career began with training at 5th U-boat Flotilla on 13 August 1942, followed by active service on 1 April 1943 as part of the 1st Flotilla for the remainder of her very short service.

In one patrol she damaged two merchant ships, for a total of 14,894 gross register tons (GRT).

Convoy HX 231

In April 1943, U-635 joined the wolfpack Löwenherz and attacked the Eastbound convoy HX 231 bound for Liverpool from Halifax, Nova Scotia.

At 22:15 on 4 April, U-635’s torpedoes struck the lead ship of the column, the British freighter Shillong. U-630 delivered the coup de grâce. She took only 12 minutes to sink.

The next target was the British refrigerated ship Waroonga, carrying much needed butter and cheese from New Zealand for the war-weary British population. She was hit with 2 torpedoes, but stayed afloat thanks to the integrity of her watertight bulkheads. However, it wasn’t to last as she too was despatched by U-630 the following day.

Wolfpacks

U-635 took part in one wolfpack, namely

• Löwenherz (1–5 April 1943)

Fate

U-635 was sunk on 5 April 1943 in the North Atlantic in position , by depth charges from RAF Liberator of 120 Squadron. All hands were lost.

Summary of raiding history

Date	Name	Nationality	Tonnage (GRT)	Fate
4 April 1943	Shillong	United Kingdom	5,529	Damaged
4 April 1943	Waroonga	United Kingdom	9,365	Damaged