SM U-35 was a German U 31-class submarine built at the Friedrich Krupp Germaniawerft shipyard in Kiel, with its keel laid on 20 December 1912. Although its delivery was delayed due to engine development issues, it officially entered service on 3 November 1914 under Kapitänleutnant Waldemar Kophamel. The vessel measured 64.70 meters (212 feet 3 inches) in overall length, with a pressure hull length of 52.36 meters (171 feet 9 inches). Its beam was 6.32 meters (20 feet 9 inches) overall, and the pressure hull was 4.05 meters (13 feet 3 inches) wide. The submarine had a draught of 3.56 meters (11 feet 8 inches) and stood between 7.68 and 8.04 meters (25 to 26 feet 5 inches) in height. It displaced 971 tonnes (956 long tons) on the surface and 878 tonnes (864 long tons) when submerged. U-35 was powered by two Germania 6-cylinder two-stroke diesel engines producing 1,850 metric horsepower for surface travel, and two Siemens-Schuckert electric motors delivering 1,200 PS for submerged operations. It could reach a top surface speed of 16.4 knots and a submerged speed of 9.7 knots, with a cruising range of 8,790 nautical miles at 8 knots on the surface and 80 nautical miles at 5 knots underwater. Its maximum diving depth was 50 meters. Armed with four 50 cm torpedo tubes (two fore and two aft), U-35 carried six torpedoes. It was initially equipped with an 8.8 cm deck gun, later replaced by a 10.5 cm gun in 1916–17. The submarine's crew comprised four officers and 31 enlisted men. Throughout its service, U-35 became the most successful U-boat of World War I, sinking 220 merchant ships totaling over 505,121 GRT. Under the command of notable leaders including Lothar von Arnauld de la Perière, who sank 191 ships, it operated primarily in the Mediterranean Sea. Its most famous patrol, from July to August 1916 under de la Perière, resulted in sinking 54 ships totaling 90,352 GRT—the most successful submarine patrol in history. U-35’s notable actions included sinking the British transport Marquette, the French gunboat La Provence, and the French transport SS Gallia, leading to significant loss of life. It also sank the British gunboat HMS Primula and the French gunboat Rigel. U-35's career ended shortly before the war concluded, with subsequent transfer to the United Kingdom and dismantling in 1920. Its distinguished record and operational success made it a significant vessel in maritime military history.

This description has been generated using GPT-4.1-NANO based on the Vessel's wikidata information and then modified by ShipIndex.org staff.