U-Boat Operations

Operations information for U-135
24.12.1941 - 31.01.1942 First Sailing - active patrol U-135 left Kiel under the command of Friedrich-Hermann Praetorius on 24th Dec 1941 and arrived at return on 31st Jan 1942 after five and a half weeks. Friedrich-Hermann Praetorius hit one ship on this patrol from convoy ON-54. On 22nd Jan 1942 he sank the Belgian 9,626 ton Gandia, sailing with convoy ON-54.
22.02.1942 - 03.04.1942 Second Sailing - active patrol On the 22nd Feb 1942, U-135 left St. Nazaire under the command of Friedrich-Hermann Praetorius and after more than five weeks arrived at return on 3rd Apr 1942.
26.04.1942 - 05.07.1942 Third Sailing - active patrol U-135 departed under Friedrich-Hermann Praetorius from Brest on 26th Apr 1942 and arrived at return on 5th Jul 1942 after ten weeks. Friedrich-Hermann Praetorius hit two ships on this patrol. On 17th May 1942 he sank the British 7,127 ton Fort Qu´Appelle. On 8th Jun 1942 he sank the Norwegian 4,549 ton Pleasantville. You can read more about the Norwegian ship listed for this patrol at www.warsailors.com. Click the link for more information on Pleasantville.
08.08.1942 - 03.10.1942 Fourth Sailing - active patrol U-135 left St. Nazaire under the command of Friedrich-Hermann Praetorius on 8th Aug 1942 and after eight weeks arrived at return on 3rd Oct 1942.On 10th August 1942 U-135 was located off Cape Ortegal by Wellington VIII 'H' HF922, 311 (Czech) Squadron, pilot FO J Nývlt. This aircraft had begun its patrol at 1105 that day. The crew located U-135 at 1440, and as the Wellington attacked, the boat did not dive. Nývlt dropped 3 depth charges, as the crew of the boat opened fire the Wellington fired back. U-135 started diving as the Wellington began a second attack run. The boat had not yet made it under when 3 more depth charges were dropped, resulting in a steadily growing patch of oil. Despite indications of a kill, U-135 escaped with minor damage. The pilot, J. Nývlt, was killed later on 15th September 1942 over the Biscay Bay in another Wellington. Another 2 aircrew of the Wellington were also killed when their Liberator crashed in the Biscay Bay on 13th March 1944. Until 1995 it had been thought that this attack had resulted in the sinking of U-578. This assessment was changed by Axel Niestlé.
21.11.1942 - 26.12.1942 Fifth Sailing - active patrol On the 21st Nov 1942, U-135 left St. Nazaire under the command of Heinz Schütt and arrived at return on 26th Dec 1942 after five weeks.
24.01.1943 - 10.03.1943 Sixth Sailing - active patrol U-135 departed under Heinz Schütt from St. Nazaire on 24th Jan 1943 and after six and a half weeks arrived at return on 10th Mar 1943. On 6th Feb 1943 in square AK 65, U-135 came under attack from an unidentified aircraft. U-135 was not damaged by the attack. On 8th Feb 1943 in square AL 52, U-135 came under attack from an aircraft of RAF 120 Squadron. U-135 was moderately damaged by the attack.
07.06.1943 - 15.07.1943 Seventh Sailing U-135 left Lorient under the command of Otto Luther on 7th Jun 1943 and arrived at return on 15th Jul 1943 after five and a half weeks. Otto Luther hit one ship on this patrol from convoy OS-51. On 15th Jul 1943 he damaged the British 4,762 ton Twickenham, a member of convoy OS-51.

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