Type: VII-C
Built by: Bremer Vulkan (Vegesak)
Launched: 13 June, 1941
Commissioned: 16 August, 1941
Feldpost Nr.: M00150
Sunk: 15 July, 1943
Sunk by: HMS ROCHESTER, HMS BALSAM and HMS MIGNONETTE
Location sunk: off Canary Islands
Position sunk: 28.20N x 13.17W (7 men lost - other records show 5 lost)

U-135 and U-608 taking on fuel from U-460 in Square AK8985 on 13 February, 1943. Thanks to FRANZ SELINGER (505-1988) for this photo.

From 16 August 1941 until November 1942, the Skipper of U-135 were Kapitänleutnant Friedrich Hermann Praetorius. Command passed to Oberleutnant zur See Heinz Schutt in November 1942 until June 1943. Schutt also commanded U-294. Oberleutnant zur See Otto Luther took command in June 1943 until it was lost.

(Many thanks to CHUCK MYLES 1068-1989 for all the new information on what Commander had what boat. We will reap the benefits of his research from now on.)

U-135 was attached to the 7th U-BootFlotille based at St. Nazaire and she conducted five war patrols in the North Atlantic and also took part in Operation ‘ZEITHEN’ off the American east coast, Cape Hatteras and the Carolinas in June 1942. Two crewmen were killed in an air attack on 10 August, 1942.

SHIPS SUNK BY U-135 UNDER PRAETORIUS
22.01.42	GANDIA	Belg stmr	9.626 GRT
17.05.42	FORT QU’APPELLE	Brit stmr	7,127 GRT
08.06.42	PLEASANTVILLE	Norw mtrshp	4,549 GRT
SHIPS DAMAGED BY U-135 UNDER LUTHER
15.07.43	TWICKENHAM	Brit stmr	4,762 GRT