German submarine U-515 was a Type IXC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine built for service during World War II.

The submarine was powered by two MAN M 9 V 40/46 supercharged four-stroke, nine-cylinder diesel engines producing a total of 4,400 metric horsepower (3,240 kW; 4,340 shp) for use while surfaced, two Siemens-Schuckert 2 GU 345/34 double-acting electric motors producing a total of 1,000 shaft horsepower (1,010 PS; 750 kW) for use while submerged.

She was launched on 2 December 1941, commissioned on 21 February 1942 under the command of Kapitänleutnant Werner Henke, and attached to the 4th U-boat Flotilla for training.

She left Kiel on 11 September for her first patrol, during which she sank nine ships, and damaged one other:[5] U-515 returned to her base at Lorient, in occupied France on 14 October.

While moving along the African coast, on the night of 11 November, she attacked a British depot ship (probably HMS Hecla, which was attacked on 11 November and sank on the 12th), and was subsequently depth-charged by a British destroyer (probably HMS Venomous).

While sailing through the mid-Atlantic on 6 December, the U-boat spotted and sank the passenger ship Ceramic.

[7] In recognition of a successful patrol, all crewmen were given long leaves and many awarded the Iron Cross, Second class.

The after part of the bridge was expanded and equipped with 20mm anti-aircraft cannon and a 37mm flak gun.

About one week in, she spotted a convoy off the Azores and started to attack; however, she was detected by a convoy escort and badly damaged by depth charges, which forced her to return to base for repairs, reaching Lorient on 12 September.

U-515 fired a T-5 acoustic torpedo at one of the escorts, HMS Chanticleer, hitting her and causing damage beyond repair.

Despite extensive damage, the crew decided to make repairs at sea,[10] which were completed on 22 November.

U-515 started to patrol the west coast of Africa and on 17 December, torpedoed and sank the British freighter Kingswood.

On 9 April U-515 was attacked north of Madeira by the destroyers USS Pope, Pillsbury, Chatelain and Flaherty.