Recognition Guide Warships of the Second World War
Kriegsmarine — Submarine

German submarine U-481

Type VIIC submarine

Displacement
757 long tons (769 t)
Length
67.23 m (220.6 ft)
Beam
6.2 m (20.3 ft)
Speed
17.7 knots (32.8 km/h, 20.4 mph)
Main gun
88 mm (3.5 in)

Service

  1. Kriegsmarine as U-48110 November 1943 — 9 May 1945546 days of the war
Type VIIC submarine Particulars
Name
U-481
Builder
Deutsche Werke, Kiel
Ordered
5 June 1941
Laid down
6 February 1943
Launched
25 September 1943
Commissioned
10 November 1943
Fate
Surrendered on 9 May 1945
Sunk on 30 November 1945 (1945)
Status
Wreck

Specifications

Displacement, surfaced
757 long tons (769 t)
Displacement, submerged
857 long tons (871 t)
Length
67.23 m (220.6 ft) OA
Beam
6.2 m (20.3 ft)
Draught
4.74 m (15.6 ft)
Speed
17.7 knots (32.8 km/h, 20.4 mph)
Range
8,500 nmi (15,742 km)
Main gun
88 mm (3.5 in)

U-481 was a Type VIIC submarine built for the Kriegsmarine. Her keel was laid at Deutsche Werke, Kiel on 6 February 1943. Launched on 25 September 1943, she entered service on 10 November 1943.

She was one of 612 ships of her class. The class followed the Type UB III, Vetehinen class and was succeeded by the Type XXI (Late-war replacement).

The boat displaced 757 long tons surfaced and 857 long tons submerged. She measured 67.2 m (221 ft) long with a beam of 6.2 m (20 ft). Her designed speed was 17.7 knots.

Her main battery was one 88 mm (3.5 in) guns.

She was in commission for 546 days of the Second World War.

She was sunk on 9 May 1945, at 56°11′N 10°00′W. The wreck survives.

Written from the harvested record. Every figure above is sourced; the wording is this site's own.

Armament and machinery

Armament and machinery
Propulsion
  • 2 shafts
  • 2 × diesel engines
  • 2 × electric motors.
Power
  • 2800 - 3200 PS (diesels)
  • 750 PS (electric)
Armament
  • 5 × 53.3 cm torpedo tubes (four bow, one stern)
  • 14 × torpedoes or 26 TMA mines
  • 1 × 8.8 cm deck gun (220 rounds)
  • 1 × 3.7 cm Flak M42 AA gun
  • 2 × twin 2 cm C/30 anti-aircraft guns

Sister ships

587 more in the class

Sources