Recognition Guide Warships of the Second World War
Kriegsmarine — Submarine 1941

German submarine U-81 (1941)

Type VIIC U-boat

Displacement
757 long tons (769 t)
Length
67.1 m (220.1 ft)
Beam
6.2 m (20.3 ft)
Speed
17.7 knots (32.8 km/h, 20.4 mph)
Complement
44
Main gun
88 mm (3.5 in)

Service

  1. Kriegsmarine as U-8126 April 1941 — 9 January 1944988 days of the war
Type VIIC U-boat Particulars
Name
U-81
Pennant / hull number
1941
Builder
Bremer Vulkan, Bremen-Vegesack
Ordered
25 January 1939
Laid down
11 May 1940
Launched
22 February 1941
Commissioned
26 April 1941
Fate
Sunk on 9 January 1944 by US bombers in Pola, Italy.
Wreck raised on 22 April 1944 and scrapped (1944)
Status
Scrapped

Specifications

Displacement, surfaced
757 long tons (769 t)
Displacement, submerged
857 long tons (871 t)
Length
67.1 m (220.1 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
8,190 nmi (15,168 km)
Complement
44
Main gun
88 mm (3.5 in)

U-81 was a submarine of the Type VIIC U-boat, operated by the Kriegsmarine. She carried the pennant number 1941. Her keel was laid at Bremer Vulkan, Bremen-Vegesack on 11 May 1940. Launched on 22 February 1941, she entered service on 26 April 1941.

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 67.1 m (220 ft) long with a beam of 6.2 m (20 ft). Her designed speed was 17.7 knots, and she carried a complement of 44.

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

She was in commission for 988 days of the Second World War.

She was broken up for scrap on 9 January 1944.

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 x 2 cm C/30 AA gun

Sister ships

587 more in the class

Sources