List of all U-boats

U-281

Type

VIIC

 
Ordered5 Jun 1941
Laid down7 May 1942 Bremer Vulkan-Vegesacker Werft, Bremen-Vegesack (werk 46)
Launched16 Jan 1943
Commissioned27 Feb 1943Oblt. Heinz von Davidson
Commanders
27 Feb 1943 - 9 May 1945  Kptlt. Heinz von Davidson
Career
4 patrols
27 Feb 1943-31 Jul 1943  8. Flottille (training)
1 Aug 1943-9 Nov 1944  7. Flottille (active service)
10 Nov 1944-8 May 1945  33. Flottille (active service)
SuccessesNo ships sunk or damaged
Fate

Surrendered at Kristiansand, Norway on 9 May 1945.

Transferred to Loch Ryan, Scotland on 29 May 1945.

Operation Deadlight (post-war Allied operation, info)
Sunk on 30 Nov, 1945 in position 55.50N, 10.05W

Final location

View the 4 war patrols

This boat is a dive site

Innes McCartney dove on this boat in 2001 (see his report).

Depth: 230 feet (70 meters)
Position (lat, long): 55.50, -10.05

See more U-boat dive sites.

Wolfpack operations

U-281 operated with the following Wolfpacks during its career:
   Schlieffen (16 Oct 1943 - 22 Oct 1943)
   Siegfried (22 Oct 1943 - 27 Oct 1943)
   Siegfried 2 (27 Oct 1943 - 30 Oct 1943)
   Körner (30 Oct 1943 - 2 Nov 1943)
   Tirpitz 3 (2 Nov 1943 - 8 Nov 1943)
   Eisenhart 9 (9 Nov 1943 - 11 Nov 1943)
   Rügen (14 Jan 1944 - 26 Jan 1944)
   Hinein (26 Jan 1944 - 3 Feb 1944)
   Igel 2 (3 Feb 1944 - 17 Feb 1944)
   Hai 2 (17 Feb 1944 - 22 Feb 1944)
   Preussen (22 Feb 1944 - 23 Feb 1944)

Attacks on this boat and other events

17 Oct 1943
At 19.10 hrs U-281 was attacked by a B-24 Liberator near convoy ONS 20. The boat put up flak, and the two depth charges dropped fell short, but the II WO and two of the crew were wounded by strafing before the boat escaped by diving. (Sources: Ritschel)

1 recorded attack on this boat.

Schnorchel-fitted U-boat

This boat was fitted with a Schnorchel underwater-breathing apparatus in October 1944.

Read more about the Schnorchel and see list of fitted boats.

Men lost from the boat

17 Oct 1943
At 19.10 hrs U-281 was attacked by a B-24 Liberator near convoy ONS 20. The boat put up flak, and the two depth charges dropped fell short, but the II WO and two of the crew were wounded by strafing before the boat escaped by diving.

  Related: For more info on such losses see - Men lost from U-boats -

U-boat Emblems

We have 1 emblem entry for this boat. See the emblem page for this boat or view emblems individually below.


Black Spider on Shield

Media links


The Grey Wolves of Eriboll

David M. Hird


U-Boat Operations of the Second World War - Vol 1

Wynn, Kenneth


Hitler's U-boat War, Vol II

Blair, Clay


German U-Boat Losses During World War II

Niestle, Axel


The Royal Navy and German Naval Disarmament, 1942-1947

Madsen, Chris


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