U-381

Type

VIIC

Ordered

16 Oct 1939

Laid down

26 Apr 1941

Howaldtswerke AG, Kiel (werk 12)

Launched

14 Jan 1942

Commissioned

25 Feb 1942

Oblt. Wilhelm-Heinrich Graf von Pückler und Limburg

Commanders

25 Feb 1942

10 May 1943

Kptlt. Wilhelm-Heinrich Graf von Pückler und Limpurg

Career
3 patrols

25 Feb 1942	-	30 Sep 1942	5. Flottille (training)
1 Oct 1942	-	10 May 1943	7. Flottille (active service)

Successes

No ships sunk or damaged

Fate

Missing since 10 May 1943 in the North Atlantic south of Greenland. There is no explanation for its loss. 47 dead (all hands lost). (FDS/NHB, June 1992).

Loss position

View the 3 war patrols

U-381 reported for the last time on 9 May 1943 from approximate position 51.30N, 36.00W and was posted as missing on 21 May 1943 after repeatedly failing to report its position.

Previously recorded fate

Sunk 19 May, 1943 in the North Atlantic southeast of Cape Farewell, Greenland, in position 54.41N, 34.45W, by depth charges from the British destroyer HMS Duncan and the British corvette HMS Snowflake. (Postwar assessment)
Notes. The targets of this attack were actually U-304 and U-636, which both escaped unscathed.

Wolfpack operations

U-381 operated with the following Wolfpacks during its career:
   Panther (11 Oct 1942 - 20 Oct 1942)
   Veilchen (20 Oct 1942 - 5 Nov 1942)
   Delphin (26 Dec 1942 - 14 Feb 1943)
   Adler (11 Apr 1943 - 13 Apr 1943)
   Meise (13 Apr 1943 - 27 Apr 1943)
   Star (27 Apr 1943 - 4 May 1943)
   Fink (4 May 1943 - 6 May 1943)
   Inn (11 May 1943 - 15 May 1943)
   Donau 1 (15 May 1943 - 21 May 1943)

Attacks on this boat and other events

14 Feb 1943
The target of the attack by a British Catalina flying boat (RAF Sqdn 202/J) on 14 Feb. 1943 off Cape Carvoeiro, north of Lisbon, in position 39.27N, 11.34W, formerly credited with the sinking of U-620 was in fact U-381, which escaped unscathed. (Sources: 1988-09-01, FDS/NHB)

1 recorded attack on this boat.

Men lost from U-boats

Unlike many other U-boats, which during their service lost men due to accidents and various other causes, U-381 did not suffer any casualties (we know of) until the time of her loss.