U-81
Type | VIIC | |||||
| Ordered | 25 Jan 1939 | |||||
| Laid down | 11 May 1940 | Bremer Vulkan-Vegesacker Werft, Bremen-Vegesack (werk 9) | ||||
| Launched | 22 Feb 1941 | |||||
| Commissioned | 26 Apr 1941 | Oblt. Friedrich Guggenberger | ||||
| Commanders |
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| Career | 17 patrols | 26 Apr 1941 - 31 Jul 1941 1. Flottille (training) 1 Aug 1941 - 30 Nov 1941 1. Flottille (front boat) 1 Dec 1941 - 9 Jan 1944 29. Flottille (front boat) | ||||
| Successes | 24 ships sunk for a total of 41,784 GRT 1 auxiliary warship sunk for a total of 1,150 GRT 1 warship sunk for a total of 22,600 tons 1 ship damaged for a total of 6,671 GRT 1 ship a total loss for a total of 7,472 GRT | |||||
| Fate | Sunk at 1130hrs on 9 Jan 1944 at Pola, in position 44.52N, 13.51E by US bombs. Raised on 22 April, 1944. Broken up. 2 dead, unknown number of survivors. | |||||
See the 28 ships hit by U-81 - View the 17 war patrols
Attacks on this boat
30 Oct 1941
The boat was attacked by a British Catalina aircraft (Sqdn 209/Z, pilot Denis E. Ryan) southwest of Brest while enroute to cross the Straits of Gibraltar. A Hudson aircraft (Sqdn 53, F/O Henry) also appeared and dropped its charges onto the boat. The boat was severely damaged and had to abort to Brest, France. The boat was repaired in a hurry and then sailed for the Mediterranean. (Sources: Blair, vol 1, page 396)
13 Nov 1941
The boat, having recently entered the Mediterranean, learned of the British Force H heading to Gibraltar. Managing to intercept the force he fired from extreme range and sank the British aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal. The escorting destroyers delivered a punishing depth charge attack with 130 depth charges counted but the boat got away. (Sources: Blair, vol 1, page 396)
27 Jun 1943
The boat was attacked by shore-based guns in the Mediterranean off Latakia (Syria).
3 recorded attacks on this boat.
General notes on this boat
13 Nov 1941. On 13 Nov, 1941 the boat, under the command of Guggenberger, sank the famous British aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal in the Mediterranean.
Men lost from U-boats
Unlike many other U-boats, which during their service lost men due to accidents and various other causes, U-81 did not suffer any casualties (we know of) until the time of her loss.
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Books dealing with this subject include:
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There was another U-81 in World War One
That boat was launched from its shipyard on 24 Jun 1916 and commissioned into the Imperial Navy on 22 Aug 1916. The Naval war in WWI was brought to an end with the Armistice signed on 11 Nov, 1918. Read about the U 81 during WWI.