U-boat patrols

Patrol info for U-81


DepartureArrival / FateDuration
4 Nov 1941Brest10 Dec 1941La Spezia37 days

Commander

Officers *


Kptlt. Friedrich Guggenberger
1WO

Oblt. Claus von Trotha
2WO

Ltn. Johann-Otto Krieg

Daily positions, sinkings and allied attacks during the patrol of U-81


We have 36 daily positions for the 37 days U-81 was at sea.

Wolfpack operations during this patrol

U-81 operated with the following Wolfpacks during this patrol
   Arnauld (5 Nov 1941 - 18 Nov 1941)

Ships hit by U-81 during this patrol

Date U-boat Commander Name of ship Tons Nat. ConvoyMap
13 Nov 1941U-81Friedrich Guggenberger HMS Ark Royal (91)22,600brA
 22,600

1 ship sunk (22,600 tons).

Legend
We have a picture of this vessel.

General Events during this patrol

1941

4 Nov 1941. U-81 sailed from Brest, but returned some hours later after discovering there were no charts for their operational area on board.

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Attacks on U-81 during this patrol

13 Nov 1941
U-81, having recently entered the Mediterranean, learned the British Force H was passing through on its way to Gibraltar. She managed to intercept, and fired from extreme range to sink the aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal. The destroyer escort delivered a punishing depth charge attack with 130 depth charges counted, but the boat escaped. (Sources: Blair, vol 1, page 396)

About this data
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* These are officers that later became commanders themselves.

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