SM U-81

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Career (German Empire)
Name: U-81
Ordered: 23 June 1915
Builder: Germaniawerft, Kiel
Yard number: Werk 251
Laid down: 31 August 1915
Launched: 24 June 1916
Commissioned: 22 August 1916
Fate: 1 May 1917 - Torpedoed W of Ireland at 51°33′N 13°38′W / 51.550°N 13.633°W / 51.550; -13.633Coordinates: 51°33′N 13°38′W / 51.550°N 13.633°W / 51.550; -13.633 by HM Sub E54. 31 dead, seven survivors.[1]
General characteristics
Class & type: German Type U 81 submarine
Displacement: 808 tons surfaced
946 tons submerged
1160 tons (total)
Length: 70.06 m (overall)
55.55 m (pressure hull)
Beam: 6.30 m (overall)
4.15 m (pressure hull)
Draught: 4.02 m
Propulsion: 2400 hp surfaced
1200 hp submerged
Speed: 16.8 knots surfaced
9.1 knots submerged
Range: 11,220 miles at 8 knots surfaced 56 miles at 5 knots submerged
Complement: 39 men
Armament: 12 torpedoes (4/2 in bow/stern tubes)
105mm deck gun with 140 rounds [2]
Service record
Part of: Imperial German Navy
Commanders: Raimund Weisbach
22 Aug 1916 - 1 May 1917
Operations:

4 patrols
18 Oct 1916 - 1 May 1917 IV Flotilla

30 ships sunk for a total of 88,483 tons.

2 ships damaged for a total of 3,481 tons.[1]

SM U-81 was one of the 329 submarines serving in the Imperial German Navy (Kaiserliche Marine) in World War I. U-81 was engaged in the naval warfare and took part in the First Battle of the Atlantic.[3]

U-81 had one 10.5 cm gun with 140-240 rounds.[1] On 8 February 1917 she torpedoed the SS Mantola 143 miles off Fastnet, forcing her crew to abandon her. She then shelled the drifting hulk until being chased away by the Acacia-class sloop HMS Laburnum.[4] Laburnam took the floating hulk under tow, but the line parted in the rough seas, and Mantola was left to sink, which she did on 9 February.[4][5]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 Uboat.net U81
  2. Uboat.net type 81
  3. "U-81". Retrieved 25 January 2010. 
  4. 4.0 4.1 "SS Mantola 1916". clydesite.co.uk. Retrieved 2011-10-11. 
  5. "SS Mantola WWI shipwreck reveals silver haul". BBC News Online. Retrieved 2011-10-11. 
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