SM U-81

For other ships of the same name, see German submarine U-81.
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°WCoordinates: 51°33′N 13°38′W / 51.550°N 13.633°W by HM Sub E54. 31 dead, seven survivors.[1]
General characteristics
Class and 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
IV Flotilla
18 Oct 1916 - 1 May 1917
Commanders: Kptlt Raimund Weisbach[3]
22 Aug 1916 - 1 May 1917
Operations: 4 patrols
Victories: 30 ships sunk 88,483 GRT
2 ships damaged 3,481 GRT[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 naval warfare and took part in the First Battle of the Atlantic.[4]

U-81 had one 10.5 cm gun with 140-240 rounds.[1] On 8 February 1917 she torpedoed the SS Mantola 143 nautical miles (265 km) 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.[5] 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.[5][6]

Summary of Raiding Career

Date Name Nationality Tonnage
(GRT)		 Fate[7]
1 December 1916 Douglas  Sweden 1,177 Sunk
19 December 1916 Nystrand  Norway 1,397 Sunk
2 February 1917 Songdal  Norway 2,090 Sunk
3 February 1917 Port Adelaide  United Kingdom 8,181 Sunk
4 February 1917 Maria  Kingdom of Italy 992 Sunk
5 February 1917 Wartenfels  United Kingdom 4,511 Sunk
7 February 1917 Gravina  United Kingdom 1,242 Sunk
8 February 1917 Mantola  United Kingdom 8,253 Sunk
10 February 1917 Netherlee  United Kingdom 4,227 Sunk
12 February 1917 Hugo Hamilton  Sweden 2,577 Sunk
10 March 1917 Algol  Norway 988 Sunk
10 March 1917 Skreien  Norway 415 Sunk
13 March 1917 Coronda  United Kingdom 2,733 Sunk
14 March 1917 Paignton  United Kingdom 2,017 Sunk
18 March 1917 Pola  United Kingdom 3,061 Sunk
18 March 1917 Trevose  United Kingdom 3,112 Sunk
19 March 1917 Alnwick Castle  United Kingdom 5,900 Sunk
19 March 1917 Frinton  United Kingdom 4,194 Sunk
22 March 1917 Attika  Norway 2,306 Sunk
25 March 1917 C. Sundt  Norway 1,105 Sunk
25 March 1917 Garant  Norway 735 Sunk
25 March 1917 Laly  Norway 1,880 Sunk
24 April 1917 Amulree  United Kingdom 1,145 Sunk
25 April 1917 Glenesk  Norway 1,369 Sunk
25 April 1917 Heathfield  United Kingdom 1,643 Sunk
25 April 1917 Invermay  United Kingdom 1,471 Sunk
27 April 1917 Uranus  Kingdom of Italy 3,978 Sunk
28 April 1917 Jose De Larrinaga  United Kingdom 5,017 Sunk
28 April 1917 Terence  United Kingdom 4,309 Sunk
30 April 1917 Elisabeth  Denmark 217 Damaged
1 May 1917 Dorie  United Kingdom 3,264 Damaged
1 May 1917 San Urbano  United Kingdom 6,458 Sunk

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Uboat.net U81
  2. ↑ Uboat.net type 81
  3. ↑ "Raimund Weisbach". Uboat.net. Retrieved 20 January 2015.
  4. ↑ "U-81". Retrieved 25 January 2010.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "SS Mantola (1916)". clydesite.co.uk. Retrieved 2011-10-11.
  6. ↑ "SS Mantola WWI shipwreck reveals silver haul". BBC News Online. Retrieved 2011-10-11.
  7. ↑ "SM U-81 successes". UBoat.net. Retrieved 20 January 2015.