SM U-81

Last updated

History
War Ensign of Germany 1903-1918.svg German Empire
NameU-81
Ordered23 June 1915
Builder Germaniawerft, Kiel
Yard number251
Laid down31 August 1915
Launched24 June 1916
Commissioned22 August 1916
Fate1 May 1917 - Torpedoed W of Ireland at 51°33′N13°38′W / 51.550°N 13.633°W / 51.550; -13.633 by HM Sub E54. 31 dead, seven survivors. [1]
General characteristics [2]
Displacement
  • 808  t (795 long tons) surfaced
  • 946 t (931 long tons) submerged
Length
Beam
  • 6.30 m (20 ft 8 in) (oa)
  • 4.15 m (13 ft 7 in) (pressure hull)
Height8.00 m (26 ft 3 in)
Draught4.02 m (13 ft 2 in)
Installed power
  • 2 × 2,400  PS (1,765  kW; 2,367  shp) surfaced
  • 2 × 1,200 PS (883 kW; 1,184 shp) submerged
Propulsion2 shafts, 2 × 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in) propellers
Speed
  • 16.8 knots (31.1 km/h; 19.3 mph) surfaced
  • 9.1 knots (16.9 km/h; 10.5 mph) submerged
Range
  • 11,220  nmi (20,780 km; 12,910 mi) at 8 knots (15 km/h; 9.2 mph) surfaced
  • 56 nmi (104 km; 64 mi) at 5 knots (9.3 km/h; 5.8 mph) submerged
Test depth50 m (160 ft)
Complement4 officers, 31 enlisted
Armament
Service record
Part of:
  • IV Flotilla
  • 18 October 1916 – 1 May 1917
Commanders:
Operations: 5 patrols
Victories:
  • 30 merchant ships sunk
    (88,483  GRT)
  • 2 merchant ships damaged
    (3,481  GRT) [1]

SM U-81 [Note 1] 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. [1]

Contents

U-81 had one 10.5 cm gun with 140–240 rounds. [1] On 8 February 1917 she torpedoed Mantola 143 nautical miles (265 km; 165 mi) off Fastnet, forcing her crew and passengers to abandon her. She then shelled the drifting hulk until being chased away by the Acacia-class sloop HMS Laburnum. Mantola sank the next day. [4] [5] HMS E54 sank U-81 by torpedo west of Ireland on 1 May 1917. 31 of U-81's crew were killed; seven survived. [1]

Design

Type U 81 submarines were preceded by the shorter Type UE I submarines. U-81 had a displacement of 808 tonnes (795 long tons ) when at the surface and 946 tonnes (931 long tons) while submerged. [2] She had a total length of 70.06 m (229 ft 10 in), a pressure hull length of 55.55 m (182 ft 3 in), a beam of 6.30 m (20 ft 8 in), a height of 8 m (26 ft 3 in), and a draught of 4.02 m (13 ft 2 in). The submarine was powered by two 2,400 metric horsepower (1,800  kW ; 2,400  shp ) engines for use while surfaced, and two 1,200 metric horsepower (880 kW; 1,200 shp) engines for use while submerged. She had two propeller shafts. She was capable of operating at depths of up to 50 metres (160 ft). [2]

The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 16.8 knots (31.1 km/h; 19.3 mph) and a maximum submerged speed of 9.1 knots (16.9 km/h; 10.5 mph). [2] When submerged, she could operate for 56 nautical miles (104 km; 64 mi) at 5 knots (9.3 km/h; 5.8 mph); when surfaced, she could travel 11,220 nautical miles (20,780 km; 12,910 mi) at 8 knots (15 km/h; 9.2 mph). U-81 was fitted with four 50-centimetre (20 in) torpedo tubes (one at the starboard bow and one starboard stern), twelve to sixteen torpedoes, and one 10.5 cm (4.1 in) SK L/45 deck gun. She had a complement of thirty-five (thirty-one crew members and four officers). [2]

Summary of raiding history

DateNameNationalityTonnage [Note 2] Fate [6]
1 December 1916 Douglas Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden 1,177Sunk
19 December 1916 Nystrand Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 1,397Sunk
2 February 1917 Songdal Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 2,090Sunk
3 February 1917 Port Adelaide Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 8,181Sunk
4 February 1917 Maria Flag of Italy (1861-1946) crowned.svg  Kingdom of Italy 992Sunk
5 February 1917 Wartenfels Government Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 4,511Sunk
7 February 1917 Gravina Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 1,242Sunk
8 February 1917 Mantola Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 8,253Sunk
10 February 1917 Netherlee Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 4,227Sunk
12 February 1917 Hugo Hamilton Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden 2,577Sunk
10 March 1917 Algol Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 988Sunk
10 March 1917 Skreien Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 415Sunk
13 March 1917 Coronda Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 2,733Sunk
14 March 1917 Paignton Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 2,017Sunk
18 March 1917 Pola Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 3,061Sunk
18 March 1917 Trevose Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 3,112Sunk
19 March 1917 Alnwick Castle Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 5,900Sunk
19 March 1917 Frinton Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 4,194Sunk
22 March 1917 Attika Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 2,306Sunk
25 March 1917 C. Sundt Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 1,105Sunk
25 March 1917 Garant Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 735Sunk
25 March 1917 Laly Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 1,880Sunk
24 April 1917 Amulree Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 1,145Sunk
25 April 1917 Glenesk Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 1,369Sunk
25 April 1917 Heathfield Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 1,643Sunk
25 April 1917 Invermay Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 1,471Sunk
27 April 1917 Uranus Flag of Italy (1861-1946) crowned.svg  Kingdom of Italy 3,978Sunk
28 April 1917 Jose De Larrinaga Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 5,017Sunk
28 April 1917 Terence Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 4,309Sunk
30 April 1917 Elisabeth Flag of Denmark.svg  Denmark 217Damaged
1 May 1917 Dorie Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 3,264Damaged
1 May 1917 San Urbano Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 6,458Sunk

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References

Notes

  1. ↑ "SM" stands for "Seiner Majestät" (English: His Majesty's) and combined with the U for Unterseeboot would be translated as His Majesty's Submarine.
  2. ↑ Tonnages are in gross register tons

Citations

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boats: U 81". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 25 January 2010.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Gröner 1991, pp. 12–14.
  3. ↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Raimund Weisbach". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 20 January 2015.
  4. ↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Gairsoppa". Ships hit by U-boats. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
  5. ↑ "SS Mantola WWI shipwreck reveals silver haul". BBC News. 10 October 2011. Retrieved 11 October 2011.
  6. ↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U 81". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 20 January 2015.

Bibliography

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