SM U-81

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title: "SM U-81" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["world-war-i-submarines-of-germany", "german-type-u-81-submarines", "1916-ships", "ships-built-in-kiel", "u-boats-commissioned-in-1916", "maritime-incidents-in-1917", "u-boats-sunk-in-1917", "u-boats-sunk-by-british-submarines", "world-war-i-shipwrecks-in-the-atlantic-ocean"] topic_path: "history" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SM_U-81" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::data[format=table title="Infobox ship"]

FieldValue
section1{{Infobox ship/image
section2{{Infobox ship/career
countryGerman Empire
flag
nameU-81
ordered23 June 1915
builderGermaniawerft, Kiel
yard_number251
laid_down31 August 1915
launched24 June 1916
commissioned22 August 1916
fateTorpedoed and sunk 1 May 1917
section3{{Infobox ship/characteristics
header_caption
*{{convert808
*{{convert946
*{{convert70.06
*{{convert55.55
*{{convert6.30
*{{convert4.15
height8.00 m
draught4.02 m
*2 × {{convert2400
*2 × {{convert1200
propulsion2 shafts, 2 × 1.70 m propellers
*{{convert16.8
*{{convert11220
*{{convert56
test_depth50 m
complement4 officers, 31 enlisted
*4 × {{convert50
*1 × [[10.5 cm SK L/45 naval gun{{convert
section4{{Infobox ship/service record
partof*IV Flotilla
id394
nameRaimund Weisbach
type1comm
accessdate20 January 2015
operations5 patrols
*2 merchant ships damaged
()<ref name		U81/
::

|section1={{Infobox ship/image |image= |image_caption=

|section2={{Infobox ship/career |hide_header= |country=German Empire |flag= |name=U-81 |ordered=23 June 1915 |builder=Germaniawerft, Kiel |yard_number= 251 |laid_down=31 August 1915 |launched=24 June 1916 |commissioned=22 August 1916 |fate=Torpedoed and sunk 1 May 1917 |homeport=

|section3={{Infobox ship/characteristics |hide_header= |header_caption= |class= |displacement=

  • 808 t surfaced
  • 946 t submerged |length=
  • 70.06 m (o/a)
  • 55.55 m (pressure hull) |beam=
  • 6.30 m (oa)
  • 4.15 m (pressure hull) |height=8.00 m |draught=4.02 m |power=
  • 2 × 2400 PS surfaced
  • 2 × 1200 PS submerged |propulsion=2 shafts, 2 × 1.70 m propellers |speed=
  • 16.8 kn surfaced
  • 9.1 kn submerged |range=
  • 11220 nmi at 8 kn surfaced
  • 56 nmi at 5 kn submerged |test_depth=50 m |complement=4 officers, 31 enlisted |armament=
  • 4 × 50 cm torpedo tubes (two bow, two stern)
  • 12-16 torpedoes
  • 1 × 10.5 cm SK L/45 deck gun |notes=

|section4={{Infobox ship/service record |header_caption= |partof=*IV Flotilla

  • 18 October 1916 – 1 May 1917 |codes= |commanders=
  • Kptlt. Raimund Weisbach{{cite Uboat.net |id=394 |name=Raimund Weisbach |type=1comm |accessdate=20 January 2015
  • 22 August 1916 – 1 May 1917 |operations=5 patrols |victories=
  • 30 merchant ships sunk ()
  • 2 merchant ships damaged ()

'*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.{{cite Uboat.net |id=81 |name=U 81 |type=1sub |accessdate=25 January 2010

U-81 had one 10.5 cm gun with 140–240 rounds. HMS E54 sank U-81 by torpedo west of Ireland on 1 May 1917 at position . 31 of U-81s crew were killed; seven survived.

Design

Type U 81 submarines were preceded by the shorter Type UE I submarines. U-81 had a displacement of 808 t when at the surface and 946 t while submerged. She had a total length of 70.06 m, a pressure hull length of 55.55 m, a beam of 6.30 m, a height of 8 m, and a draught of 4.02 m. The submarine was powered by two 2400 PS engines for use while surfaced, and two 1200 PS engines for use while submerged. She had two propeller shafts. She was capable of operating at depths of up to 50 m.

The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 16.8 kn and a maximum submerged speed of 9.1 kn. When submerged, she could operate for 56 nmi at 5 kn; when surfaced, she could travel 11220 nmi at 8 kn. U-81 was fitted with four 50 cm torpedo tubes (one at the starboard bow and one starboard stern), twelve to sixteen torpedoes, and one 10.5 cm SK L/45 deck gun. She had a complement of thirty-five (thirty-one crew members and four officers).

Summary of raiding history

::data[format=table]

DateNameNationalityTonnageTonnages are in gross register tonsFate{{cite Uboat.net
id=u81name=U 81type=1boataccessdate=20 January 2015}}
1 December 1916DouglasSweden1,177Sunk
19 December 1916NystrandNorway1,397Sunk
2 February 1917SongdalNorway2,090Sunk
3 February 1917Port AdelaideUnited Kingdom8,181Sunk
4 February 1917MariaKingdom of Italy992Sunk
5 February 1917WartenfelsUnited Kingdom4,511Sunk
7 February 1917GravinaUnited Kingdom1,242Sunk
8 February 1917United Kingdom8,253Sunk
10 February 1917NetherleeUnited Kingdom4,227Sunk
12 February 1917Hugo HamiltonSweden2,577Sunk
10 March 1917AlgolNorway988Sunk
10 March 1917SkreienNorway415Sunk
13 March 1917CorondaUnited Kingdom2,733Sunk
14 March 1917PaigntonUnited Kingdom2,017Sunk
18 March 1917PolaUnited Kingdom3,061Sunk
18 March 1917TrevoseUnited Kingdom3,112Sunk
19 March 1917Alnwick CastleUnited Kingdom5,900Sunk
19 March 1917FrintonUnited Kingdom4,194Sunk
22 March 1917AttikaNorway2,306Sunk
25 March 1917C. SundtNorway1,105Sunk
25 March 1917GarantNorway735Sunk
25 March 1917LalyNorway1,880Sunk
24 April 1917AmulreeUnited Kingdom1,145Sunk
25 April 1917GleneskNorway1,369Sunk
25 April 1917HeathfieldUnited Kingdom1,643Sunk
25 April 1917InvermayUnited Kingdom1,471Sunk
27 April 1917UranusKingdom of Italy3,978Sunk
28 April 1917Jose De LarrinagaUnited Kingdom5,017Sunk
28 April 1917TerenceUnited Kingdom4,309Sunk
30 April 1917ElisabethDenmark217Damaged
1 May 1917DorieUnited Kingdom3,264Damaged
1 May 1917San UrbanoUnited Kingdom6,458Sunk
::

References

Notes

Citations

Bibliography

  • {{cite book |last1=Gröner |first1=Erich |last2=Jung |first2=Dieter |last3=Maass |first3=Martin |translator-last1=Thomas |translator-first1=Keith |translator-last2=Magowan |translator-first2=Rachel |year=1991 |title=U-boats and Mine Warfare Vessels |volume=2 |series=German Warships 1815–1945 |location=London |publisher=Conway Maritime Press |isbn=0-85177-593-4 |ref=CITEREFGröner1991

References

  1. Helgason, Guðmundur. "Gairsoppa". Ships hit by U-boats.
  2. (10 October 2011). "SS Mantola WWI shipwreck reveals silver haul". BBC News.

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world-war-i-submarines-of-germanygerman-type-u-81-submarines1916-shipsships-built-in-kielu-boats-commissioned-in-1916maritime-incidents-in-1917u-boats-sunk-in-1917u-boats-sunk-by-british-submarinesworld-war-i-shipwrecks-in-the-atlantic-ocean