SM U-81
| History | |
|---|---|
| German Empire | |
| 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 | 1 May 1917 - Torpedoed W of Ireland at 51°33′N 13°38′W / 51.550°N 13.633°W by HM Sub E54. 31 dead, seven survivors. |
| General characteristics | |
| Displacement | |
| Length |
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| Beam |
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| Height | 8.00 m (26 ft 3 in) |
| Draught | 4.02 m (13 ft 2 in) |
| Installed power | |
| Propulsion | 2 shafts, 2 × 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in) propellers |
| Speed |
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| Range |
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| Test depth | 50 m (160 ft) |
| Complement | 4 officers, 31 enlisted |
| Armament |
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| Service record | |
| Part of: |
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| Commanders: |
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| Operations: | 5 patrols |
| Victories: | |
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.
U-81 had one 10.5 cm gun with 140–240 rounds. 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. HMS E54 sank U-81 by torpedo west of Ireland on 1 May 1917. 31 of U-81's crew were killed; seven survived.