U-570 Type VIIC submarine that was captured by the British in 1941. This U-boat is almost identical to U-981.
History
Nazi Germany
NameU-981
Ordered5 June 1941
BuilderBlohm & Voss, Hamburg
Yard number181
Laid down24 August 1942
Launched29 April 1943
Commissioned3 June 1943
FateSunk on 12 August 1944
General characteristics
Class and typeType VIIC submarine
Displacement
  • 769 tonnes (757 long tons) surfaced
  • 871 t (857 long tons) submerged
Length
Beam
  • 6.20 m (20 ft 4 in) o/a
  • 4.70 m (15 ft 5 in) pressure hull
Height9.60 m (31 ft 6 in)
Draught4.74 m (15 ft 7 in)
Installed power
  • 2,800–3,200 PS (2,100–2,400 kW; 2,800–3,200 bhp) (diesels)
  • 750 PS (550 kW; 740 shp) (electric)
Propulsion
Speed
  • 17.7 knots (32.8 km/h; 20.4 mph) surfaced
  • 7.6 knots (14.1 km/h; 8.7 mph) submerged
Range
  • 8,500 nmi (15,700 km; 9,800 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) surfaced
  • 80 nmi (150 km; 92 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph) submerged
Test depth
  • 220 m (720 ft)
  • Crush depth: 250–295 m (820–968 ft)
Complement4 officers, 44–52 enlisted
Armament
Service record
Part of:
Identification codes: M 52 873
Commanders:
  • Oblt.z.S. Walter Sitek[1]
  • 3 June 1943 – 27 June 1944
  • Oblt.z.S. Günther Keller[2]
  • 28 June – 12 August 1944
Operations:
  • 3 patrols:
  • 1st patrol:
  • a. 27 November 1943 – 30 January 1944
  • b. 12 – 15 April 1944
  • 2nd patrol:
  • 6 – 17 June 1944
  • 3rd patrol:
  • 7 – 12 August 1944
Victories: None
Survivors of the Incident

German submarine U-981 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

She was ordered on 5 June 1941, and was laid down on 24 August 1942 at Blohm & Voss, Hamburg, as yard number 181. She was launched on 29 April 1943 and commissioned under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Walter Sitek on 3 June 1943.[3]

Design

German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-981 had a displacement of 769 tonnes (757 long tons) when at the surface and 871 tonnes (857 long tons) while submerged.[4] She had a total length of 67.10 m (220 ft 2 in), a pressure hull length of 50.50 m (165 ft 8 in), a beam of 6.20 m (20 ft 4 in), a height of 9.60 m (31 ft 6 in), and a draught of 4.74 m (15 ft 7 in). The submarine was powered by two Germaniawerft F46 four-stroke, six-cylinder supercharged diesel engines producing a total of 2,800 to 3,200 metric horsepower (2,060 to 2,350 kW; 2,760 to 3,160 shp) for use while surfaced, two Garbe, Lahmeyer & Co. RP 137/c double-acting electric motors producing a total of 750 metric horsepower (550 kW; 740 shp) for use while submerged. She had two shafts and two 1.23 m (4 ft) propellers. The boat was capable of operating at depths of up to 230 metres (750 ft).[4]

The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 17.7 knots (32.8 km/h; 20.4 mph) and a maximum submerged speed of 7.6 knots (14.1 km/h; 8.7 mph).[4] When submerged, the boat could operate for 80 nautical miles (150 km; 92 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph); when surfaced, she could travel 8,500 nautical miles (15,700 km; 9,800 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph). U-981 was fitted with five 53.3 cm (21 in) torpedo tubes (four fitted at the bow and one at the stern), fourteen torpedoes or 26 TMA mines, one 8.8 cm (3.46 in) SK C/35 naval gun, 220 rounds, and one twin 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 anti-aircraft gun. The boat had a complement of between 44 — 52 men.[4]

Service history

U-981 sailed on three uneventful war patrols, sinking no ships in 87 total days at sea.

On 12 August 1944, U-981 was sunk by an air-laid mine and depth charges off of La Rochelle, France, in the Bay of Biscay. U-981 struck a mine in the British field Cinnamon and was attacked by a British Halifax of 502 Squadron/F RAF. Forty of the crew of fifty-two survived.[3]

The wreck is located at 46°09′N 01°35′W / 46.150°N 1.583°W / 46.150; -1.583.[3]

Wolfpacks

U-981 took part in five wolfpacks, namely:[3]

  • Coronel 1 (14 – 17 December 1943)
  • Sylt (18 – 23 December 1943)
  • Rügen 1 (23 – 28 December 1943)
  • Rügen 2 (28 December 1943 – 7 January 1944)
  • Rügen (7 – 26 January 1944)

References

  1. ↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Walter Sitek". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 8 April 2016.
  2. ↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Günther Keller". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 8 April 2016.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Helgason, Guðmundur. "U-981". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 8 April 2016.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Gröner 1991, pp. 43–46.

Bibliography

  • Busch, Rainer; Röll, Hans-Joachim (1999). German U-boat commanders of World War II : a biographical dictionary. Translated by Brooks, Geoffrey. London, Annapolis, Md: Greenhill Books, Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-55750-186-6.
  • Busch, Rainer; Röll, Hans-Joachim (1999). Deutsche U-Boot-Verluste von September 1939 bis Mai 1945 [German U-boat losses from September 1939 to May 1945] (in German). Vol. IV. Hamburg, Berlin, Bonn: Mittler. ISBN 3-8132-0514-2. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
  • Gröner, Erich; Jung, Dieter; Maass, Martin (1991). U-boats and Mine Warfare Vessels. German Warships 1815–1945. Vol. 2. Translated by Thomas, Keith; Magowan, Rachel. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-593-4.
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