SM U-81

SM U-81 was one of the 329 submarines serving in the Imperial German Navy 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 off Fastnet, forcing her crew and passengers to abandon her. She then shelled the drifting hulk until being chased away by the sloop. Mantola sank the next day. 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 when at the surface and while submerged. She had a total length of, a pressure hull length of, a beam of, a height of, and a draught of. The submarine was powered by two engines for use while surfaced, and two engines for use while submerged. She had two propeller shafts. She was capable of operating at depths of up to.
The submarine had a maximum surface speed of and a maximum submerged speed of. When submerged, she could operate for at ; when surfaced, she could travel at. U-81 was fitted with four torpedo tubes, twelve to sixteen torpedoes, and one SK L/45 deck gun. She had a complement of thirty-five.