Patrol info for U-81
| Departure | Arrival / Fate | Duration | ||
| 4 Nov 1941 | Brest | 10 Dec 1941 | La Spezia | 37 days |
Commander | Officers * | |
 Kptlt. Friedrich Guggenberger |
1WO Oblt. Claus von Trotha |
2WO Ltn. Johann-Otto Krieg |
Daily positions, sinkings and allied attacks during the patrol of U-81
Legend
means a ship hit (sunk or damaged).
indicates an Allied attack on the boat.
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We have 36 daily positions for the 37 days U-81 was at sea.
Departure from Brest on 4 Nov 1941.
5 Nov 1941 - 6 Nov 1941 - 7 Nov 1941 - 8 Nov 1941 - 9 Nov 1941 - 10 Nov 1941 - 11 Nov 1941 - 12 Nov 1941 - 13 Nov 1941 - 14 Nov 1941 - 15 Nov 1941 - 16 Nov 1941 - 17 Nov 1941 - 18 Nov 1941 - 19 Nov 1941 - 20 Nov 1941 - 21 Nov 1941 - 22 Nov 1941 - 23 Nov 1941 - 24 Nov 1941 - 25 Nov 1941 - 26 Nov 1941 - 27 Nov 1941 - 28 Nov 1941 - 29 Nov 1941 - 30 Nov 1941 - 1 Dec 1941 - 2 Dec 1941 - 3 Dec 1941 - 4 Dec 1941 - 5 Dec 1941 - 6 Dec 1941 - 7 Dec 1941 - 8 Dec 1941 - 9 Dec 1941 -
Arrival at La Spezia on 10 Dec 1941.
Wolfpack operations during this patrol
U-81 operated with the following Wolfpacks during this patrol
Arnauld (5 Nov 1941 - 18 Nov 1941)
Ships hit by U-81 during this patrol
| Date | U-boat | Commander | Name of ship | Tons | Nat. | Convoy | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 Nov 1941 | U-81 | Friedrich Guggenberger |  | HMS Ark Royal (91) | 22,600 |  | br | |
| 22,600 | ||||||||
1 ship sunk (22,600 tons). Legend | ||||||||
General Events during this patrol
1941
4 Nov 1941. U-81 left Brest, but headed back some hours later after discovering they did not have the maps for their operational area on board.
13 Nov 1941. On 13 Nov, 1941 the boat, under the command of Guggenberger, sank the famous British aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal in the Mediterranean.
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Attacks on U-81 during this patrol
13 Nov 1941
The boat, having recently entered the Mediterranean, learned of the British Force H heading to Gibraltar. Managing to intercept the force he fired from extreme range and sank the British aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal. The escorting destroyers delivered a punishing depth charge attack with 130 depth charges counted but the boat got away. (Sources: Blair, vol 1, page 396)
About this data
If you believe we have missed an attack on a German U-boat in this listing please let us know.
See all patrols for U-81
* These are officers that later became commanders themselves.
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