U-281

Type

VIIC

Ordered

5 Jun 1941

Laid down

7 May 1942

Bremer Vulkan-Vegesacker Werft, Bremen-Vegesack (werk 46)

Launched

16 Jan 1943

Commissioned

27 Feb 1943

Oblt. Heinz von Davidson

Commanders

27 Feb 1943

8 May 1945

Kptlt. Heinz von Davidson

Career
4 patrols

27 Feb 1943	-	31 Jul 1943	8. Flottille (training)
1 Aug 1943	-	9 Nov 1944	7. Flottille (active service)
10 Nov 1944	-	8 May 1945	33. Flottille (active service)

Successes

No ships sunk or damaged

Fate

Surrendered at Kristiansand-Süd, Norway on 9 May 1945.

Transferred to Loch Ryan for Operation Deadlight.

Operation Deadlight (post-war Allied operation, info)
Sunk on 30 Nov, 1945 in position 55.50N, 10.05W

Final location

View the 4 war patrols

Wolfpack operations

U-281 operated with the following Wolfpacks during its career:
   Schlieffen (16 Oct 1943 - 22 Oct 1943)
   Siegfried (22 Oct 1943 - 27 Oct 1943)
   Siegfried 2 (27 Oct 1943 - 30 Oct 1943)
   Körner (30 Oct 1943 - 2 Nov 1943)
   Tirpitz 3 (2 Nov 1943 - 8 Nov 1943)
   Eisenhart 9 (9 Nov 1943 - 11 Nov 1943)
   Rügen (14 Jan 1944 - 26 Jan 1944)
   Hinein (26 Jan 1944 - 3 Feb 1944)
   Igel 2 (3 Feb 1944 - 17 Feb 1944)
   Hai 2 (17 Feb 1944 - 22 Feb 1944)
   Preussen (22 Feb 1944 - 23 Feb 1944)

Attacks on this boat

17 Oct 1943
At 19.10 hrs U-281 was attacked by a Liberator aircraft near convoy ONS-20. The boat put up flak, and the two depth charges dropped fell short, but the II WO and two of the crew were wounded by strafing before the boat escaped by diving. (Sources: Ritschel)

1 recorded attack on this boat.

Schnorchel-fitted U-boat
This boat was fitted with a Schnorchel underwater-breathing apparatus in October 1944. Read more about the Schnorchel and see list of fitted boats.

Men lost from U-boats

Unlike many other U-boats, which during their service lost men due to accidents and various other causes, U-281 did not suffer any casualties (we know of) until the time of her loss.