List of all U-boats

U-681

Type

VIIC

 
Ordered25 Aug 1941
Laid down21 Oct 1942 Howaldtswerke Hamburg AG, Hamburg (werk 830)
Launched20 Nov 1943
Commissioned3 Feb 1944Oblt. Helmut Bach
Commanders
3 Feb 1944 - 2 Aug 1944  Oblt. (R) Helmut Bach
2 Aug 1944 - 11 Mar 1945  Oblt. Werner Gebauer
Career
1 patrol
3 Feb 1944-31 Oct 1944  31. Flottille (training)
1 Nov 1944-11 Mar 1945  11. Flottille (active service)
SuccessesNo ships sunk or damaged
Fate

Sunk at 0930hrs on 11 March 1945 in the Celtic Sea west of Bishop Rock, Isles of Scilly, in position 49.52.433N, 06.38.633W, by depth charges from a US Liberator aircraft (VPB-103 USN/N). 11 dead and 38 survivors.

Loss position

View the 1 war patrol

U-681 ran hard aground while submerged near the Bishop Rock on 10 March 1945 and was forced to surface due to damage to the pressure hull and fuel tanks. The boat tried to reach the Irish coast, but was located and sunk by a Liberator aircraft the next morning.

Schnorchel-fitted U-boat

This boat was fitted with a Schnorchel underwater-breathing apparatus and sailed equipped with it in February 1945 but it was of course installed prior to that date.

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-681 did not suffer any casualties (we know of) until the time of her loss.


Media links


Hitler's U-boat War, Vol II

Blair, Clay


German U-Boat Losses During World War II

Niestle, Axel


U-Boat Operations of the Second World War - Vol 2

Wynn, Kenneth




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