| History | |
|---|---|
 Nazi Germany | |
| Name | U-881 |
| Ordered | 2 April 1942[1] |
| Builder | AG Weser,Bremen[1] |
| Yard number | 1089[1] |
| Laid down | 7 August 1943[1] |
| Launched | 4 March 1944[1] |
| Commissioned | 27 May 1944[1] |
| Fate | Sunk on 6 May 1945[1] |
| General characteristics | |
| Class & type | Type IXC/40submarine |
| Displacement | |
| Length |
|
| Beam |
|
| Height | 9.60 m (31 ft 6 in) |
| Draught | 4.67 m (15 ft 4 in) |
| Installed power |
|
| Propulsion |
|
| Speed |
|
| Range |
|
| Test depth | 230 m (750 ft) |
| Complement | 4 officers, 44 enlisted |
| Armament |
|
| Service record | |
| Part of: |
|
| Identification codes: | M 19 715 |
| Commanders: | |
| Operations: |
|
| Victories: | None[1] |
German submarineU-881 was aType IXC/40U-boat ofNazi Germany'sKriegsmarine duringWorld War II. The ship was ordered on 2 April 1942,laid down on 7 August 1943, andlaunched on 4 March 1944. She wascommissioned into theKriegsmarine under the command ofKapitänleutnant Dr. Karl-Heinz Frischke (Crew 36) on 27 May 1944. Initially assigned to the4th U-boat Flotilla, she was transferred to the33rd U-boat Flotilla on 1 March 1945.
German Type IXC/40 submarines were slightly larger than the originalType IXCs.U-881 had a displacement of 1,144 tonnes (1,126 long tons) when at the surface and 1,257 tonnes (1,237 long tons) while submerged.[2] The U-boat had a total length of 76.76 m (251 ft 10 in), apressure hull length of 58.75 m (192 ft 9 in), abeam of 6.86 m (22 ft 6 in), a height of 9.60 m (31 ft 6 in), and adraught of 4.67 m (15 ft 4 in). The submarine was powered by twoMAN M 9 V 40/46supercharged four-stroke, nine-cylinderdiesel engines producing a total of 4,400 metric horsepower (3,240 kW; 4,340 shp) for use while surfaced, twoSiemens-Schuckert 2 GU 345/34double-acting electric motors producing a total of 1,000 shaft horsepower (1,010 PS; 750 kW) for use while submerged. She had two shafts and two 1.92 m (6 ft)propellers. The boat was capable of operating at depths of up to 230 metres (750 ft).[2]
The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 18.3 knots (33.9 km/h; 21.1 mph) and a maximum submerged speed of 7.3 knots (13.5 km/h; 8.4 mph).[2] When submerged, the boat could operate for 63 nautical miles (117 km; 72 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph); when surfaced, she could travel 13,850 nautical miles (25,650 km; 15,940 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph).U-881 was fitted with six 53.3 cm (21 in)torpedo tubes (four fitted at the bow and two at the stern), 22torpedoes, one10.5 cm (4.13 in) SK C/32 naval gun, 180 rounds, and a3.7 cm (1.5 in) Flak M42 as well as two twin2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 anti-aircraft guns. The boat had acomplement of forty-eight.[2]
For her first patrol,U-881 was assigned to operate in US coastal waters withwolfpack Seewolf.[3]During this operationU-881 wasdepth charged and sunk by the American destroyer escortUSS Farquhar on 6 May 1945 in one of thelast actions in American waters of theAtlantic campaign.She sank at position43°18′N47°44′W / 43.300°N 47.733°W /43.300; -47.733 with the loss of all 54 men on board.[1]
