German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-681 had a displacement of 769 tonnes (757 long tons) when at the surface and 871 tonnes (857 long tons) while submerged.[1] She had a total length of 67.10 m (220 ft 2 in), a pressure hull length of 50.50 m (165 ft 8 in), a beam of 6.20 m (20 ft 4 in), a height of 9.60 m (31 ft 6 in), and a draught of 4.74 m (15 ft 7 in). The submarine was powered by two Germaniawerft F46 four-stroke, six-cylinder superchargeddiesel engines producing a total of 2,800 to 3,200 metric horsepower (2,060 to 2,350 kW; 2,760 to 3,160 shp) for use while surfaced, two Siemens-Schuckert GU 343/38–8 double-acting electric motors producing a total of 750 metric horsepower (550 kW; 740 shp) for use while submerged. She had two shafts and two 1.23 m (4 ft) propellers. The boat was capable of operating at depths of up to 230 metres (750 ft).[1]
The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 17.7 knots (32.8 km/h; 20.4 mph) and a maximum submerged speed of 7.6 knots (14.1 km/h; 8.7 mph).[1] When submerged, the boat could operate for 80 nautical miles (150 km; 92 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph); when surfaced, she could travel 8,500 nautical miles (15,700 km; 9,800 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph). U-681 was fitted with five 53.3 cm (21 in) torpedo tubes (four fitted at the bow and one at the stern), fourteen torpedoes, one 8.8 cm (3.46 in) SK C/35 naval gun, (220 rounds), one 3.7 cm (1.5 in) Flak M42 and two twin 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 anti-aircraft guns. The boat had a complement of between forty-four and sixty.[1]
Service historyedit
On 10 March 1945, U-681 grounded off Scilly, damaging the pressure hull and propellers. Unable to dive, Werner Gebauer, the commander of the U-boat, headed for the Irish coast, hoping for internment by Irish authorities. However, the next morning PB4Y-1 LiberatorN of VPB-103 spotted U-681 on the surface and went in for the attack. Eight depth charges further damaged the U-boat, and Gebauer ordered the crew to abandon ship. With sea cocks opened and demolition charges set, U-681 submerged followed by a massive explosion. Of the crew of 47, a British escort picked up 38 survivors.[2]
Busch, Rainer; Röll, Hans-Joachim (1999a). German U-boat commanders of World War II : a biographical dictionary. Translated by Brooks, Geoffrey. London, Annapolis, Md: Greenhill Books, Naval Institute Press. ISBN1-55750-186-6.
Busch, Rainer; Röll, Hans-Joachim (1999b). Der U-Boot-Krieg, 1939-1945: Deutsche U-Boot-Verluste von September 1939 bis Mai 1945 [German U-boat losses from September 1939 to May 1945] (in German). Vol. IV. Hamburg, Berlin, Bonn: Mittler. ISBN3-8132-0514-2.
Gröner, Eric; Jung, Dieter; Maass, Martin (1991). German Warships 1815-1945: U-boats and Mine Warfare Vessels. Vol. 2. Translated by Thomas, Keith; Magowan, Rachel. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN0-85177-593-4.
External linksedit
Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-681". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 23 July 2015.
german, submarine, type, viic, boat, nazi, germany, kriegsmarine, during, world, submarine, laid, down, october, 1942, howaldtswerke, yard, hamburg, launched, november, 1943, commissioned, february, 1944, under, command, oberleutnant, helmut, bach, historynazi. German submarine U 681 was a Type VIIC U boat of Nazi Germany s Kriegsmarine during World War II The submarine was laid down on 12 October 1942 at the Howaldtswerke yard at Hamburg launched on 20 November 1943 and commissioned on 3 February 1944 under the command of Oberleutnant zur See d R Helmut Bach HistoryNazi GermanyNameU 681Ordered25 August 1941BuilderHowaldtswerke HamburgYard number830Laid down21 October 1942Launched20 November 1943Commissioned3 February 1944FateSunk by depth charges on 11 March 1945General characteristicsClass and typeType VIIC submarineDisplacement769 t 757 long tons surfaced 871 t 857 long tons submergedLength67 10 m 220 ft 2 in o a 50 50 m 165 ft 8 in pressure hull Beam6 20 m 20 ft 4 in o a 4 70 m 15 ft 5 in pressure hull Height9 60 m 31 ft 6 in Draught4 74 m 15 ft 7 in Installed power2 800 3 200 PS 2 100 2 400 kW 2 800 3 200 bhp diesels 750 PS 550 kW 740 shp electric Propulsion2 shafts 2 diesel engines 2 electric motorsSpeed17 7 knots 32 8 km h 20 4 mph surfaced 7 6 knots 14 1 km h 8 7 mph submergedRange8 500 nmi 15 700 km 9 800 mi at 10 knots 19 km h 12 mph surfaced 80 nmi 150 km 92 mi at 4 knots 7 4 km h 4 6 mph submergedTest depth230 m 750 ft Crush depth 250 295 m 820 968 ft Complement4 officers 40 56 enlistedArmament5 torpedo tubes four bow one stern 14 53 3 cm 21 in torpedoes or 26 TMA mines 1 8 8 cm 3 46 in deck gun 220 rounds 1 3 7 cm 1 5 in Flak M42 AA gun 2 twin 2 cm 0 79 in C 30 anti aircraft gunsService recordPart of 31st U boat Flotilla 3 February 31 October 1944 11th U boat Flotilla 1 November 1944 11 March 1945Identification codes M 49 036Commanders Oblt z S d R Helmut Bach 3 February 2 August 1944 Oblt z S Werner Gebauer 2 August 1944 11 March 1945Operations 1 patrol 14 February 10 March 1945Victories NoneAttached to 31st U boat Flotilla based at Kiel U 681 completed her training period on 31 October 1944 and was assigned to front line service Contents 1 Design 2 Service history 3 References 4 Bibliography 5 External linksDesign editGerman Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines U 681 had a displacement of 769 tonnes 757 long tons when at the surface and 871 tonnes 857 long tons while submerged 1 She had a total length of 67 10 m 220 ft 2 in a pressure hull length of 50 50 m 165 ft 8 in a beam of 6 20 m 20 ft 4 in a height of 9 60 m 31 ft 6 in and a draught of 4 74 m 15 ft 7 in The submarine was powered by two Germaniawerft F46 four stroke six cylinder supercharged diesel engines producing a total of 2 800 to 3 200 metric horsepower 2 060 to 2 350 kW 2 760 to 3 160 shp for use while surfaced two Siemens Schuckert GU 343 38 8 double acting electric motors producing a total of 750 metric horsepower 550 kW 740 shp for use while submerged She had two shafts and two 1 23 m 4 ft propellers The boat was capable of operating at depths of up to 230 metres 750 ft 1 The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 17 7 knots 32 8 km h 20 4 mph and a maximum submerged speed of 7 6 knots 14 1 km h 8 7 mph 1 When submerged the boat could operate for 80 nautical miles 150 km 92 mi at 4 knots 7 4 km h 4 6 mph when surfaced she could travel 8 500 nautical miles 15 700 km 9 800 mi at 10 knots 19 km h 12 mph U 681 was fitted with five 53 3 cm 21 in torpedo tubes four fitted at the bow and one at the stern fourteen torpedoes one 8 8 cm 3 46 in SK C 35 naval gun 220 rounds one 3 7 cm 1 5 in Flak M42 and two twin 2 cm 0 79 in C 30 anti aircraft guns The boat had a complement of between forty four and sixty 1 Service history editOn 10 March 1945 U 681 grounded off Scilly damaging the pressure hull and propellers Unable to dive Werner Gebauer the commander of the U boat headed for the Irish coast hoping for internment by Irish authorities However the next morning PB4Y 1 Liberator N of VPB 103 spotted U 681 on the surface and went in for the attack Eight depth charges further damaged the U boat and Gebauer ordered the crew to abandon ship With sea cocks opened and demolition charges set U 681 submerged followed by a massive explosion Of the crew of 47 a British escort picked up 38 survivors 2 References edit a b c d Groner 1991 pp 43 46 Busch amp Roll 1999b p 323 Bibliography editBusch Rainer Roll Hans Joachim 1999a German U boat commanders of World War II a biographical dictionary Translated by Brooks Geoffrey London Annapolis Md Greenhill Books Naval Institute Press ISBN 1 55750 186 6 Busch Rainer Roll Hans Joachim 1999b Der U Boot Krieg 1939 1945 Deutsche U Boot Verluste von September 1939 bis Mai 1945 German U boat losses from September 1939 to May 1945 in German Vol IV Hamburg Berlin Bonn Mittler ISBN 3 8132 0514 2 Groner Eric Jung Dieter Maass Martin 1991 German Warships 1815 1945 U boats and Mine Warfare Vessels Vol 2 Translated by Thomas Keith Magowan Rachel London Conway Maritime Press ISBN 0 85177 593 4 External links editHelgason Gudmundur The Type VIIC boat U 681 German U boats of WWII uboat net Retrieved 23 July 2015 49 53 N 6 31 W 49 883 N 6 517 W 49 883 6 517 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title German submarine U 681 amp oldid 1204680271, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
