German submarine U-481 facts for kids
class="infobox " style="float: right; clear: right; width: 315px; border-spacing: 2px; text-align: left; font-size: 90%;"
| colspan="2" style="text-align: center; font-size: 90%; line-height: 1.5em;" |
|} The German submarine U-481 was a special type of U-boat used by Nazi Germany during World War II. U-boats were submarines that played a big role in naval battles. This particular submarine was built in Kiel, Germany. Its construction started on 6 February 1943, and it was ready for the water on 25 September 1943. U-481 officially joined the German navy on 10 November 1943. Its first commander was Ewald Pick.
Contents
- First Mission: Into the Gulf of Finland
- Second Mission: Baltic Patrol
- Third Mission: Targeting Barges
- Fourth Mission: More Successes
- Fifth Mission and Surrender
| History | |
|---|---|
 Nazi Germany |
|
| Name | U-481 |
| Ordered | 5 June 1941 |
| Builder | Deutsche Werke, Kiel |
| Yard number | 316 |
| Laid down | 6 February 1943 |
| Launched | 25 September 1943 |
| Commissioned | 10 November 1943 |
| Fate |
|
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Type VIIC submarine |
| Displacement |
|
| Length |
|
| Beam |
|
| Height | 9.60 m (31 ft 6 in) |
| Draught | 4.74 m (15 ft 7 in) |
| Installed power |
|
| Propulsion |
|
| Speed |
|
| Range | |
| Test depth |
|
| Complement | 4 officers, 40–56 enlisted |
| Armament |
|
| Service record | |
| Part of: |
|
| Commanders: |
|
| Operations: |
|
| Victories: |
|
Design and Features of U-481
U-481 was a Type VIIC U-boat. These were common submarines during World War II. When it was on the surface, U-481 weighed about 769 tons. When it was underwater, it weighed about 871 tons.
The submarine was quite long, about 67 meters (220 feet) from end to end. Its main strong part, called the pressure hull, was about 50.5 meters (166 feet) long. It was about 6.2 meters (20 feet) wide and 9.6 meters (31 feet) tall. The part of the submarine that was underwater, called the draught, was about 4.74 meters (15.6 feet) deep.
U-481 used two powerful diesel engines when on the surface. These engines gave it a speed of about 17.7 knots (32.8 km/h or 20.4 mph). When underwater, it switched to two electric motors. These motors allowed it to travel at about 7.6 knots (14.1 km/h or 8.7 mph).
The submarine could travel a long way without needing to refuel. On the surface, it could go about 8,500 nautical miles (15,742 km) at a speed of 10 knots. Underwater, it could travel about 80 nautical miles (148 km) at 4 knots. It could dive to depths of up to 230 meters (750 feet).
For fighting, U-481 had five torpedo tubes. Four were at the front and one was at the back. It carried 14 torpedoes. It also had a large 8.8 cm deck gun and several anti-aircraft guns to defend against planes. A crew of about 44 to 60 sailors worked on board.
U-481's Missions During World War II
U-481 went on several missions, called patrols, during the war. Each patrol involved sailing into enemy waters to find and attack ships.
First Mission: Into the Gulf of Finland
U-481 began its first war patrol on 5 July 1944. It sailed into the Gulf of Finland, which was controlled by the Soviet Union. On 30 July, it found a group of Soviet ships that cleared mines. U-481 attacked them with torpedoes. It sank two of these ships, named KT-804 and KT-807. It also damaged another one, KT-806. On the same day, two Soviet attack planes tried to hit the U-boat. U-481 managed to damage one plane, forcing it to crash. The submarine returned to port on 4 August.
Second Mission: Baltic Patrol
The submarine left port again on 10 August 1944. It patrolled the Soviet waters but did not find any targets this time. It finished this patrol on 21 August.
Third Mission: Targeting Barges
On 16 September 1944, U-481 started its third patrol. It sailed in the Baltic Sea. On 15 October, it found three small Finnish sailing barges. These barges were called Dan, Endla, and Maria. U-481 sank all three of them using its deck gun. The submarine then returned to port on 26 October.
Fourth Mission: More Successes
U-481 left port for its fourth patrol on 2 November 1944. It went back to the Gulf of Finland. On 9 November, it attacked a Soviet barge named 112600. The U-boat used both torpedoes and its deck gun to sink the barge. Later, on 28 November, it sank another Soviet ship, a small mine-clearing vessel called T-387. This patrol ended on 22 December.
Fifth Mission and Surrender
In February 1945, U-481 received a new piece of equipment called a 'schnorchel'. A schnorchel allowed the submarine to run its diesel engines and get fresh air while staying submerged. This made it harder for enemies to detect.
After getting the schnorchel, U-481 sailed to Norway. Its final patrol was along the Norwegian coast from 7 April to 4 May. It arrived in Narvik, Norway, just before Germany surrendered.
On 12 May, the Allies (the countries fighting against Germany) ordered all U-boats in the Narvik area to gather in a fjord. This was to prevent any more fighting. A few days later, U-481 and other German ships were sailing to another port when they were stopped by the British Royal Navy. The German ships officially surrendered.
U-481 was then taken to Scotland. Later, as part of "Operation Deadlight", many captured German U-boats were sunk to prevent them from being used again. U-481 was sunk on 30 November 1945.
Ships Encountered by U-481
Here is a list of the ships that U-481 attacked during its missions:
| Date | Ship Name | Nationality | Tonnage | Fate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 July 1944 | KT-804 |  Soviet Navy |
26 | Sunk |
| 30 July 1944 | KT-806 | Soviet Navy |
26 | Damaged |
| 30 July 1944 | KT-807 | Soviet Navy |
26 | Sunk |
| 15 October 1944 | Dan |  Finland |
47 | Sunk |
| 15 October 1944 | Endla | Finland |
68 | Sunk |
| 15 October 1944 | Maria | Finland |
50 | Sunk |
| 19 November 1944 | 112600 |  Soviet Union |
1,000 | Sunk |
| 28 November 1944 | T-387 | Soviet Navy |
108 | Sunk |
