German submarine U-981

German submarine U-981 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

She was ordered on 5 June 1941, and was laid down on 24 August 1942 at Blohm & Voss, Hamburg, as yard number 181. She was launched on 29 April 1943 and commissioned under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Walter Sitek on 3 June 1943.

Design
German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-981 had a displacement of 769 t when at the surface and 871 t while submerged. She had a total length of 67.10 m, a pressure hull length of 50.50 m, a beam of 6.20 m, a height of 9.60 m, and a draught of 4.74 m. The submarine was powered by two Germaniawerft F46 four-stroke, six-cylinder supercharged diesel engines producing a total of 2800 to 3200 PS for use while surfaced, two Garbe, Lahmeyer & Co. RP 137/c double-acting electric motors producing a total of 750 PS for use while submerged. She had two shafts and two 1.23 m propellers. The boat was capable of operating at depths of up to 230 m.

The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 17.7 kn and a maximum submerged speed of 7.6 kn. When submerged, the boat could operate for 80 nmi at 4 kn; when surfaced, she could travel 8500 nmi at 10 kn. U-981 was fitted with five 53.3 cm torpedo tubes (four fitted at the bow and one at the stern), fourteen torpedoes or 26 TMA mines, one 8.8 cm SK C/35 naval gun, 220 rounds, and one twin 2 cm C/30 anti-aircraft gun. The boat had a complement of between 44 — 52 men.

Service history
U-981 sailed on three uneventful war patrols, sinking no ships in 87 total days at sea.

On 12 August 1944, U-981 was sunk by an air-laid mine and depth charges off of La Rochelle, France, in the Bay of Biscay. U-981 struck a mine in the British field Cinnamon and was attacked by a British Halifax of 502 Squadron/F RAF. Forty of the crew of fifty-two survived.

The wreck is located at 46.15°N, -1.58333°W.

Wolfpacks
U-981 took part in five wolfpacks, namely:
 * Coronel 1 (14 – 17 December 1943)
 * Sylt (18 – 23 December 1943)
 * Rügen 1 (23 – 28 December 1943)
 * Rügen 2 (28 December 1943 – 7 January 1944)
 * Rügen (7 – 26 January 1944)