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| Kriegsmarine Type IXD2 U-boat 1,616 Tons (surfaced) 1,804 (submerged) 287.4' x 24.6' x 17.7' 6 x 53.3cm torpedo tubes 4 bow, 2 stern with 24 torpedoes or 72 TMA mines 1 x 105/45mm deck gun 1 x 37mm gun 1 x 20mm gun  Royal Navy Sept 25, 1945 |
Sub History Built by AG Weser at Bremen, Germany. Laid down March 15, 1941 as Type IXD2 U-boat werk number 1022. Launched December 30, 1941. Commissioned May 9, 1942 in the Kriegsmarine (German Navy) as U-181 under the command of Kapitänleutnant Wolfgang Lüth. After training with 4 Unterseebootsflottille at Stettin, attached to 10 Unterseebootsflottille service on October 1, 1942, then transferred to 12 Unterseebootsflottille on November 1. PARTIAL HISTORY Sixth Sailing (War Patrol) On October 19, 1944 departed Batavia (Jakarta) and patrolled in the Indian Ocean. On November 1, 1944 spotted the tanker SS Fort Lee sailing alone in a zig-zag pattern. U-181 was able to get ahead and in a position to fire upon her. On November 2, 1944 at 8:02pm the submarine fired one torpedo that hit the port quarter and destroyed her boilers, stopping her engines and flooding the fire room. At 8:18pm as lifeboats #3 and #5 were being lowered into the water, a second torpedo hit the starboard quarter, destroying lifeboat #3 and broke #5 in half. Lifeboats #1, #2, #4, and #6 were successfully launched and recovered the survivors from #3 and #5. A total of nine were killed in the attack and the ship sank at 21:10. This was the submarine's last victory of the war. U-181 surfaced and interrogated the crew about their cargo and destination. They refused to answer any questions, but accepted a flare gun, food, blankets and medicine. Afterwards, the submarine ended the patrol at Batavia (Jakarta) on January 5, 1945. Seventh Sailing On January 14, 1945 departs Batavia bound for Singapore arriving two days later and begins a major overhaul and bearing repairs. During the repairs, the Germans construct a snorkel and prepare the submarine for a voyage back to Germany. By the middle of April 1945 the submarine has limited navigating capacity and plans to depart by June 1, 1945. loaded with cargo. Japanese Service On May 5, 1945 the German Naval attaché sends the coded signal "Lübeck" to all U-boats in Asia to signify that Germany has ceased hostilities. At Singapore, Kapitän zur See Kurt Freiwald assembles the crew of U-862 and U-181 and informs them that Adolf Hitler is dead and Germany has ceased hostilities. While in German service, U-181 claimd 27 ships sunk totaling 138,779 Tons. On May 6, 1945 Japanese Vice Admiral Shigeru Fukudome arrives at the No. 101 Navy Repair Unit to inform the crews of U-862 and U-181 that Germany has surrendered and they are being interned. At 4:00pm, the German flag is lowered and Japanese flags raised with Japanese soldiers guard the submarines. That evening, the German officers are invited to a special European style meal to thank them for their wartime efforts. Afterwards, the German crew is interned at a rubber plantation at Batu Pahat, Malaya until the end of the Pacific War, with 60 of the crew tasked with training the Japanese counterparts to operate the submarine. Afterwards, the submarine overhauled is completed by the Japanese Navy No. 101 Repair Unit at Seletar Naval Base. On July 15, 1945 commissioned in the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) as I-501 under the command of LtCdr Kiyoteru Sato. Also U-862 is commissioned as I-502. Both sumbarines were assigned to the 13th Area Fleet under the command of Vice Admiral Shigeru Fukudome. On August 16, 1945 surrendered with Heavy cruiser Myoko and I-502. Afterwards, under British supervision the German strip the submarine of all usable parts before sinking. On November 30, 1945 removed from the Japanese Navy. Sinking History On February 12, 1946 scuttled in the Strait of Malacca at roughly Lat 03° 5′50″N Long 100° 41′50″E by the Royal Navy (RN) frigates HMS Loch Glendhu and HMS Loch Lomond. References Uboat.net U-181 Uboat.net Patrols by U-181 Uboat.net - The Monsun boats operations in the Indian Ocean Combined Fleet - IJN Submarine I-501: Tabular Record of Movement IWM "Mountbatten Accepts The Surrender of Japanese Forces in South East Asia" Sept 12, 1945 (IWM: ADM 1231) 8:04–8:22 Contribute
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