German submarine U-281 was a Type VIIC U-boat of the Nazi German Kriegsmarine during World War II. The submarine was laid down on 7 May 1942 at the Bremer Vulkan yard at Bremen-Vegesack as 'werk' 46. She was launched on 16 January 1943 and commissioned on 27 February under the command of Kapitänleutnant Heinz von Davidson.