German submarine U-642
| History | |
|---|---|
 Nazi Germany
| |
| Name: | U-642 |
| Ordered: | 20 January 1941 |
| Builder: | Blohm & Voss, Hamburg |
| Yard number: | 618 |
| Laid down: | 19 November 1941 |
| Launched: | 6 August 1942 |
| Commissioned: | 1 October 1942 |
| Fate: | Sunk 5 May 1944 in the Mediterranean at the Military port of Toulon in position 43°07′N 05°55′E / 43.117°N 5.917°ECoordinates: 43°07′N 05°55′E / 43.117°N 5.917°E, in a US air raid. |
| General characteristics | |
| Class & type: | Type VIIC submarine |
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| Draught: | 4.74 m (15 ft 7 in) |
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| Complement: | 4 officers, 40–56 enlisted |
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- 5th U-boat Flotilla
- 1 October 1942 - 28 February 1943 - Training
- 6th U-boat Flotilla
- 1 March 1943 - 30 November 1943
- 29th U-boat Flotilla
- 1 December 1943 - 5 July 1944
- Kptlt. Herbert Brünning
- 1 October 1942 - 5 July 1944
- 1st patrol: 20 February 1943 - 8 April 1943
- 2nd patrol: 4 May 1943 - 17 July 1943
- 3rd patrol: 11 September 1943 - 13 September 1943
- 4th patrol: 22 December 1943 - 23 January 1944
German submarine U-642 was a Type VIIC U-boat built for Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine for service during World War II. She was laid down on 19 November 1941 by Blohm & Voss, Hamburg as yard number 618, launched on 6 August 1942 and commissioned on 1 October 1942 under Kapitänleutnant Herbert Brünning.
Design
German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-642 had a displacement of 769 tonnes (757 long tons) when at the surface and 871 tonnes (857 long tons) while submerged.[2] 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 Brown, Boveri & Cie GG UB 720/8 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).[2]
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).[2] 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-642 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, and an anti-aircraft gun. The boat had a complement of between forty-four and sixty.[2]
Service history
The boat's career began with training at 5th U-boat Flotilla on 1 October 1942, followed by active service on 1 March 1943 as part of the 6th Flotilla. She transferred for operations in the Mediterranean on 1 December 1943 to serve with 29th Flotilla for the remainder of her service.
In 4 patrols she sank 1 merchant ship, for a total of 2,125 gross register tons (GRT).
Wolfpacks
U-642 took part in nine wolfpacks, namely
- Neuland (4 March 1943 – 6 March 1943)
- Ostmark (6 March 1943 – 11 March 1943)
- Stürmer (11 March 1943 – 20 March 1943)
- Seewolf (21 March 1943 – 30 March 1943)
- Oder (17 May 1943 – 19 May 1943)
- Mosel (19 May 1943 – 24 May 1943)
- Trutz (1 June 1943 – 16 June 1943)
- Trutz 1 (16 June 1943 – 29 June 1943)
- Geier 3 (30 June 1943 – 15 July 1943)
Fate
U-642 was sunk on 5 May 1944 in the Mediterranean at Military port of Toulon in position 43°07′N 05°55′E / 43.117°N 5.917°E, by a US air raid.
Summary of raiding history
| Date | Name | Nationality | Tonnage (GRT) |
Fate[3] |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 March 1943 | Leadgate |  United Kingdom |
2,125 | Sunk |
See also
References
- ↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-642". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 2 September 2014.
- 1 2 3 4 Gröner 1991, pp. 43-46.
- ↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U-642". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 2 September 2014.
Bibliography
- Busch, Rainer; Röll, Hans-Joachim (1999). Deutsche U-Boot-Verluste von September 1939 bis Mai 1945. Der U-Boot-Krieg (in German) IV (Hamburg, Berlin, Bonn: Mittler). ISBN 3-8132-0514-2.
- Edwards, Bernard (1996). Dönitz and the Wolf Packs - The U-boats at War. p. 169. ISBN 0-304-35203-9.
- Gröner, Erich; Jung, Dieter; Maass, Martin (1991). U-boats and Mine Warfare Vessels. German Warships 1815–1945 2. Translated by Thomas, Keith; Magowan, Rachel (London: Conway Maritime Press). ISBN 0-85177-593-4.
- Sharpe, Peter (1998). U-Boat Fact File. Great Britain: Midland Publishing. ISBN 1-85780-072-9.
External links
- Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-642". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 29 December 2014.