U-242
Type | VIIC | |||||
| Ordered | 10 Apr 1941 | |||||
| Laid down | 30 Sep 1942 | F. Krupp Germaniawerft AG, Kiel (werk 676) | ||||
| Launched | 20 Jul 1943 | |||||
| Commissioned | 14 Aug 1943 | Oblt. Karl-Wilhelm Pancke | ||||
| Commanders |
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| Career | 7 patrols | 14 Aug 1943 - 31 May 1944 5. Flottille (training) 1 Jun 1944 - 5 Jul 1944 3. Flottille (front boat) 6 Jul 1944 - 31 Jul 1944 5. Flottille (training) 1 Aug 1944 - 15 Feb 1945 8. Flottille (front boat) 16 Feb 1945 - 23 Mar 1945 5. Flottille (training) 24 Mar 1945 - 5 Apr 1945 5. Flottille (front boat) | ||||
| Successes | 2 ships sunk for a total of 2,095 GRT 1 auxiliary warship sunk for a total of 500 GRT | |||||
| Fate | Sunk on 5 April, 1945 at 0715hrs by a mine in the mine barrage QZX in the St. Georg-Channel in position 52.02,9N, 05.46,8W. 44 dead (all hands lost). | |||||
See the 3 ships hit by U-242 - View the 7 war patrols
Previously recorded fate
(Last revised by Axel Niestlé during January 1991. More on revised fates.
Sunk 30 April, 1945 in the Irish Sea west of Blackpool, in position 53.42N, 04.53W, by depth charges from the British destroyers HMS Hesperus and HMS Havelock after being discovered by a British Sunderland aircraft (Sqdn. 201).
This attack was in fact against the already sunken wreck of U-246 and it brought personal belongings of a crew member of U-246 to the surface.
Schnorchel-fitted U-boat
This boat was fitted with a Schnorchel underwater-breathing apparatus and sailed equipped with it in March 1945 but it was of course installed prior to that date. Read more about the Schnorchel and see list of fitted boats.
Men lost from U-boats
Unlike many other U-boats, which during their service lost men due to accidents and various other causes, U-242 did not suffer any casualties (we know of) until the time of her loss.
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