List of all U-boats

U-641

Type

VIIC

 
Ordered20 Jan 1941
Laid down19 Nov 1941 Blohm & Voss, Hamburg (werk 617)
Launched6 Aug 1942
Commissioned24 Sep 1942Oblt. Horst Rendtel
Commanders
24 Sep 1942 - 19 Jan 1944  Kptlt. Horst Rendtel
Career
4 patrols
24 Sep 1942-28 Feb 1943  5. Flottille (training)
1 Mar 1943-19 Jan 1944  7. Flottille (active service)
SuccessesNo ships sunk or damaged
Fate

Sunk on 19 January 1944 in the North Atlantic south-west of Ireland, in position 50.25N, 18.49W, by depth charges from the British corvette HMS Violet. 50 dead (all hands lost).

Loss position

View the 4 war patrols

Wolfpack operations

U-641 operated with the following Wolfpacks during its career:
   Neuland (4 Mar 1943 - 6 Mar 1943)
   Ostmark (6 Mar 1943 - 11 Mar 1943)
   Stürmer (11 Mar 1943 - 20 Mar 1943)
   Seewolf (21 Mar 1943 - 30 Mar 1943)
   Mosel (19 May 1943 - 24 May 1943)
   Trutz (1 Jun 1943 - 16 Jun 1943)
   Trutz 2 (16 Jun 1943 - 29 Jun 1943)
   Geier 1 (30 Jun 1943 - 14 Jul 1943)
   Leuthen (15 Sep 1943 - 24 Sep 1943)
   Rossbach (24 Sep 1943 - 9 Oct 1943)
   Borkum (18 Dec 1943 - 3 Jan 1944)
   Borkum 2 (3 Jan 1944 - 13 Jan 1944)
   Rügen (13 Jan 1944 - 19 Jan 1944)

Attacks on this boat and other events

7 Mar 1943
The target of a depth charge attack on 7 March 1943 in mid Atlantic, position 57.14N,26.30W, by a British Flying Fortress (RAF Sqdn. 220/J) formerly credited with sinking U-633, was actually U-641, which escaped unscathed. (Sources: 1996-12-01, FDS/NHB)

4 Jun 1943
21.30 hrs, southwest of the Azores: U-641 was attacked by an American Avenger (VC-9 USN, pilot Lt (jg) W.S. Fowler) from USS Bogue escorting convoy GUS 7A. The first pass was too fast and the pilot had to go around for a second run. Two depth charges were dropped, exploding off the starboard beam. Ten minutes later a second Avenger, piloted by Lt Cdr W.M. Drane (CO of VC-9), arrived and a coordinated attack made despite heavy flak. Four depth charges from the second Avenger detonated on the port quarter, causing minor damage. The first Avenger was forced to return to the carrier after being hit in the engine. When another Avenger arrived on the scene the boat disengaged successfully by diving. (Sources: Franks/Zimmerman)

8 Jul 1943
17.45 hrs, west of Portugal: a British Catalina flying boat (210 Sqdn RAF/G, pilot F/O D.H. Clarke) dropped six depth charges into the wash ten seconds after U-641 had dived. No damage. (Sources: Franks/Zimmerman)

3 recorded attacks on this boat.

Men lost from U-boats

Unlike many other U-boats, which during their service lost men due to accidents and various other causes, U-641 did not suffer any casualties (we know of) until the time of her loss.

U-boat Emblems

We have 1 emblem entry for this boat. See the emblem page for this boat or view emblems individually below.


Flute Player

Media links


German U-Boat Losses During World War II

Niestle, Axel


U-Boat Operations of the Second World War - Vol 2

Wynn, Kenneth


Hitler's U-boat War, Vol II

Blair, Clay




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