List of all U-boats
U-642
Type | VIIC | |||||||||||||
Ordered | 20 Jan 1941 | |||||||||||||
Laid down | 19 Nov 1941 | Blohm & Voss, Hamburg (werk 618) | ||||||||||||
Launched | 6 Aug 1942 | |||||||||||||
Commissioned | 1 Oct 1942 | Kptlt. Herbert Brünning | ||||||||||||
Commanders |
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Career 4 patrols |
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Successes | 1 ship sunk, total tonnage 2,125 GRT | |||||||||||||
Fate |
Sunk on 5 July 1944 in Missiessy Dock No. 2 at Toulon, France, in position 43.07N, 05.55E, by bombs during a US air raid (15th AF). No casualties. Wreck raised on 12 April 1945 and broken up in 1946. | |||||||||||||
Loss position |
Wolfpack operations
U-642 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)
Oder (17 May 1943 - 19 May 1943)
Mosel (19 May 1943 - 24 May 1943)
Trutz (1 Jun 1943 - 16 Jun 1943)
Trutz 1 (16 Jun 1943 - 29 Jun 1943)
Geier 3 (30 Jun 1943 - 15 Jul 1943)
Attacks on this boat and other events
9 Jul 1943
Aircraft attack, aircraft shot down: British Catalina flying boat FP155 (210 Sqn RAF/F, pilot F/L D.M. Ryan)
1340hrs, 250 miles west of Lisbon, inbound: the port side of the aircraft was hit by flak during the attack run, damaging the wing, engine and a fuel tank and wounding the bow gunner. Due to this damage, only the three depth charges on the starboard side were dropped, but did not damage U-642, which crash-dived, and thus failed to observe the burning Catalina ditch shortly afterwards. Two aircrew died in the crash and another died the next day from a heart attack. Seven survivors were rescued four days later by HMS Swale and taken to Casablanca.
(Sources: Franks/Zimmerman)1 recorded attack 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-642 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.
Crown |
Media links
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