List of all U-boats

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

14 Aug 1943	-	Feb, 1945		Oblt. (R) Karl-Wilhelm Pancke
Feb, 1945	-	5 Apr 1945		Oblt. Heinrich Riedel

Career
7 patrols

14 Aug 1943	-	31 May 1944	5. Flottille (training)
1 Jun 1944	-	5 Jul 1944	3. Flottille (active service)
6 Jul 1944	-	31 Jul 1944	5. Flottille (training)
1 Aug 1944	-	15 Feb 1945	8. Flottille (active service)
16 Feb 1945	-	23 Mar 1945	5. Flottille (training)
24 Mar 1945	-	5 Apr 1945	5. Flottille (active service)

Successes

2 ships sunk, total tonnage 2,095 GRT
1 auxiliary warship sunk, total tonnage 500 GRT

Fate

Sunk at 0715hrs on 5 April 1945 in the St. George’s Channel, in position 52.02,9N, 05.46,8W, by a mine in the British barrage QZX. 44 dead (all hands lost). (Axel Niestlé, January 1991).

Loss position

See the 3 ships hit by U-242 - View the 7 war patrols

Previously recorded fate

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). (Postwar assessment)
Notes. 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.