U-641

Type

VIIC

Ordered

20 Jan 1941

Laid down

19 Nov 1941

Blohm & Voss, Hamburg (werk 617)

Launched

6 Aug 1942

Commissioned

24 Sep 1942

Oblt. 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)

Successes

No 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.