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

1 Oct 1942

5 Jul 1944

Kptlt. Herbert Brünning

Career
4 patrols

1 Oct 1942	-	28 Feb 1943	5. Flottille (training)
1 Mar 1943	-	30 Nov 1943	6. Flottille (active service)
1 Dec 1943	-	5 Jul 1944	29. Flottille (active service)

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

See the 1 ships hit by U-642 - View the 4 war patrols

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.