German submarine U-641

German submarine U-641 was a Type VIIC U-boat built for Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine for service during World War II. She was laid down on 19 November 1941 by Blohm & Voss, Hamburg as yard number 617, launched on 6 August 1942 and commissioned on 24 September 1942 under Oberleutnant zur See Horst Rendtel.

History
Nazi Germany
NameU-641
Ordered20 January 1941
BuilderBlohm & Voss, Hamburg
Yard number617
Laid down19 November 1941
Launched6 August 1942
Commissioned24 September 1942
FateSunk on 19 January 1944 in the North Atlantic in position 50°25′N 18°49′W, by depth charges from Royal Navy corvette HMS Violet.
General characteristics
Class and typeType VIIC submarine
Displacement
  • 769 tonnes (757 long tons) surfaced
  • 871 t (857 long tons) submerged
Length
Beam
  • 6.20 m (20 ft 4 in) o/a
  • 4.70 m (15 ft 5 in) pressure hull
Height9.60 m (31 ft 6 in)
Draught4.74 m (15 ft 7 in)
Installed power
  • 2,800–3,200 PS (2,100–2,400 kW; 2,800–3,200 bhp) (diesels)
  • 750 PS (550 kW; 740 shp) (electric)
Propulsion
Speed
  • 17.7 knots (32.8 km/h; 20.4 mph) surfaced
  • 7.6 knots (14.1 km/h; 8.7 mph) submerged
Range
  • 8,500 nmi (15,700 km; 9,800 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) surfaced
  • 80 nmi (150 km; 92 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph) submerged
Test depth
  • 230 m (750 ft)
  • Crush depth: 250–295 m (820–968 ft)
Complement4 officers, 40–56 enlisted
Armament
Service record[1]
Part of:
Commanders:
Operations:
  • 4 patrols:
  • 1st patrol:
  • 20 February – 12 April 1943
  • 2nd patrol:
  • 9 May – 16 July 1943
  • 3rd patrol:
  • a. 31 August – 1 September 1943
  • b. 4 September – 18 October 1943
  • 4th patrol:
  • 11 December 1943 – 19 January 1944
Victories: None

Design

German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-641 had a displacement of 769 tonnes (757 long tons) when at the surface and 871 tonnes (857 long tons) while submerged.[3] She had a total length of 67.10 m (220 ft 2 in), a pressure hull length of 50.50 m (165 ft 8 in), a beam of 6.20 m (20 ft 4 in), a height of 9.60 m (31 ft 6 in), and a draught of 4.74 m (15 ft 7 in). The submarine was powered by two Germaniawerft F46 four-stroke, six-cylinder supercharged diesel engines producing a total of 2,800 to 3,200 metric horsepower (2,060 to 2,350 kW; 2,760 to 3,160 shp) for use while surfaced, two BBC GG UB 720/8 double-acting electric motors producing a total of 750 metric horsepower (550 kW; 740 shp) for use while submerged. She had two shafts and two 1.23 m (4 ft) propellers. The boat was capable of operating at depths of up to 230 metres (750 ft).[3]

The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 17.7 knots (32.8 km/h; 20.4 mph) and a maximum submerged speed of 7.6 knots (14.1 km/h; 8.7 mph).[3] When submerged, the boat could operate for 80 nautical miles (150 km; 92 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph); when surfaced, she could travel 8,500 nautical miles (15,700 km; 9,800 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph). U-641 was fitted with five 53.3 cm (21 in) torpedo tubes (four fitted at the bow and one at the stern), fourteen torpedoes, one 8.8 cm (3.46 in) SK C/35 naval gun, 220 rounds, and one twin 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 anti-aircraft gun. The boat had a complement of between forty-four and sixty.[3]

Service history

The boat's short service career began on 24 September 1942 for training with 5th U-boat Flotilla, followed by active service on 1 March 1943 as part of the 7th U-boat Flotilla. It ended ten months later when she was sunk in the North Atlantic.

In four patrols she sank no ships.

Wolfpacks

U-641 took part in thirteen wolfpacks, namely:

  • Neuland (4 – 6 March 1943)
  • Ostmark (6 – 11 March 1943)
  • Stürmer (11 – 20 March 1943)
  • Seewolf (21 – 30 March 1943)
  • Mosel (19 – 24 May 1943)
  • Trutz (1 – 16 June 1943)
  • Trutz 2 (16 – 29 June 1943)
  • Geier 1 (30 June – 14 July 1943)
  • Leuthen (15 – 24 September 1943)
  • Rossbach (24 September – 9 October 1943)
  • Borkum (18 December 1943 – 3 January 1944)
  • Borkum 2 (3 – 13 January 1944)
  • Rügen (13 – 19 January 1944)

Fate

U-641 was sunk on 19 January 1944 in the North Atlantic in position 50°25′N 18°49′W; depth charged by Royal Navy corvette HMS Violet. There were no survivors.

References
  1. Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-641". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 18 May 2015.
  2. Helgason, Guðmundur. "Horst Rendtel". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 18 May 2015.
  3. Gröner 1991, pp. 43–46.

Bibliography
  • Busch, Rainer; Röll, Hans-Joachim (1999). German U-boat commanders of World War II : a biographical dictionary. Translated by Brooks, Geoffrey. London, Annapolis, Md: Greenhill Books, Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-55750-186-6.
  • Edwards, Bernard (1996). Dönitz and the Wolf Packs - The U-boats at War. pp. 137, 138, 167–169. ISBN 0-304-35203-9.
  • Gröner, Erich; Jung, Dieter; Maass, Martin (1991). U-boats and Mine Warfare Vessels. ISBN 0-85177-593-4. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
  • Kemp, Paul (1997). U-Boats Destroyed – German Submarine Losses in the World Wars. Arms and Armour Press. ISBN 1-85409-321-5.
  • Sharpe, Peter (1998). U-Boat Fact File. Great Britain: Midland Publishing. ISBN 1-85780-072-9.

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