German submarine U-641
| History | |
|---|---|
 Nazi Germany
| |
| Name: | U-641 |
| Ordered: | 20 January 1941 |
| Builder: | Blohm & Voss, Hamburg |
| Yard number: | 617 |
| Laid down: | 19 November 1942 |
| Launched: | 6 August 1942 |
| Commissioned: | 24 September 1942 |
| Fate: | Sunk 19 January 1944 in the North Atlantic in position 50°25′N 18°49′W / 50.417°N 18.817°WCoordinates: 50°25′N 18°49′W / 50.417°N 18.817°W, by depth charges from Royal Navy corvette HMS Violet. |
| General characteristics | |
| Class & type: | Type VIIC submarine |
| Displacement: |
|
| Length: |
|
| Beam: |
|
| Height: | 9.60 m (31 ft 6 in) |
| Draught: | 4.74 m (15 ft 7 in) |
| Installed power: |
|
| Propulsion: |
|
| Speed: |
|
| Range: | |
| Test depth: |
|
| Complement: | 4 officers, 40–56 enlisted |
| Armament: |
|
| Service record[1] | |
| Part of: |
|
| Commanders: | |
| Operations: |
|
| Victories: | None |
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 1942 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.
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 an 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 / 50.417°N 18.817°W; depth charged by Royal Navy corvette HMS Violet. There were no survivors.
References
- ↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-641". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 18 May 2015.
- ↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Horst Rendtel". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 18 May 2015.
- 1 2 3 4 Gröner 1991, pp. 43-46.
Bibliography
- 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. German Warships 1815–1945 2. Translated by Thomas, Keith; Magowan, Rachel (London: Conway Maritime Press). ISBN 0-85177-593-4.
- 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.
External links
- Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-641". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 18 May 2015.