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 (front boat)

Successes

No ships sunk or damaged

Fate

Sunk 19 Jan, 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).

View the 4 war patrols

Wolfpack operations

U-641 operated with the following Wolfpacks during its career:
   Neuland (6 Mar, 1943 - 8 Mar, 1943)
   Ostmark (8 Mar, 1943 - 11 Mar, 1943)
   Sturmer (14 Mar, 1943 - 20 Mar, 1943)
   Seewolf (25 Mar, 1943 - 30 Mar, 1943)
   Trutz (1 Jun, 1943 - 16 Jun, 1943)
   Trutz II (16 Jun, 1943 - 2 Jul, 1943)
   Geier I (2 Jul, 1943 - 15 Jul, 1943)
   Leuthen (4 Sep, 1943 - 24 Sep, 1943)

Attacks on this boat

7 Mar, 1943
The attack on 7 March, 1943 in the North Atlantic, in position 57.14N, 26.30W, by depth charges from a British Fortress aircraft (Sqdn. 220/J) was formerly credited with sinking the U-633.

This attack was actually against U-641 inflicting no damage. (Sources: 1996-12-01, FDS/NHB)

4 Jun, 1943
At 21.30 hours, the boat was attacked by an American Avenger aircraft (VC-9 USN, pilot Lt(jg) W.S. Fowler) from USS Bogue escorting the convoy GUS-7A southwest of the Azores. Its first attack was too fast and the pilot had to make another one, dropping two depth charges that missed on the starboard side. Ten minutes later a second Avenger, piloted LtCdr W.M. Drane (CO of VC-9), arrived and a coordinated attack run was made on U-641 despite of heavy AA fire. The four depth charges from the second Avenger caused some light damages as they exploded on the port quarter. The first Avenger had been hit in the engine and had to return to the carrier. When another Avenger arrived at the scene the boat evaded further attacks by crash-diving. (Sources: Franks/Zimmerman)

8 Jul, 1943
At 17.45 hours, the boat was unsuccessfully attacked by a British Catalina aircraft (210 Sqdn RAF/G, pilot F/O D.H. Clarke) west of Portugal. The aircraft dropped six depth charges into the swirl 10 seconds after U-641 crash-dived. (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.