Type VIIC Submarine

Construction yard - Blohm und Voss, Hamburg.
Keel laid - 19.11.1941
Launched - 6.8.1942

Commander - KL Herbert Brunning

FIRST SAILING - ACTIVE PATROL

20th February 1943, 1st Patrol - left Kiel under the command of KL Herbert Brunning.

8th March 1943, sank the British 2,125 ton steam freighter Leadgate, sailing with convoy SC-121, in square AK3857. The Leadgate was carrying 2,700 tons of flour, and was due to arrive in Liverpool on the 14th March 1943. The 30 crew were reported all lost.

11th March 1943, came under attack from unidentified aircraft in square AL26. No damage reported.

18th March 1943, 1910 HRS - came under attack from an aircraft of RAF Squadron 120 in square AL47. No damage reported.

19th March 1943, 0908 HRS - came under attack from an aircraft of RAF Squadron 120 in square AL47. No damage reported.

20th March 1943, 0030 HRS - came under attack from an aircraft of RAF Squadron 120 in square AL58. No damage reported.

8th April 1943, arrived at St.Nazaire after more than six weeks at sea.

Further patrols were carried out between May 1943 and January 1944, without serious recognition.

U-642 was eventually sunk by US bombs in the Mediterrainean, near Toulon, France on 5th July, 1944.

Images below show her commander, Kptlt.Herbert Brunning, the boat departing on a patrol, and the boat after the US bombing raid.

Regards,

Carl