|
| U-642 | Type VIIC |
| Feldpost Number | M 50 471 |
| Construction Yard | Blohm und Voß, Hamburg |
| Yard Number | 618 |
| Ordered | 20th Jan 1941 |
| Keel laid | 19th Nov 1941 |
| Launched | 6th Aug 1942 |
| Commissioned | 1st Oct 1942 |
| Baubelehrung | 8.KLA, Hamburg | | Training, Flotillas and Duties | | 10.42 - 02.43 | 5.U-Flottille, Kiel
Ausbildungsboot (under training)
|
| 03.43 - 11.43 | 6.U-Flottille, St.Nazaire
Frontboot (operational)
|
| 12.43 - 07.44 | 29.U-Flottille, Toulon
Frontboot (operational)
|
| Commanders | | 10.42 - 07.44 | KL Herbert Brünning
see also: U-137 U-3518 |
| Operations information for U-642 | 20.02.1943 - 08.04.1943
First Sailing - active patrol
U-642 left Kiel under the command of Herbert Brünning on 20th Feb 1943 and arrived at St. Nazaire on 8th Apr 1943 after more than six weeks.
On 11th Mar 1943 in square AL 26, U-642 came under attack from an unidentified aircraft. U-642 was not damaged by the attack.
At 1910 HRS on 18th Mar 1943 in square AL 47, U-642 came under attack from an aircraft of RAF 120 Squadron. U-642 was not damaged by the attack.
At 0908 HRS on 19th Mar 1943 in square AL 47, U-642 came under attack from an aircraft of RAF 120 Squadron. U-642 was not damaged by the attack.
At 0030 HRS on 20th Mar 1943 in square AL 58, U-642 came under attack from an aircraft of RAF 120 Squadron. U-642 was not damaged by the attack.
Herbert Brünning hit one ship on this patrol from convoy SC-121.-
On 8th Mar 1943 he sank the British 2,125 ton Leadgate, sailing with convoy SC-121.
| 04.05.1943 - 17.07.1943
Second Sailing - active patrol
On the 4th May 1943, U-642 left St. Nazaire under the command of Herbert Brünning and returned to St. Nazaire on 17th Jul 1943 after ten and a half weeks on patrol.
On 9th May 1943 in square BE 93, U-642 came under attack from an aircraft of RAF 10 OTU Squadron.
At 1243 HRS on 11th May 1943 in square BE 55, U-642 came under attack from an unidentified aircraft.
At 0920 HRS on 13th May 1943 in square BE 18, U-642 came under attack from an unidentified aircraft.
At 1117 HRS on 13th May 1943 in square BE 18, U-642 came under attack from an unidentified aircraft.
At 1618 HRS on 13th May 1943 in square BE 18, U-642 came under attack from an unidentified aircraft.
| 11.09.1943 - 12.09.1943
Third Sailing
U-642 departed under Herbert Brünning from St. Nazaire on 11th Sep 1943 and arrived back at St. Nazaire on 12th Sep 1943 after one day.
| 18.10.1943 - 13.11.1943
Fourth Sailing - active patrol
U-642 left St. Nazaire under the command of Herbert Brünning on 18th Oct 1943 and after more than three weeks arrived at Toulon on 13th Nov 1943.
| 22.12.1943 - 23.01.1944
Fifth Sailing - active patrol
On the 22nd Dec 1943, U-642 left Toulon under the command of Herbert Brünning and arrived back at Toulon four and a half weeks later on 23rd Jan 1944.
|
| | | We have extra information on
1 relevant ship here:
|
|
|
| | KL Herbert Brünning | | Courtesy Günter Labude |
| | U 642's Emblem | | Courtesy Günter Labude |
| | Crew Inspection | | Courtesy Günter Labude | Flotilla Chief Wilhelm Schulz (saluting) inspects the crew of U 642, as KL Brünning (white cap) looks on. Crew are, from left to right:
back row: Gerhard Schwab, Fk.Obgfr; Willi Schmidt, Masch.Obgfr;(next two men not yet identified);Reinhold Kleiner, Masch.Obgfr.
middle row: Reinhold Krause, Matr.Obgfr;Horst Dell, Masch.Obgfr;Hans Röder, Matr.Gefr;Günter Labude,Fk.Obgfr
front row: Heinz Zimmerer, Matr.Obgfr;Alfred Stärz,Matr.Gefr;Werner Staake,Matr.Gefr;Gerd Akeston, Mech.Obgfr.
|
| | U-642 departing | | Courtesy Günter Labude |
 | | U 642 after bombing | | Courtesy Günter Labude |
|
|
ubootwaffe.net