German submarine U-641

German submarine U-641 was a [German German Type VIIC submarine|Type VIIC submarine|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.

Design

German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-641 had a displacement of when at the surface and while submerged. She had a total length of, a pressure hull length of, a beam of, a height of, and a draught of. The submarine was powered by two Germaniawerft F46 four-stroke, six-cylinder supercharged diesel engines producing a total of for use while surfaced, two BBC GG UB 720/8 double-acting electric motors producing a total of for use while submerged. She had two shafts and two propellers. The boat was capable of operating at depths of up to.
The submarine had a maximum surface speed of and a maximum submerged speed of. When submerged, the boat could operate for at ; when surfaced, she could travel at. U-641 was fitted with five torpedo tubes, fourteen torpedoes, one SK C/35 naval gun, 220 rounds, and one twin C/30 anti-aircraft gun. The boat had a complement of between forty-four and sixty.

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.

U-641 took part in thirteen wolfpacks, namely:

U-641 was sunk on 19 January 1944 in the North Atlantic in position ; depth charged by Royal Navy corvette. There were no survivors.