German submarine U-641

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 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 769 t when at the surface and 871 t while submerged. She had a total length of 67.10 m, a pressure hull length of 50.50 m, a beam of 6.20 m, a height of 9.60 m, and a draught of 4.74 m. The submarine was powered by two Germaniawerft F46 four-stroke, six-cylinder supercharged diesel engines producing a total of 2800 to 3200 PS for use while surfaced, two BBC GG UB 720/8 double-acting electric motors producing a total of 750 PS for use while submerged. She had two shafts and two 1.23 m propellers. The boat was capable of operating at depths of up to 230 m.

The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 17.7 kn and a maximum submerged speed of 7.6 kn. When submerged, the boat could operate for 80 nmi at 4 kn; when surfaced, she could travel 8500 nmi at 10 kn. U-641 was fitted with five 53.3 cm torpedo tubes (four fitted at the bow and one at the stern), fourteen torpedoes, one 8.8 cm SK C/35 naval gun, 220 rounds, and one twin 2 cm C/30 anti-aircraft gun. The boat had a complement of between forty-four and sixty.

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 50.41667°N, -18.81667°W; depth charged by Royal Navy corvette HMS Violet (K35). There were no survivors.