German submarine U-142 (1940)

German submarine U-142 was a Type IID U-boat of the Nazi German Kriegsmarine during World War II. Her keel was laid down on 12 December 1939 by Deutsche Werke in Kiel as 'werk' 271. She was launched on 27 July 1940 and commissioned on 4 September 1940 with Leutnant Asmus Nicolai Clausen in command.

U-142 began her service life with the 1st U-boat Flotilla. She was then assigned to the 24th Flotilla and subsequently to the 22nd Flotilla where she conducted three patrols, but did not sink or damage any ships. She spent the rest of the war as a training vessel.

She was scuttled in May 1945.

1st patrol
The boat's first patrol commenced with her departure from Gotenhafen, (now Gdynia in modern-day Poland) on 21 June 1941. She arrived in Oxhöft, (a suburb of Gdynia), without incident on 18 August.

2nd patrol
Her second foray was also abortive, departing Oxhöft on 28 August 1941 and arriving in Stormelö (in southwest Finland) on 31 August.

3rd patrol
Her third sortie was equally barren, beginning in Stormelo on 28 August 1941 and ending in Gotenhafen on the 31st.

Loss
U-142 was scuttled in the Raederschleuse (lock) in Wilhelmshaven on 2 May 1945. The wreck was broken up on an unknown date.