German submarine U-342

German submarine U-342 was a Type VIIC U-boat of the Nazi German Kriegsmarine during World War II.

She was on her first patrol when she was sunk by a Canadian aircraft in April 1944.

She did not sink or damage any ships.

Service history
The submarine was laid down on 7 December 1941 at the Nordseewerke yard at Emden as 'werk' 214, launched on 10 November 1942 and commissioned on 12 January 1943 under the command of Oberleutnant Albert Hossenfelder.

U-342 served with the 8th U-boat Flotilla, for training and then with the 7th flotilla for operations from 1 March 1944.

Patrol
U-342 had sailed from Kiel in Germany to Bergen in Norway in March 1944, but her patrol began when she departed Bergen on 3 April and headed for the Atlantic Ocean. She had passed through the 'gap' between Iceland and the Faroe Islands, but was attacked and sunk by a Canadian Canso (PBY Catalina) of No. 162 Squadron RCAF southwest of Iceland on 17 April.

Fifty-one men died; there were no survivors.