▁in ▁February ▁ 1 9 4 1 . ▁ ▁Service ▁history ▁▁ 1 st ▁pat rol ▁U - 6 9 ▁depart ed ▁K iel ▁for ▁her ▁first ▁pat rol ▁on ▁ 1 0 ▁February ▁ 1 9 4 1 . ▁Her ▁route ▁took ▁her ▁across ▁the ▁North ▁Sea , ▁through ▁the ▁gap ▁between ▁the ▁Far oe ▁and ▁Sh et land ▁Islands ▁and ▁into ▁the ▁Atlantic ▁Ocean . ▁ ▁She ▁encountered ▁the ▁ ▁south west ▁of ▁the ▁Far oe ▁Islands ▁on ▁ 1 7 ▁February ▁and ▁s ank ▁her . ▁No ▁surv iv ors ▁were ▁picked ▁up , ▁even ▁though ▁the ▁crew ▁were ▁seen ▁to ▁reach ▁the ▁lif eb o ats . ▁ ▁The ▁boat ▁was ▁attacked ▁twice ▁by ▁a ▁S under land ▁flying ▁boat ▁on ▁the ▁ 2 2 nd ▁– ▁no ▁damage ▁was ▁sust ained . ▁ ▁U - 6 9 s ▁next ▁victim ▁was ▁Empire ▁B landa , ▁s unk ▁on ▁the ▁ 1 9 th . ▁ ▁Four ▁days ▁later ▁( on ▁the ▁ 2 3 rd ), ▁Mars le w ▁was ▁similarly ▁destroyed , ▁ ▁north ▁north west ▁of ▁Rock all . ▁ 1 3 ▁men ▁died , ▁there ▁were ▁ 2 3 ▁surv iv ors . ▁ ▁The ▁sub marine ▁was ▁depth ▁charged ▁for ▁three ▁hours ▁by ▁the ▁esc ort s ▁of ▁con voy ▁O B ▁ 2 8 8 ▁on ▁ 2 4 ▁February . ▁She ▁escaped ▁without ▁any ▁damage ▁and ▁dock ed ▁at ▁Lor ient ▁on ▁the ▁French ▁Atlantic ▁coast ▁on ▁ 1 ▁March . ▁▁