Mainland Attacks – East Coast

German sub, U-215, underwater

The photograph above is the German U-boat U-215, first discovered in July 2004 off of Nova Scotia, Canada’s southern coast. This boat was credited with sinking the USS ‘Alexander Macomb.’ From 1939 until V-E Day, Canada’s Atlantic coast ports were extremely important to the resupply effort for the United Kingdom and later for the combined Allied offensive. There were frequent attacks by the German U-boats on the departing ships, especially after the United States entered the war. The submarines started battling along the east coast and the gulf from early 1942 through to the end of the shipping season of 1944. The American coast was an easy target for the enemy U-boats after Germany declared war on the U.S. Until the blackouts were enforced in May 1942, shipping vessels were silhouetted against such major towns as Atlantic City. This caused 348 ships to be sunk from February to May; with the loss of only two U-boats. Many attribute this to Admiral Ernest King who was adverse to the British recommendation of using convoys, also because the U.S. Navy did not have enough escort vessels for the job. British and Canadian warships were transferred to the American east coast. 8 April 1942, German U-boat, U-123, commanded by Lt. Commander Reinhard Hardegen, spotted the oil tanker “Oklahoma” silhouetted against a blazing shore off St. Simons Island, GA. His torpedo ran hot and true. He also later hit the “Brunswick”, sank the Esso “Baton Rouge” and one more the following morning.

Cabot Tower, Canada

There were five significant attacks on Newfoundland in 1942 alone. 3 March, U-587 fired three torpedoes; one hit Fort Amherst and two more hit the cliffs of Signal Hillbelow Cabot Tower. Later, U-boats attacked four iron ore carriers at Wabana on Bell Island. Several ships were torpedoed within sight of U.S. cities like New York and Boston. Civilians were able to watch the battles between those ships. 5 May 1945, the German U-boat U-853 attacked and sank the collier ‘Black Point’ off the coast of Newport, Rhode Island. The U.S. Navy dropped depth charges where they believed the submarine was and the following day they spotted an oil slick and debris in the area. The site has since become a popular dive site 130 feet deep off Block Island, Rhode Island. Another wreck discovered and identified as U-869 was found off New Jersey in 1997.

Gun at Fort Amhurst

In Florida, the Civil Air Patrol had a Piper Cub patrolling at a low altitude along the Palm Beach coast (as many other cities had) and on one occasion, the 55-year-old pilot swooped down for a closer look at something he felt was unusual and he was fired on – it was a German submarine. The plane received enough damage to force him to return to the airfield. This is probably the only American plane downed by enemy fire in the continental U.S. history.

The Black Point, sunk by U-853

Miami, Florida, for some reason, was not required to comply with the block-out rules and the lights could be seen for miles out to sea. The German U-boats used them to sink the freighters within sight of shore.   As air cover and convoys were introduced, the activity in the Atlantic subsided and the U-boats moved into the Gulf of Mexico.  In this body of water, the Germans concentrated on the oil tankers leaving Texas and Louisiana.  During 1942 and 1943, there were twenty known U-boats in this area which are credited with sinking 56 ships, such as the ‘Virginia,’ a 10,731 ton Turbine tanker on 12 May ’42, at the mouth of the Mississippi River by U-507.  This event caused 26 crewmen casualties and 14 survived.  Again, once defensive measures were finally introduced, ships sunk decreased and U-boats sunk increased.  The U-166 lies in 5,000 feet of water about one mile from her last victim, the SS ‘Robert E. Lee,’ sunk by depth charges from her naval escort. There were actual landings by German U-boats, but that information brings us to our next category of – spies and sabotage.  For a more complete listing  for the ships check:  http://uboat.net/allies/merchants/1635.html

An updated story sent in by Argus, finally vindicates a heroic Captain ___

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2014/12/141217-german-u-boat-u-166-gulf-mexico-archaeology-history/

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Farewell Salutes –

Gone but not forgotten

Thurman Richard Hicks – Parkesburg, W. VA. & Greenacres, FL; U.S. Army Carl Vincent Hoffman – Cincinnati, Ohio & Boynton Bch., FL.; USMC John Gutjahr – No. Bergen, NJ; U.S. Army David C. McDonald – Brooklyn, NY & Lake Worth, FL; U.S. Navy in WWII and Korean War; 20 years with FDNY Sheldon Krubiner – Lawrence, NY & Boynton Bch., FL.; U.S. Navy WWII William Anthony Wilder – Detroit, MI & Jupiter, FL.; U.S. Army corporal in Korean War Vernon Lee Kaiser – Evansville, Ill. & Inverness, Fl; Staff Sergeant, U.S. Army Ranger, Korean and Vietnam Wars Hurant “Tavy” Tavetian – Ohio, N.Y. and Fla.; U.S. Navy WWII Irving V. Gerstein – NYC, NY & Palm Beach, FL; Captain in U.S. Army Air Corps, WWII Pacific Theater #####################################################################################