4/6/42. The German Type IXC submarine U-505 was captured by the American Hunter-Killer Task Group 22.3 off the coast of West Africa. This was the first enemy vessel boarded at sea by the U.S. Navy since 1815. For U-505 and its crew, it was simply the last the last in a long list of misfortunes 🧵1/12 - ThreadSky

jamiemctrusty.bsky.social • 20 days ago

4/6/42. The German Type IXC submarine U-505 was captured by the American Hunter-Killer Task Group 22.3 off the coast of West Africa. This was the first enemy vessel boarded at sea by the U.S. Navy since 1815. For U-505 and its crew, it was simply the last the last in a long list of misfortunes
🧵1/12

Comments

jamiemctrusty.bsky.social•20 days ago

In July 1942, the U-Boat, under command of Korvettenkapitän Axel-Olaf Loewe, shelled and sank the sailing vessel Urious, owned by a Columbian diplomat, off the coast of South America. This unfortunate action was a factor in the country’s eventual declaration of war against Germany.
🧵2/12

jamiemctrusty.bsky.social•20 days ago

Loewe left U-505 at the end of its patrol, never to command a boat again, and Peter Zschech took charge in September 1942. This appointment was to be an inauspicious one. During his 14 months as captain, just 96 days were spent at sea and only a single ship was sunk.
🧵3/12

jamiemctrusty.bsky.social•20 days ago

On 10th November, 1942, the boat was attacked off Trinidad by a Hudson, which scored a direct hit, though it was destroyed by the blast of its own bombs and all the crew were lost. One of U-505’s crew was killed, the anti-aircraft gun was destroyed and the pressure hull was breached.
🧵4/12

jamiemctrusty.bsky.social•20 days ago

Zschech wanted to abandon the boat, but his engineering officer convinced him otherwise. Only after two weeks of emergency repairs to make the submarine watertight was U-505 able to limp back to France, the most severely damaged U-boat to do so during the war.
🧵5/12

jamiemctrusty.bsky.social•20 days ago

6 months of repairs resulted and U-505’s next patrol in July 1943 lasted 13 days before damage from a prolonged depth charge attack forced a return to Lorient. The next four trips lasted only a few days before mechanical defects, blamed on sabotage by French dockworkers, ended them prematurely
🧵6/12

jamiemctrusty.bsky.social•20 days ago

U-505 and its crew became the subject of ridicule from other U-Boat personnel and morale slumped, with Zschech himself proving increasingly unpopular. On 24th October 1943, during a depth charge attack, Zschech broke down and shot himself with his pistol, in full view of the crew.
🧵7/12

rogerhere.bsky.social•19 days ago

It wasn’t until the 505’s log book was reviewed much later that this incident was seen and forwarded to the British whose only info was a search plane that failed to return. Provided closure to a tragic event.

veronicavenatrix.bsky.social•20 days ago

Really? Not in the Civil War, Spanish-American War or First World War? I'm rather surprised.

jamiemctrusty.bsky.social•20 days ago

Surprised me too, but it was the case according to Naval History and Heritage Command 🤷‍♂️

veronicavenatrix.bsky.social•20 days ago

Honestly that is kind of mind-blowing, especially with the Civil War. You would think there'd be some Confederate ships captured at sea and the apparent fact there wasn't is just WOW.

veronicavenatrix.bsky.social•20 days ago

I suppose the qualification is *boarded* at sea, I suppose a ship could be captured/surrendered and then escorted to a port without technically being boarded at sea.
Either way... Still very surprising.

hughmurnaghan.bsky.social•20 days ago

Or captured in a port...

veronicavenatrix.bsky.social•20 days ago

I mean the capture in a port has already been discounted because that would neither be boarding at sea or capturing at sea.

courageconquers.bsky.social•19 days ago

Thanks for sharing this. I’ve visited the U-505 several times at its home in Chicago’s Museum of Science and Industry. I always marvel that sailors were able to endure months in that cramped space.

Comments

Posting Rules

Reply