Overview
1
Allied war vessel was sunk by a U-boat.2
Allied war vessels were sunk by accidents.
2
U-boats were sunk by Allied warships.46
Allied and neutral merchant ships were sunk by U-boats or mines totaling 195,257 tons.1
Allied merchant ship was sunk by
the German pocket battleship SMS Graf Spee totaling 5,051 tons.2
Allied merchant ships were damaged by U-boats totaling 16,916 tons.4
neutral merchant ships were captured by U-boats and released.2
German merchant ships were sunk by Allied forces totaling 11,170 tons.
Naval Action in the Atlantic OceanThe
submarine HMS Triton (N 15), commanded by Lt. Commander Hugh P. De C.
Steele, mistakenly torpedoed and sank the submarine HMS Oxley (55 P),
commanded by Lt. Commander Harold G. Bowerman, about 28 miles
south-southwest of Stavanger, Norway. The HMS Triton picked up two
survivors.The
French minelaying cruiser Pluton sank from an accidental explosion while
landing the mines at Casablanca, French Morocco. 186 of the Pluton’s
crew were killed and 73 crewmen and 47 others were injured and
significant damage was caused by flying debris.While
on anti-submarine patrol the aircraft carrier HMS Courageous (50) was
torpedoed and sunk by the U-29, commanded by Kapitänleutnant Otto
Schuhart, about 350 miles west of Lands End, England in the eastern
Atlantic Ocean. Of the ship’s complement, 518 died and 741 survived. For
more information on these vessels visit the
HMS Courageous
and the U-29 pages on the
www.naval-history.net and
www.uboat.net. The HMS Courageous was the
first capital ship lost by any of the combatants. "A wonderful success,"
the German U-boat High Command War Diary exulted, "and confirmation of
the fact that the English defense forces are not as effective as they
advertise themselves to be." After this loss and the
unsuccessful attack by the U-39 on the HMS Ark Royal (91) three days
earlier, aircraft carriers were withdrawn from anti-submarine patrols.
U-Boat LossesThe
U-39, commanded by Kapitänleutnant Gerhard Glattes, attempted to sink the
aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal (91) by firing two torpedoes at her. The
torpedoes malfunctioned and exploded just short of the carrier. The U-39
was immediately hunted down by three British destroyers, HMS Faulknor (H
62), HMS Firedrake (H 79), and HMS Foxhound
(H
69), which were in the vicinity of the HMS Ark Royal, disabled with
depth charges, and subsequently sunk. HMS Foxhound, which was the
closest to U-39, picked up 25 crew members while HMS Faulknor rescued 11
and HMS Firedrake saved the remaining eight crew members.
After the crew of U-39 was taken prisoner they
were taken ashore to Scotland
During its career under Kapitänleutnant Glattes the U-39 sank or damaged
no ships.The
U-27, commanded by Johannes Franz, was sunk west of Scotland by depth
charges from the destroyers HMS Fortune (H 70) and HMS Forester (H 74).
During its career under commander Franz the
U-27 sank 2 merchant ships for a total of 624 tons.
Attacks on Allied and Neutral Merchant ShipsThe
British steam passenger ship Athenia was torpedoed and sunk by the U-30,
commanded by Oberleutnant zur See Fritz-Julius Lemp, about 250 miles
west of Ireland. Of the ship’s complement and passengers, 112 died and
1,306 survivors were picked up by the Norwegian motor merchant Knute
Nelson, the Swedish motor yacht Southern Cross, and the destroyers HMS
Electra (H 27) and HMS Escort (H 66). The 13,581 ton Athenia was
carrying general cargo and 1,103 passengers and was
bound
for Montreal,
Canada. For more information on these vessels visit the
Athenia and
the U-30 pages on
www.uboat.net. The Athenia was the first ship
sunk by a U-boat in the World War II and Germany initially denied
responsibility, claiming that Great Britain planted a bomb to bring the
United States into the war.The
unescorted British steam merchant Bosnia was stopped by gunfire and
after the crew abandoned ship was torpedoed and sunk by the U-47,
commanded by Kapitänleutnant Günther Prien, about 120 miles
north-northwest of Cape Ortegal, Spain in the eastern Atlantic Ocean. Of
the ship’s complement, 1 died and 32 survivors were picked up by the
Norwegian motor tanker Eidanger. The 2,407 ton Bosnia was carrying
sulphur and was
bound
for Manchester, England.The
unescorted British steam merchant Royal Sceptre was sunk by gunfire by
the U-48, commanded by Kapitänleutnant Herbert Schultze, about 300 miles
northwest of Cape Finisterre off the west coast Spain in the eastern
Atlantic Ocean. Of the ship’s complement, 1 died and 32 survivors were
picked up by the British steam merchant Browning. The 4,853 ton Royal
Sceptre was carrying wheat and maize and was
bound
for Belfast,
Ireland.The
unescorted British steam merchant Manaar was stopped by gunfire and
after the crew abandoned ship was torpedoed and sunk by the U-38,
commanded by Kapitänleutnant Heinrich Liebe, approximately 70 miles southwest of
Cape da Roca, Portugal in the eastern Atlantic Ocean. Of the ship’s
complement, 7 died and 63 survivors were picked up by the Dutch merchant
Mars, the Portuguese merchant Carvalho Araujo, and the Italian merchant
Castelbianco. The 7,242 ton Manaar was carrying general cargo, including
agricultural and government stores and was
bound
for Rangoon, Burma.The
unescorted and unarmed British steam merchant Rio Claro was stopped by
gunfire and after the crew abandoned ship was torpedoed and sunk by the
U-47, commanded by Kapitänleutnant Günther Prien, northwest of Cape
Ortegal, Spain in the eastern Atlantic Ocean. Of the ship’s complement,
all 41 survived and were picked up by the Dutch steam merchant Stad
Maastricht. The 4,086 ton Rio Claro was carrying coal and was
bound
for
Montevideo, Uruguay.The
British steam merchant Olivegrove was torpedoed and sunk by the U-33,
commanded by Kapitänleutnant Hans-Wilhelm von Dresky, about 420 miles
west-southwest of Lands End, England in the eastern Atlantic Ocean. Upon
receiving the Olivegrove's distress signal, the U.S. passenger liner
Washington, en route to the British Isles to evacuate American citizens
from the European war zone, altered course and increased speed to reach
the scene. Meanwhile the Germans treated the British survivors
courteously, and aided in their rescue by having distress rockets fired
to guide the Washington to the two lifeboats containing the 33 man crew,
which she picked up without loss. The 4,060 ton Olivegrove was
carrying sugar and was
bound
for London, England.The
unescorted British steam merchant Pukkastan was stopped by gunfire and
after the crew abandoned ship was torpedoed and sunk by the U-34,
commanded by Kapitänleutnant Wilhelm Rollmann, southwest of the Isles of
Scilly in the eastern Atlantic Ocean. Of the ship’s complement, all 35
survived and were picked up by the Dutch steam merchant Bilderdijk. The
6,856 ton Pukkastan was carrying maize and mutton and was
bound
for
Rotterdam, The Netherlands.The
unescorted British steam merchant Gartavon was sunk by gunfire by the
U-47, commanded by Kapitänleutnant Günther Prien, 260 miles
west-northwest of Cape Finisterre off the west coast Spain in the
eastern Atlantic Ocean. Of the ship’s complement, all 25 survived and
were picked up by the Swedish motor tanker Castor. The 1,777 ton
Gartavon was carrying iron ore and general cargo, including asphalt and
was
bound
for Clyde, United Kingdom.The
unescorted British motor merchant Regent Tiger was stopped by gunfire
and after the crew abandoned ship was torpedoed and sunk by the U-29,
commanded by Kapitänleutnant Otto Schuhart, about 250 miles
west-southwest of Cape Clear, Ireland in the eastern Atlantic Ocean. Of
the ship’s complement, all 44 survived and were picked up by the Belgian
steam merchant Jean Jadot. The 10,176 ton Regent Tiger was carrying
motor fuel and diesel oil and was
bound
for Avonmouth, England.The
unescorted British steam tanker Kennebec was stopped by gunfire and
after the crew abandoned ship was torpedoed and sunk by the U-34,
commanded by Kapitänleutnant Wilhelm Rollmann, about 70 miles west by
south of the Scilly Isles in the eastern Atlantic Ocean. Of the ship’s
complement, all 22 survived and were picked up by the Dutch steam
merchant Breedijk. The 5,548 ton Kennebec was carrying fuel oil and was
bound
for Avonmouth, England.The
unescorted British steam merchant Winkleigh was torpedoed and sunk by
the U-48, commanded by Kapitänleutnant Herbert Schultze, southwest of
Ireland in the eastern Atlantic Ocean. Of the ship’s complement, all 37
survived and were picked up by the Dutch liner Statendam. The 5,055 ton
Winkleigh was carrying grain and lumber and was
bound
for Manchester,
England.The
British steam merchant Magdapur struck a mine and sank off Orford Ness
in the North Sea. Of the ship’s complement, 6 died and 75 survived. The
8,641 ton Magdapur was carrying ballast and was
bound
for Southampton,
England.The
British steam merchant Goodwood struck a mine and sank southeast of
Flamborough Head in the North Sea. Of the ship’s complement, 1 died and
23 survivors were picked up by a fishing boat. The 2,796 ton Goodwood
was carrying coal and was
bound
for Bayonne, France.The
unescorted and unarmed British steam merchant Blairlogie was stopped by
gunfire and after the crew abandoned ship was torpedoed and sunk by the
U-30, commanded by Oberleutnant zur See Fritz-Julius Lemp, about 200
miles west of Ireland in the eastern Atlantic Ocean. Of the ship’s
complement, all 30 survived and were picked up by the steam passenger
ship American Shipper. The 4,425 ton Blairlogie was carrying scrap iron
and steel and was
bound
for Lands End, England.The
unescorted British motor tanker Inverliffey was stopped by gunfire and
after the crew abandoned ship was torpedoed and sunk by the U-38,
commanded by Kapitänleutnant Heinrich Liebe, southwest of the Scilly
Isles in the eastern Atlantic Ocean. Of the ship’s complement, all 49
survived and were picked up by the American steam merchant City of
Joliet. The 9,456 ton Inverliffey was carrying gasoline and was
bound
for Coryton, England.The
unescorted British steam merchant Firby was stopped by gunfire and after
the crew abandoned ship was torpedoed and sunk by the U-48, commanded by
Kapitänleutnant Herbert Schultze, about 270 miles west of the Hebrides
in the northern Atlantic Ocean. Of the ship’s complement, all 34
survived and were picked up by the destroyer HMS Fearless (H 67). The
4,869 ton Firby was carrying Ballast and was
bound
for Port Churchill,
Hudson Bay.The
291 ton British steam trawler Davara was sunk by gunfire by the U-27,
commanded by Johannes Franz, northwest of Ireland in the eastern
Atlantic Ocean. Of the ship’s complement, all 12 survived and were
picked up by the 11 crew members were picked up after five hours by the
British steam merchant Willowpool.The
798 ton British steam tug Neptunia was sunk by gunfire by the U-29,
commanded by Kapitänleutnant Otto Schuhart, southwest of Ireland in the
eastern Atlantic Ocean. Of the ship’s complement, all 21 survived.The
unescorted British motor merchant Vancouver City was torpedoed and sunk
by the U-28, commanded by Oberleutnant zur See Günter Kuhnke, south of
Ireland in the eastern Atlantic Ocean. Of the ship’s complement, 3 died
and 30 survivors were picked up by the Dutch motor tanker Mamura. The
4,955 ton Vancouver City was carrying sugar and was
bound
for the
United Kingdom.The
unescorted British motor tanker British Influence was stopped by gunfire
and after the crew abandoned ship was torpedoed and sunk by the U-29,
commanded by Kapitänleutnant Otto Schuhart, 180 miles southwest of Cape
Clear, Ireland in the eastern Atlantic Ocean. Of the ship’s complement,
all 42 survived and were picked up by the Norwegian motor merchant Ida
Bakke. The 8,431 ton British Influence was carrying diesel and fuel oil
and was
bound
for Hull, England.The
unescorted British steam merchant Fanad Head was stopped by gunfire and
after the crew abandoned ship was scuttled by the U-30, commanded by
Oberleutnant zur See Fritz-Julius Lemp, about 280 miles west-northwest
of Ireland in the eastern Atlantic Ocean. Of the ship’s complement, all
42 survived. The 5,200 ton Fanad Head was carrying general cargo and
grain and was
bound
for Belfast, Ireland.The
British motor merchant Hawarden Castle struck a mine and sank in the
English Channel. All of the ship’s complement died. The 210 ton Hawarden
Castle was carrying Cement and bricks and was
bound
for London,
England.The
unescorted British motor tanker Cheyenne was stopped by gunfire and
after the crew abandoned ship was torpedoed and sunk by the U-53,
commanded by Ernst-Günter Heinicke, about 150 miles west-southwest of
Fastnet, Ireland in the eastern Atlantic Ocean. Of the ship’s
complement, 6 died and 37 survivors were picked up by the Norwegian
motor merchant Ida Bakke. The 8,825 ton Cheyenne was carrying benzine
and was
bound
for Swansea, England.The
unescorted British steam merchant Truro was stopped by gunfire and after
the crew abandoned ship was torpedoed and sunk by the U-36, commanded by
Kapitänleutnant Wilhelm Fröhlich, about 150 miles east of Kinnaird Head,
Scotland in the North Sea. Of the ship’s complement, all 20 survived and
were picked up by the Belgian trawlers Nautilus and Edwaard Van
Flaaneren. The 974 ton Truro was carrying coal, coke, general cargo,
nickel, and copper and was
bound
for Trondheim, Norway.The
Belgian motor merchant Alex van Opstal struck a mine and sank in the
English Channel. Of the ship’s complement and passengers, all 57
survived and were picked up by the Greek steam merchant Atlanticos. The
5,965 ton Alex van Opstal was carrying general cargo and was
bound
for
Antwerp, Belgium.The
British steam merchant Aviemore was torpedoed and sunk by the U-31,
commanded by Kapitänleutnant Johannes Habekost, about 220 miles
southwest of Cape Clear, Ireland in the eastern Atlantic Ocean. Of the
ship’s complement, 23 died and 11 survivors were picked up by the
destroyer HMS Warwick (D 25). The 4,060 ton Aviemore was carrying
tinplate and black sheets and was
bound
for Buenos Aires, Argentina. Although the Aviemore was
not part of Convoy OB-4, she was crossing ahead of the convoy, she was
the first ship sunk by a U-boat during an attack on a convoy in the
World War II.The
unescorted British steam merchant Arkleside was stopped by gunfire and
after the crew abandoned ship was torpedoed and sunk by the U-33,
commanded by Kapitänleutnant Hans-Wilhelm von Dresky, about 150 miles
southwest of Lands End, England in the eastern Atlantic Ocean. The 1,567
ton Arkleside was carrying coal and coke and was
bound
for Gibraltar.The
333 ton British steam fishing trawler Rudyard Kipling was stopped and
scuttled by the U-27, commanded by (Johannes Franz, about 100 miles west
of Donegal, Ireland in the eastern Atlantic Ocean. Of the ship’s
complement, all 13 survived and reached land by lifeboat.The
Finnish steam merchant Vega was stopped by the U-41, commanded by
Oberleutnant zur See Gustav-Adolf Mugler, in the North Sea and a prize
crew placed on board to bring the steamer to Wilhelmshaven. Later that
day the Finnish steam merchant Suomen Poika was also stopped by the U-41
and ordered the master to follow the other Finnish ship to Germany
because the vessels were carrying contraband to Britain. Both ships
arrived in Cuxhaven/Steubenhöft on September 18. The 974 ton Vega was
carrying general cargo, including cellulose, timber, plywood and paper
and was bound for Hull, England. The 1,099 ton Vega was carrying general
cargo and cellulose and was bound for Hull, England.
On October 4, the Vega was released after
unloading the cargo and on October 6, the Suomen Poika was released
after parts of her cargo were unloaded.The
British steam passenger ship City of Paris was damaged by a mine laid by
the U-13 3.5 miles east-northeast of Aldeburgh, England in the North
Sea. One crew member was lost. The disabled ship was towed to Tilbury by
the British tugs Contest and Atlantic Cock. The City of Paris was
repaired for a month and returned to service.The
unescorted British steam merchant Kafiristan was torpedoed and sunk by
the U-53, commanded by Ernst-Günter Heinicke, Ernst-Günter Heinicke,
about 350 miles west of Cape Clear, Ireland in the eastern Atlantic
Ocean. Of the ship’s complement, 6 died and 29 survivors were picked up
by the American merchant American Farmer. The 5,193 ton Kafiristan was
carrying sugar and was
bound
for Liverpool, England.The
unescorted British steam merchant Kensington Court was stopped by
gunfire and after the crew abandoned ship was torpedoed and sunk by the
U-32, commanded by Kapitänleutnant Paul Büchel, about 120 miles west of
Lands End, England in the eastern Atlantic Ocean. Of the ship’s
complement, all 35 survived and were picked up by two Sunderland flying
boats. The 4,863 ton Kensington Court was carrying cereals and was
bound
for Birkenhead, England.The
326 ton British steam fishing trawler Arlita was sunk by gunfire by the
U-35, commanded by Kapitänleutnant Werner Lott, west-northwest of
Ireland. Of the ship’s complement, all 11 survived and were picked up by
the British steam fishing trawler Nancy Hague.
The
295 ton British steam fishing trawler Lord Minto was sunk by gunfire by
the U-35
west-northwest of Ireland. Of the ship’s complement, all 13 survived and were picked up by
the British steam fishing trawler Nancy Hague.The
U-35, commanded by Kapitänleutnant Werner Lott, fired three torpedoes at
convoy OA-7 southwest of the Isles of Scilly, missed a destroyer and a
tanker and damaged the British steam tanker Teakwood. The damaged ship was
taken to Falmouth, escorted by the destroyer HMS Ardent (H 41) which
also took wounded sailors aboard for treatment. Shortly thereafter the
destroyer was relieved by the destroyer HMS Vesper (D 55) and returned
to the convoy.The
Finnish steam merchant Martti-Ragnar was stopped by gunfire and after
the crew abandoned ship was scuttled by the U-4, commanded by
Oberleutnant zur See Harro von Klot-Heydenfeldt, about 5 miles south of
Arendal, Norway in the North Sea. Of the ship’s complement, all 24
survived and were picked up by two fishing boats. The 2,262 ton
Martti-Ragnar was carrying cellulose, pulp and sulphur and was
bound
for Ellesmere Port, England.The
unescorted British steam merchant Akenside was stopped by gunfire and
after the crew abandoned ship was torpedoed and sunk by the U-7,
commanded by Werner Heidel, near Marsten Island off the coast of Norway
in the North Sea. Of the ship’s complement, all 26 survived and were
picked up by the Norwegian torpedo boat Storm and the Marsten pilot
boat. The 2,694 ton Akenside was carrying coal and was
bound
for
Bergen, Norway.The
neutral Finnish steam merchant Walma was stopped in the Skagerrak off
the southern coast of Norway by the U-4, commanded by Oberleutnant zur
See Harro von Klot-Heydenfeldt, and examined by a boarding party, which
placed scuttling charges after it became clear that she was carrying
cargo for England. Of the ship’s complement, all 18 survived and were
picked up by the Swedish fishing vessel Zephyr. The 1,361 ton Walma was
carrying cellulose and was
bound
for Ellesmere, England.The
unescorted British steam merchant Hazelside was torpedoed and sunk by
the U-31, commanded by Kapitänleutnant Johannes Habekost, southeast of
Fastnet, Ireland in the eastern Atlantic Ocean. Of the ship’s
complement, 12 died and 22 survivors reached land by lifeboat. The 4,646
ton Hazelside was carrying timber, pulp, and wheat and was
bound
for
Liverpool, England.The
neutral Swedish steam merchant Gertrud Bratt was stopped by gunfire and
after the crew abandoned ship was torpedoed and sunk by the U-4,
commanded by Oberleutnant zur See Harro von Klot-Heydenfeldt, in the
Skagerrak12 miles southeast of Jomfruland, Norway. Of the ship’s
complement, all 20 survived. The 1,510 ton Gertrud Bratt was carrying
wood pulp, paper, piece goods, and cellulose and was
bound
for Bristol,
England.The
287 ton British steam fishing trawler Caldew was stopped and after the
crew abandoned ship was sunk by gunfire by the U-33, commanded by
Kapitänleutnant Hans-Wilhelm von Dresky, north of Scotland in the North
Sea. Of the ship’s complement, all 11 survived and were picked up by the
Swedish motor merchant Kronprinsessan Margareta, which was captured a
few days later by the German destroyer Friedrich Ihn and the torpedo
boat Iltis. The British sailors were taken prisoner and interned in the
German POW Camp Stalag XB.The
Estonian steam merchant Hanonia was stopped by the U-34, commanded by
Kapitänleutnant Wilhelm Rollmann, off Norway in the North Sea and
brought to Kiel-Friedrichsort and later to Hamburg by a prize crew,
because the cargo of the ship had been bound for an English port. The
1,781 ton Hanonia was carrying timber and was bound for Grimsby,
England.The
Swedish steam merchant Silesia was stopped by gunfire and after the crew
abandoned ship was torpedoed and sunk by the U-36, commanded by
Kapitänleutnant Wilhelm Fröhlich, 45 miles west-northwest of Egerö
Lighthouse, Norway. Of the ship’s complement, all 19 survived and were
picked up by the Swedish motor merchant Suecia. The 1,839 ton Silesia
was carrying wood and general cargo, including steel and iron pipes and
was
bound
for Hull, England.The
Swedish steam merchant Algeria was stopped by by the U-36, commanded by
Kapitänleutnant Wilhelm Fröhlich, 20 miles west of Skudesnaes and was
sent to Kiel as a prize, arriving on October 4. Three days later the
ship and its cargo were released by the Germans.The
Swedish steam merchant Nyland was stopped by gunfire and after the crew
abandoned ship was torpedoed and sunk by the U-16, commanded by Hannes
Weingärtner, about 45 miles northwest of Stavanger, Norway in the North
Sea. Of the ship’s complement, all survived and were picked up by the
Norwegian minelayer Olav Tryggvason. The 3,378 ton Nyland was carrying
iron ore and was
bound
for Ramsgate, England.The
Norwegian steam merchant Jern was stopped by gunfire and after the crew
abandoned ship was torpedoed and sunk by the U-32, commanded by
Kapitänleutnant Paul Büchel, 65 miles west of Norway. Of the ship’s
complement, all 14 survived and were picked up by the Swedish steam
merchant Caledonia. The 875 ton Jern was carrying wood pulp and was
bound
for Northfleet, England.The
neutral Norwegian steam merchant Takstaas was stopped by gunfire and
after the crew abandoned ship was torpedoed and damaged beyond repair by
the U-7, commanded by Werner Heidel, off the coast of Norway near
Bergen. Of the ship’s complement, all survived and their lifeboats were
taken in tow by the Norwegian torpedo boat Storm. The 1,830 ton Takstaas
was carrying lumber and was
bound
for London, England.The
British steam merchant Clement was stopped by gunfire and after the crew
abandoned ship was sunk by gunfire by the German pocket battleship SMS Graf Spee’s 6 and 11 inch guns. The
5.051 ton Clement was carrying kerosene and was
bound
for Salvador, Brazil. The Graf Spee, in
the Atlantic prior to the invasion of Poland, was ordered on September
26, 1939 to attack British merchant vessels and the Clement was its
first victim.The
Swedish steam merchant Gun was stopped by gunfire and after the crew
abandoned ship was torpedoed and sunk by the U-3, commanded by
Kapitänleutnant Joachim Schepke, approximately 30 miles northwest of Hanstholm,
Denmark. Of the ship’s complement, all 18 survived and were picked up by
the Danish steam merchant Dagmar. The 1,198 ton Gun was carrying general
cargo, including ammunition and was
bound
for Antwerp, Belgium.The
unescorted, unarmed and neutral Vendia steam merchant Vendia was stopped
by gunfire and after the crew abandoned ship was torpedoed and sunk by
the U-3
approximately 30 miles northwest of Hanstholm, Denmark. Of the ship’s complement, 11 died and 6
survivors were picked up by the Danish steam merchant Svava. The 1,150
ton Vendia was carrying ballast and was
bound
for Clyde, United
Kingdom.
Axis Merchant Shipping LossesThe
light cruiser HMS Ajax, under command of Captain Charles H. L.
Woodhouse, intercepted the 4,576 ton German merchant Olinda outward
bound from Montevideo, Uruguay off the River Plate. Not having a prize
crew available to seize the Olinda, HMS Ajax shelled and sank the
vessel.The
British light cruiser HMS Ajax intercepted the 6,594 ton German freighter Carl Fritzen 200 miles east-southeast of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil and sank
the merchantman with gunfire.
Other Battle of the Atlantic EventsThe
Office of Chief of Naval Operations sent dispatches to commanders in
chief of the U.S. and Asiatic Fleets, and commanders of the Atlantic
Squadron, Special Service Squadron, and Squadron 40-T: “Reliably
informed [that] German submarines are set to operate on Atlantic Trade
routes and that a dozen German merchant vessels will operate as armed
raiders [and that] neutral merchantmen mat expect Great Britain may
institute similar practices as in last war.” Additional addressees to
this warning included the three new warships on shakedown cruises: the
light cruiser USS St. Louis (CL 49) at Punta Delgada, Azores, the
destroyer USS Anderson (DD 411) at Montreal, Canada, and the submarine
USS Spearfish (SS 190) en route from New York City to Bahia, Brazil.The
U.S. Hydrographic Office began issuing warnings by dispatch and
bulletin, special warnings of restrictions and dangers to navigation
incident to the outbreak of hostilities between Germany and Poland.
Special Warning No. 1 was that the German government had announced that
the Danzig Bay area was a danger area due to military operations taking
place there.The
German armored cruiser SMS Admiral Graf Spee, which had left
Wilhelmshaven, Germany on August 24 for the South Atlantic, made a
rendezvous with the tanker Altmark southwest of the Canary Islands.The
British Home Fleet deployed aircraft carriers to seek out and destroy
German submarines. The HMS Ark Royal (91) was deployed off the
northwestern approaches to the British Isles. The HMS Courageous (50)
and HMS Hermes (95) were deployed off the southwestern approaches.The
U.S. freighter Saccarappa, with a cargo of phosphates and cotton, was
seized by British authorities and its cargo confiscated.
British patrols would stop 108 merchantmen over
the next three weeks, ordering 28 into ports to have their cargoes
inspected, confiscated, or to remove German nationals. This procedure
would continue through 1939 until a procedure to certify cargos before
departure was instituted.The
British passenger liner Athenia sank as the result of damage sustained
the previous day when torpedoed by the U-30. After the sinking of
Athenia was confirmed through radio intelligence and news broadcasts,
the German Naval War Staff radioed all U-boats at sea that the German
Chancellor Adolf Hitler had ordered that no hostile action be taken "for
the present" against passenger ships, even if they are travelling in
convoy.The
Office of the Chief of Naval Operations ordered the Commander Atlantic
Squadron to establish, as soon as possible, a combined air and ship
patrol to observe and report, in cipher, the movements of warships of
warring nations, east from Boston along a line to 42°30'N, 65°00'W then
south to 19°N then around the seaward outline of the Windward and
Leeward Islands, to the British island of Trinidad in the Caribbean Sea.Captain Alan G. Kirk, U.S. Naval Attaché, and Commander Norman R.
Hitchcock, Assistant U.S. Naval Attaché and Assistant U.S. Naval Attaché
for Air, were flown to Galway, Ireland, where they interviewed the
British steam passenger ship Athenia's surviving officers and men.
The Athenia was torpedoed on September 3 by the
U-30 and sank the next day. The attaché's investigation concluded that
Athenia was torpedoed by a submarine.The
Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral Harold R. Stark,
ordered the Commander Atlantic Squadron, Rear Admiral Alfred W. Johnson,
to maintain an offshore patrol to report "in confidential system" the
movements of all foreign men-of-war approaching or leaving the east
coast of the United States and approaching and entering or leaving the
Caribbean. U.S. Navy ships were to avoid making a report of foreign
men-of-war or suspicious craft, however, on making contact or when in
their vicinity to avoid the performance of unneutral service "or
creating the impression that an unneutral service is being performed."
The patrol was to extend about 300 miles off the eastern coastline of
the United States and along the eastern boundary of the Caribbean.
Furthermore, U.S. naval vessels were to report the presence of foreign
warships sighted at sea to the district commandant concerned.The
destroyers USS Davis (DD 395) and USS Benham (DD-397) were designated as
the Grand Banks Patrol. They were to render rescue and other neutral
assistance in emergencies and to observe and report ("in confidential
system") movements of all foreign warships. They were to patrol across
existing steamer lanes to the southward of the Grand Banks and to
approximately 50° Maritime Commission. The two
destroyers would be replaced by two 327-foot Coast Guard cutters.Hydrographic Office Special Warning No. 9 directed that all U.S.
merchant ships en route to or from Europe were not to steer a zig zag
course, were not to black out at night, and were to paint the U.S. flag
on each side of the hull, on hatches fore and aft, and on sun decks of
passenger vessels, and to illuminate the colors flying from the
flagstaff at night.The
U.S. freighter Black Osprey, bound for Rotterdam, Holland, and Antwerp,
Belgium, was stopped by British warship off Lizard Head, England and was
ordered into the port of Weymouth, one of the five "contraband control
bases." The other "contraband control bases"
that would be established by the British were Ramsgate, Kirkwall,
Gibraltar and Haifa.The
Philippine motorship Don Isidro, on her maiden voyage en route from her
builders' yard at Kiel, Germany, to Manila, Philippine Islands, cleared
the Suez Canal. The U.S. government immediately protested that British
authorities removed at Port Said two German engineers (on board "to
guarantee construction and demonstrate proper manning" of the new
vessel) from the Don Isidro which was under the American flag.
The U.S. claimed this act was illegal and a
violation of the neutral rights of the United States.British
Northern Patrol (7th and 12th Cruiser Squadrons) commenced operation
between Shetland and Faeroe Islands, and Iceland. The light cruisers HMS
Caledon (D 53), HMS Calypso (D 61), HMS Diomede (D 92), HMS Dragon (D
46), HMS Effingham (D 98), HMS Emerald (D 66), HMS Cardiff
(D 58), and HMS Dunedin
(D 93) were the ships that
undertook this work. The patrol stopped 108
merchantmen over the next three weeks, ordering 28 into the port of
Kirkwall to have their cargos inspected.Commander
Atlantic Squadron (Rear Admiral Alfred W. Johnson) began to establish
the offshore Neutrality Patrol. The seaplane tenders USS Gannet (AVP 8)
and USS Thrush (AVP 3) set sail for San Juan, Puerto Rico, to establish
a seaplane base there.Rear
Admiral Charles E. Courtney relieved Rear Admiral Henry E. Lackey as
Commander Squadron 40-T, on board the light cruiser USS Trenton (CL 11),
the squadron flagship, at Villefranche-sur-Mer, France.
Squadron 40-T had been formed in 1936 to
protect American lives and property during the Spanish Civil War. ;
Squadron 40-T’s ships operate directly under the control of the Chief of
Naval Operations.Cruiser
Division 7, under command of Rear Admiral Andrew C. Pickens, set sail to
establish patrol off the eastern seaboard between Newport, Rhode Island,
and Norfolk, Virginia. The heavy cruisers USS Quincy (CA 39) and USS
Vincennes (CA 44) departed first and the USS San Francisco (CA 38)
(flagship) and USS Tuscaloosa (CA 37) would follow.
The ships, burning running lights, were to observe and report the
movements of foreign men-of-war, and, as required, render prompt
assistance to ships or planes encountered.The
British Government announced the reintroduction of the convoy system for
merchant ships and a full scale blockade on German shipping in response
to what it claimed to be unrestricted submarine warfare by the Germans.U.S.
Undersecretary of State Sumner Welles and British Ambassador to the U.S.
Lord Lothian had an "off-the-record talk" (at the former's request)
concerning the brief detention of U.S. passenger liner Santa Paula the
day before. Lord Lothian was informed that the Santa Paula's captain had
been asked "to give formal assurances whether there were any German
passengers on board, the implication being that if the captain had not
given such assurances, the officers of the cruiser would have boarded
[Santa Paula] to search for German passengers and possibly might have
taken some off." Undersecretary Welles went on to say that "any act by
British cruisers affecting American ships in waters so close to the
United States involving possible boarding of them and taking off of
civilian passengers would create a very highly unfortunate impression
upon American public opinion at this time and was something undesirable
in itself, since if civilian passengers actually had been taken off,
such act would be clearly counter to international law." Lord Lothian
agreed and promises to "take the necessary steps to prevent occurrences
of this kind from happening."British
authorities seized the cargo (phosphates and cotton) of the U.S.
freighter Saccarappa after the items were deemed contraband. After the
cargo was unloaded the ship was released to continue on her voyage.The
U.S. freighter Wacosta, bound from Glasgow, Scotland, to New York, was
stopped by and unidentified German submarine. The Wacosta was detained
for three hours while the Germans examined her papers and searched her
holds, but was permitted to proceed.The
U.S. steamship President Harding was detained by French authorities and
various items of her cargo, including 135 tons of copper and 34 tons of
petroleum products, seized as contraband. After the cargo was unloaded
the ship was released.The
U.S. freighter Hybert was detained for two hours by an unidentified
U-boat. The Hybert was released but the Germans warned the merchantman
not to use her radio for 24 hours.Germany
announced a counter blockade against Britain, saying that “in the
economic warfare forced on her by Britain Germany is . . . not only able
to resist every pressure of blockade and every form of British hunger
warfare, but to reply to it with the same methods."The
German armored cruiser SMS Admiral Graf Spee provisions from tanker
Altmark. The SMS Admiral Graf Spee’s security measure of launching the
warship's shipboard reconnaissance aircraft spotted the British heavy
cruiser HMS Cumberland (57) was spotted closing the area allowing the
SMS Admiral Graf Spee and her consort to alter course and avoid
detection.Instructions
to the U.S. Navy’s Neutrality Patrol were modified to include covering
the approaches to the Gulf of Mexico through the Yucatan Channel and the
Straits of Florida.USAAC
21st Reconnaissance Squadron (B-18s), under command of Major Howard
Craig, reported to the Commander Atlantic Squadron for duty in
connection with the Neutrality Patrol. The squadron would be based at
Miami, Florida.The
Norwegian motor vessel Ronda struck a mine off Terschelling Island,
Netherlands. Two U.S. citizens died. The survivors (including four
Americans) were subsequently rescued by the Italian freighter
Providencia.U.S.
Navy Atlantic Squadron Neutrality Patrol assets deployed this date: The
Grand Banks Patrol operating between Halifax, Nova Scotia, and Placentia
Bay, Newfoundland included the destroyers USS Davis (DD 395), USS Jouett
(DD 396), USS Benham (DD 397) and USS Ellet (DD 398). Operating off the
Georges Shoals, Gulf of Maine's were the destroyers USS Hamilton (DD
141) and USS Leary (DD 158). Operating out of Narragansett Bay, Rhode
Island were the destroyers USS Goff (DD 247) and USS Hopkins (DD 249)
supported by minesweeper [small seaplane tender] USS Owl (AM 2) and
PBY-2 Calatlinas. Operating out of Chesapeake Bay were the destroyers
USS Decatur (DD 341), USS Barry (DD 248), USS Reuben James (DD 245) and
the auxiliary [high speed transport] USS Manley (AG-28) supported by
shore-based PBY-2 Calatlinas. Patrolling the Florida Straits were the
destroyers USS Babbitt (DD 128) and USS Claxton (DD 140). Assigned to
watch the Caribbean and the Atlantic side of the Lesser Antilles were
the heavy cruisers USS San Francisco (CA 38) and USS Tuscaloosa (CA 37),
the destroyers USS Truxtun (DD 229), USS Simpson (DD 221), USS Broome
(DD 220) and USS Borie (DD 215), supported by the small seaplane tenders
USS Lapwing (AVP 1), USS Thrush (AVP 3) and USS Gannet (AVP 8) and
several squadrons PBY-3 and PBY-1 Catalinas. Operating off Cape
Hatteras, North Carolina were the heavy cruisers USS Quincy (CA 39) and
USS Vincennes (CA 44). Held in reserve in Hampton Roads was a striking
force consisting of the aircraft carrier USS Ranger (CV 4) and the
battleships USS New York (BB 34) and USS Texas (BB 35).The
battleship USS Arkansas (BB 33) and gunnery training ship (ex
battleship) USS Wyoming (AG 17) were carrying out a training cruise for
U.S. Naval Reserve midshipmen.The
British Admiralty, reflecting the need to protect the Atlantic lifeline
necessary to Britain's survival, announced establishment of a convoy
system for its merchant shipping. The first Halifax-United Kingdom
convoy (HX 1) set sail from Halifax, Nova Scotia for Liverpool with
eighteen ships escorted by the Canadian destroyers HMCS St. Laurence (H
83) and HMCS Saguenay (D 79).The
U.S. Naval Attaché in Berlin reported that Grand Admiral Erich Raeder,
Commander in Chief of the German Navy, had informed him that all
submarine commanders had reported negatively concerning the sinking of
British passenger liner Athenia on September 3.The
U.S. freighter Warrior, detained by British authorities since September
7, was released after her cargo of phosphates was requisitioned. The
U.S. freighter Shickshinny, detained since September 16 at Glasgow,
Scotland, was permitted to sail without unloading cargo deemed by
British authorities to be contraband. The Shickshinny, however, was to
unload those items at Mersey, England.The
U.S. freighter Eglantine was stopped by a U-boat, ordered not to use her
radio, and to send her papers to the U-boat for examination. The Germans
allowed the Eglantine to proceed, but advised her not to use her radio for
three hours.The
heavy cruiser USS San Francisco (CA 38) arrived at San Juan, Puerto
Rico, and reported that Dominican authorities were exercising proper
precautions to learn promptly of the entry of any belligerent warship
into Semana Bay, Dominican Republic.The
U.S. freighter Black Hawk was detained by British authorities. The U.S.
freighter Black Eagle, detained by the British since September 12 at the
Downs, England, was released.U.S.
Navy Squadron
40-T departed Villefranche, France. The flagship, the light cruiser USS
Trenton (CL 11), under command of Rear Admiral Charles E. Courtney, and
the destroyer USS Jacob Jones (DD 130) headed for Lisbon, Portugal while
the destroyer USS Badger (DD 126) headed for Marseilles, France.The
U-30 arrived at Wilhelmshaven, Germany, where her commanding officer, Kapitanleutnant Fritz-Julius Lemp, informed the Commander U-boats Karl
Donotz, in private, that he [Lemp] believed himself responsible for the
sinking British passenger liner Athenia.U.S.
Navy Squadron 40-T arrived at Lisbon, Portugal. En route, the flagship,
the light cruiser USS Trenton (CL 11), under command of Rear Admiral
Charles E. Courtney, intercepted a distress signal from the British
freighter Constant which reported being pursued by what she believes to
be a German U-boat. Rear Admiral Courtney sent the destroyer USS Jacob
Jones (DD 130) to provide water and provisions to the English
merchantman.In
the House of Commons, First Lord of the Admiralty Winston Churchill
claimed that Great Britain was winning the U-boat war.
Read the text of his statements.The
German pocket battleships SMS Admiral Graf Spee and SMS Deutschland,
poised in the South and North Atlantic, respectively, received their
orders to begin commerce raiding operations.The
Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard informed the Commander of the Boston
Division that upon withdrawal of destroyers from the Grand Banks Patrol,
the patrol would be maintained by two Campbell-class 327-foot cutters.The
British Admiralty, responding to the German propaganda of recent
successes against British warships in the North Sea, declared that “no
British ship has been damaged nor any casualties incurred from German
aircraft.”The
U.S. freighter Executive, detained at Casablanca, French Morocco since
September 27 was released by French authorities, provided that she
proceeded to Bizerte, Tunisia.British
warships operating on the Northern Patrol continued to stop neutral
merchantman; between this date and October 12, 63 vessels were stopped,
of which 20 were detained at Kirkwall, England for the inspection of
their cargoes.Germany
notified Britain that armed merchant ships would be treated like
warships and sunk without warning. The decision
was claimed to be based on incidents of British merchant ships attacking
German submarines.The
U.S. freighters Ethan Allen and Ipswich, detained by British authorities
since September 20, were released. The cargo destined for Bremen and
Hamburg, however, was seized and taken off Ipswich.Rear
Admiral Hayne Ellis relieved Rear Admiral Alfred W. Johnson as the
Commander Atlantic Squadron on board the squadron's flagship, the
battleship USS Texas (BB 35).
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