Overview
1
Allied warship was sunk by a mine.1
Allied auxiliary warship was sunk in a collision.1
Allied warship was damaged by a U-boat.1
Allied auxiliary warship was accidently damaged by an American
submarine.An
Allied merchant ship and an Allied auxiliary warship collided and both
ships sank.
2
U-boats were sunk by Allied warships.1
U-boat was sunk by a mine.69
Allied or neutral merchant
ships were sunk by U-boats totaling 210,895 tons.10
Allied merchant or neutral ships were damaged by U-boats totaling 74,689 tons.
Naval Action in the Atlantic OceanThe
ASW trawler HMS St. Cathan (FY 234), one of the Royal Navy patrol
vessels operating off the eastern seaboard, and the Dutch freighter Hebe
collided south-southeast of Little River, South Carolina. Both ships
sank. The District patrol vessel YP-22 rescued 7 survivors from the HMS
St. Cathan and 31 from the Hebe. The yachts USS Azurlite (PY 22) and USS
Beryl (PY 23) participated in rescue efforts and between them later
transported the survivors (Hebe's entire 31-man crew and nine of the
39-man crew of HMS St. Cathan) to Charleston, South Carolina.The
U-130, commanded by Korvettenkapitän Ernst Kals, surfaced off the Bullen
Baai tank farm on Curaçao and fired five 8.8 cm shells at the petroleum
storage facility. It scored no hits on the oil tanks but did wake up the
Dutch colonial artillery battery which managed to get off one 120 mm
round before the U-boat submerged.The
destroyer USS Sturtevant (DD 240) was sunk by a mine off Marquesas
Key, Florida.While
escorting the Convoy QP-11, the light cruiser HMS Edinburgh (16) was
torpedoed and damaged by the U-456, commanded by Kapitänleutnant
Max-Martin Teichert, north of Murmansk in the Arctic Ocean. Of the
ship’s complement, 57 died. While under tow back to the Kola Inlet the
HMS Edinburgh was attacked by three German destroyers and was hit by one
torpedo from the SMS Z-24. The HMS Edinburgh was then scuttled by a coup
de grâce from the destroyer HMS Foresight (H 68).
U-Boat LossesThe
U-702, commanded by Korvettenkapitän Wolf-Rüdiger von Rabenau, went
missing from April 3, 1942 in the North Sea, presumably struck by a
drifting mine. All of the ship’s complement of 44 died. During its
career the U-702 sank or damaged no ships.The
U-85, commanded by Oberleutnant zur See Eberhard Greger, was sunk by
gunfire from the destroyer USS Roper
(DD-147). All of the ship’s complement of 46
died. During its career the U-85 sank 3 merchant ships for a total of
15,060 tons.The
U-252, commanded by Kapitänleutnant Kai Lerchen, was sunk in the North
Atlantic southwest of Ireland by depth charges from the British sloop
HMS Stork (L 81) and the British corvette HMS Vetch (K 132). All of the
ship’s complement of 44 died. During its career the U-252 sank 1 ship
for a total of 1,355 tons.
Attacks on Allied and Neutral Merchant ShipsThe
unescorted British steam merchant Rio Blanco was torpedoed and sunk by
the U-160, commanded by Oberleutnant zur See Georg Lassen, about 60
miles east of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. Of the ship’s complement,
19 died and 21 survivors were picked up by the ASW Trawler HMS
Hertfordshire (FY 176) and the destroyer HMCS Niagara (I 57). The 4,086
ton Rio Blanco was carrying iron ore and was headed for the United
Kingdom.The
unescorted British steam merchant Loch Don was torpedoed and sunk by the
U-202, commanded by Kapitänleutnant Hans-Heinz Linder, about 500 miles
north-northeast of Bermuda in the eastern Atlantic Ocean. Of the ship’s
complement, 3 died and 44 survivors were picked up by the British
sailing ship Helen Forsey. The 5,249 ton Loch Don was carrying general
cargo and was headed for Capetown, South Africa.The
unescorted British steam merchant Eastmoor was torpedoed and sunk by the
U-71, commanded by Kapitänleutnant Walter Flachsenberg, about 600 miles
east of Hampton Roads, Virginia in the western Atlantic Ocean. Of the
ship’s complement, 16 died and 36 survivors were picked up by the
British steam merchant Calgary. The 5,812 ton Eastmoor was carrying
general cargo and was headed for the United Kingdom.The
unescorted and unarmed American steam tanker Tiger was torpedoed and
sunk by the U-754, commanded by Kapitänleutnant Hans Oestermann, off
Cape Henry, Virginia in the western Atlantic Ocean. Of the ship’s
complement, 1 died and 41 survivors were picked up by the YP-52. The
5,992 ton Tiger was carrying Navy fuel oil and was headed for Norfolk,
Virginia.The
unescorted and unarmed American steam tanker Liebre was torpedoed and
damaged by the U-123, commanded by Kapitänleutnant Reinhard Hardegen,
approximately 17 miles east of Cape Lookout Outer buoy, North Carolina
in the western Atlantic Ocean. Of the ship’s complement, 9 died and 25
survived. The 7,057 ton Liebre was carrying water ballast and was bound
for Beaumont, Texas.The
American steam merchant West Irmo was torpedoed and sunk by the U-505,
commanded by Axel-Olaf Loewe, about 300 miles southwest of Takoradi,
Ghana in the eastern Atlantic Ocean. Of the ship’s complement, 10 died
and 99 survivors were picked up by the minesweeping trawler HMS Copinsay
(T 147). The 5,775 ton West Irmo was carrying general cargo and was
headed for Lagos, Nigeria.The
unescorted and unarmed American steam merchant David H. Atwater was sunk
by gunfire by the U-552, commanded by Kapitänleutnant Erich Topp, about
ten miles east of Chincoteague Inlet, Virginia in the western Atlantic
Ocean. Of the ship’s complement, 24 died and 3 survivors were picked up
by the US Coast Guard vessel CG-218. The 2,438 ton David H. Atwater was
carrying coal and was headed for Fall River, Massachusetts.The
unescorted American steam merchant Otho was torpedoed and sunk by the
U-754, commanded by Kapitänleutnant Hans Oestermann, about 200 miles
east of Cape Henry, Virginia in the western Atlantic Ocean. Of the
ship’s complement, 32 died and 21 survivors were picked up by the patrol
yacht USS Zircon (PY 16) and the Norwegian motor tanker Gallia. The
4,839 ton Otho was carrying maganese ore, palm oil, and tin and was
headed for Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.The
unescorted American steam tanker Comol Rico was torpedoed and sunk by
the U-154, commanded by Walther Kölle, about 225 miles north of San
Juan, Puerto Rico in the Caribbean. Of the ship’s complement, 3 died and
39 survivors were picked up by the destroyer USS Sturtevant (DD-240).
The 5,034 ton Comol Rico was carrying bulk molasses and was headed for
Boston, Massachusetts.The
unescorted Dutch steam merchant Alphacca was torpedoed and sunk by the
U-505, commanded by Axel-Olaf Loewe, off the coast of Africa in the
eastern Atlantic Ocean. Of the ship’s complement, 15 died and 57
survivors reached land by lifeboat. The 5,759 ton Alphacca was carrying
general cargo, including copper, vanadium, and zinc and was headed for
the United Kingdom.The
6,207 ton British motor tanker Ensis was slightly damaged by 20mm
gunfire from by the U-572, commanded by Oberleutnant zur See Heinz
Kummetat, in th Atlantic Ocean.The
unescorted American steam tanker Catahoula was torpedoed and sunk by the
U-154, commanded by Walther Kölle, off the northwest coast of the
Dominican Republic in the Caribbean. Of the ship’s complement, 7 died
and 38 survivors were picked up by the destroyer USS Sturtevant
(DD-240). The 5,030 ton Catahoula was carrying molasses and was headed
for Wilmington, Delaware.The
American steam tanker Byron D. Benson was torpedoed and sunk by the
U-552, commanded by Oberleutnant zur See Erich Topp, 7.5 miles off
Currituck Inlet, North Carolina in the western Atlantic Ocean. Of the
ship’s complement, 10 died and 27 survivors were picked up by the
destroyer USS Hamilton (DMS 18), the ASW Trawler HMS Norwich City (FY
229) and the Coast Guard cutter USS Dione. The 7,953 ton Byron D. Benson
was carrying crude oil and was headed for Bayonne, New Jersey.The
Norwegian motor tanker Koll was torpedoed and sunk by the U-571,
commanded by Kapitänleutnant Helmut Möhlmann, east of Cape Hatteras,
North Carolina. Of the ship’s complement, 3 died and 33 survivors were
picked up by the Portuguese steam merchant Cunene, the Swiss steam
merchant St. Cergue, and the Portuguese steam merchant Lobito. The
10,044 ton Koll was carrying high grade diesel oil and was headed for
Clyde, United Kingdom.The
Norwegian motor tanker Kollskegg was torpedoed and sunk by the U-754,
commanded by Kapitänleutnant Hans Oestermann, about 350 miles northwest
of the Bermudas in the western Atlantic Ocean. Of the ship’s complement,
4 died and 38 survivors were picked up by the the Panamanian steam merchant
Bushranger and a Canadian warship. The 9,858 ton Kollskegg was carrying
crude oil and fuel oil and was headed for the United Kingdom.The
unarmed and unescorted American motor tanker Bidwell was torpedoed and
damaged by the U-160, commanded by Kapitänleutnant Georg Lassen,
approximately 30 miles east-southeast of Cape Lookout, North Carolina in
the western Atlantic Ocean. Of the ship’s complement, 1 died and 32
survived. The 6,837 ton Bidwell was carrying fuel oil and was bound for
New York, New York.The
British motor tanker British Splendour was torpedoed and sunk by the
U-552, commanded by Kapitänleutnant Erich Topp, east of Cape Hatteras,
North Carolina
in the western Atlantic Ocean. Of the ship’s complement, 21 died and 41 survivors were
picked up by the ASW trawler HMS St. Zeno (FY 280). The 7,138 ton
British Splendour was carrying benzine and was headed for the United
Kingdom.
The
British motor tanker Norwegian whale factory ship Lancing was torpedoed
and sunk by the U-552 east of
Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. Of the ship’s complement, 1 died and 49
survivors were picked up by the American tanker Pan Rhode Island. The
7,866 ton Lancing was carrying fuel oil and was headed for the New York,
New York.The
Yugoslavian steam merchant Nemanja was torpedoed and sunk by the U-84,
commanded by Oberleutnant zur See Horst Uphoff, in the western Atlantic
Ocean. Of the ship’s complement, 13 died and 34 survived. The 5,226 ton
Nemanja was carrying sugar and was headed for the United Kingdom.The
unescorted and unarmed American steam tanker Esso Baton Rouge was
torpedoed and damaged by the U-123, commanded by Kapitänleutnant
Reinhard Hardegen, approximately 15 miles northeast of St. Simons
Island, Georgia in the western Atlantic Ocean. Of the ship’s complement,
3 died and 35 survived. The 7,989 ton Esso Baton Rouge was carrying
heating and lubricating oil and was bound for New York, New York.The
unescorted and unarmed American steam tanker Oklahoma was torpedoed and
damaged by the U-123
approximately 10 miles off St. Simon´s Island. Of the ship’s complement, 19 died and 18 survived. The
9,264 ton Oklahoma was carrying refined petroleum products and was bound
for Providence, Rhode Island.The
unescorted and unarmed American steam merchant Esparta was torpedoed and
sunk by the U-123, commanded by Kapitänleutnant Reinhard Hardegen, about
14 miles south of Brunswick, Georgia in the western Atlantic Ocean. Of
the ship’s complement, 1 died and 39 survivors were picked up by the
patrol boat USS Tyrer (WIX 339). The 3,365 ton Esparta was carrying
general cargo, including bananas and coffee and was headed for New York,
New York.The
unescorted and unarmed American steam merchant Malchace was torpedoed
and sunk by the U-160, commanded by Oberleutnant zur See Georg Lassen,
about 25 miles off Cape Lookout, North Carolina. Of the ship’s
complement, 1 died and 28 survivors were picked up by the Mexican steam
tanker Faja de Oro. The 3,516 ton Malchace was carrying soda ash and was
headed for Hopewell, New Jersey.The
Norwegian steam merchant Fanefjeld was torpedoed and sunk by the U-252,
commanded by Kapitänleutnant Kai Lerchen, in the northern Atlantic
Ocean. All of the ship’s complement of 24 died. The 1,355 ton Fanefjeld
was carrying salt and was headed for Isafjord, Iceland.The
unescorted and unarmed American steam tanker Atlas was torpedoed and
sunk by the U-552, commanded by Kapitänleutnant Erich Topp, off Cape
Lookout in the western Atlantic Ocean. Of the ship’s complement, 2 died
and 32 survivors were picked up by a US Coast Guard cutter. The 7,137
ton Atlas was carrying gasoline and was headed for Seawarren, New
Jersey.The
unescorted British motor tanker San Delfino was torpedoed and sunk by
the U-203, commanded by Kapitänleutnant Rolf Mützelburg, east of Cape
Hatteras, North Carolina. Of the ship’s complement, 28 died and 22
survivors were picked up by the ASW trawler HMS Norwich City (FY 229).
The 8,072 ton San Delfino was carrying aviation fuel and was headed for
Hull, England.The
unescorted and unarmed American steam tanker Tamaulipas was torpedoed
and sunk by the U-552, commanded by Kapitänleutnant Erich Topp, about 18
miles northeast of Cape Lookout, North Carolina. Of the ship’s
complement, 2 died and 35 survivors were picked up by the ASW trawler
HMS Norwich City (FY 229). The 6,943 ton Tamaulipas was carrying furnace
oil and was headed for New York,
New York.The
unescorted British steam merchant Empire Prairie was torpedoed and sunk
by the U-654, commanded by Oberleutnant zur See Ludwig Forster, east of
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. All of the ship’s complement of 49 died. The
7,010 ton Empire Prairie was carrying general cargo and was headed for
Alexandria, Egypt.The
unescorted Norwegian motor merchant Chr. Knudsen was torpedoed and sunk
by the U-85, commanded by Oberleutnant zur See Eberhard Greger, in the
western Atlantic Ocean. All of the ship’s complement of 33 died. The
4,904 ton Chr. Knudsen was carrying general cargo and nitrate and was
headed for Alexandria, Egypt.The
unescorted American steam tanker Gulfamerica was illuminated by the
lights of the Jacksonville Beach resort and torpedoed and sunk by the
U-123, commanded by Kapitänleutnant Reinhard Hardegen, about five miles
off Jacksonville, Florida. Of the ship’s complement, 19 died and 29
survivors were picked up by U.S. Coast Guard patrol boats. The 8,081 ton
Gulfamerica was carrying furnace oil and was headed for New York,
New York.The
unescorted Norwegian motor merchant Grenanger was torpedoed and sunk by
the U-130, commanded by Korvettenkapitän Ernst Kals, in the western
Atlantic Ocean. Of the ship’s complement, all 36 survived and were
picked up by the British steam merchant Almenara. The 5,393 ton
Grenanger was carrying general cargo and coffee and was headed for New
York,
New York.The
unescorted British steam passenger ship Ulysses was torpedoed and sunk
by the U-160, commanded by Oberleutnant zur See Georg Lassen, 45 miles
south of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. Of the ship’s complement and
passengers, all 290 survived and were picked up by the destroyer USS
Manley (APD 1). The 14,647 ton Ulysses was carrying passengers, general
cargo, and pig iron and was headed for Liverpool, England.The
unarmed American steam tanker Harry F. Sinclair, Jr. was torpedoed and
damaged by the U-203, commanded by Kapitänleutnant Rolf Mützelburg, 7
miles south of Cape Lookout, North Carolina in the western Atlantic
Ocean. Of the ship’s complement, 10 died and 26 survived. The 6,151 ton
Harry F. Sinclair, Jr. was carrying gasoline and was bound for Norfolk,
Virginia.The
unescorted and unarmed American steam tanker Esso Boston was torpedoed
and sunk by the U-130, commanded by Korvettenkapitän Ernst Kals,
northeast of St. Martins in the western Atlantic Ocean. Of the ship’s
complement, all 37 survived and were picked up by the destroyer USS
Biddle (DD 151). The 7,699 ton Esso Boston was carrying crude oil and
was headed for Halifax, Canada.The
unescorted American steam merchant Delvalle was torpedoed and sunk by
the U-154, commanded by Walther Kölle, in the Caribbean. Of the ship’s
complement, 2 died and 61 survivors were picked up by the armed merchant
cruiser HMCS Prince Henry (F 70). The 5,032 ton Delvalle was carrying
general cargo and was headed for Buenos Aires, Argentina.The
Panamanian steam tanker Stanvac Melbourne was torpedoed and damaged by
the U-203, commanded by Kapitänleutnant Rolf Mützelburg, about 15 miles
from Frying Shoal Inside Buoy, North Carolina in the western Atlantic
Ocean. Of the ship’s complement and armed guard, 3 died and 37 survived.
The 10,013 ton Stanvac Melbourne was carrying ballast and was bound for
Aruba. The
unescorted Swedish motor merchant Korsholm was torpedoed and sunk by the
U-123, commanded by Kapitänleutnant Reinhard Hardegen, approximately 70 miles
off Cape Canaveral, Florida in the western Atlantic Ocean. Of the ship’s
complement, 9 died and 17 survived. The 2,647 ton Korsholm was carrying
phosphate and was headed for Liverpool, England.The
unescorted American steam merchant Leslie was torpedoed and sunk by the
U-123 approximately three miles
southeast of the Hetzel Shoals Gas Buoy, Florida. Of the ship’s complement, 4 died and 28 survivors were picked up
by the American tanker Esso Bayonne. The 2,609 ton Leslie was carrying
raw sugar and was headed for New York,
New York.The
unescorted British steam tanker Empire Amethyst was torpedoed and sunk
by the U-154, commanded by Walther Kölle, about 40 miles south of Haiti
in the Caribbean. All of the ship’s complement of 47 died. The 8,032 ton
Empire Amethyst was carrying motor fuel and was headed for the United
Kingdom.Dispersed
from Convoy ON-80, the British steam merchant Empire Progress was
torpedoed and sunk by the U-402, commanded by Kapitänleutnant Siegfried
von Forstner, south of Cape Race, Newfoundland in the western Atlantic
Ocean. Of the ship’s complement, 12 died and 38 survivors were picked up
by the Norwegian motor merchant Olaf Fostenes. The 5,249 ton Empire
Progress was carrying ballast and was headed for Tampa, Florida.Sailing with Convoy QP-10, the Panamanian steam merchant El Occidente
was torpedoed and sunk by the U-435, commanded by Kapitänleutnant
Siegfried Strelow, in the far northern Atlantic Ocean. Of the ship’s
complement, 20 died and 21 survivors were picked up by the minesweeper
HMS Speedwell. The 6,008 ton El Occidente was carrying chrome ore as
ballast and was headed for New York,
New York.A
straggler from Convoy QP-10, the British steam merchant Harpalion was
bombed and heavily damaged by German Ju88 aircraft. The vessel was
abandoned by the crew and a reported scuttling attempt by the escort
failed because her abandoned wreck was located by U-435 in the far northern Atlantic Ocean
which sank the vessel. Of the ship’s complement, all 70 survived. The
5,486 ton Harpalion was carrying mineral ores as ballast and was headed
for Reykjavik, Iceland.The
Soviet steam merchant Kiev was torpedoed and sunk by the U-436,
commanded by Kapitänleutnant Günther Seibicke, in the far northern
Atlantic Ocean. Of the ship’s complement, 6 survived and were picked up
by the ASW trawler HMS Blackfly. The 5,823 ton Kiev was carrying chrome
and timber and was headed for Iceland.The
unescorted British steam merchant Empire Thrush was torpedoed and sunk
by the U-203, commanded by Kapitänleutnant Rolf Mützelburg, about 8
miles north of Diamond Shoals off Cape Hatteras, North Carolina in the
western Atlantic Ocean. Of the ship’s complement, all 55 survived and
were picked up by the American Q-ship USS Asterion (AK 100). The 6,160
ton Empire Thrush was carrying rock phosphate, TNT, and citrus pulp and
was headed for River Mersey, England.The
unescorted and unarmed American steam merchant Margaret was torpedoed
and sunk by the U-571, commanded by Kapitänleutnant Helmut Möhlmann, off
Cape Cod, Massachusetts. All of the ship’s complement of 29 died. The
3,352 ton Margaret was carrying sugar and was headed for New York,
New York.The
unescorted Greek steam merchant Korthion was torpedoed and sunk by the
U-66, commanded by Korvettenkapitän Richard Zapp, south of Barbados in
the western Atlantic Ocean. Of the ship’s complement, 14 died and 9
survived. The 2,116 ton Korthion was carrying bauxite and was headed for
New York,
New York.The
ship of the convoy commodore of Convoy PQ-14, the British steam merchant
Empire Howard was torpedoed and sunk by the U-403, commanded by Kapitänleutnant Heinz-Ehlert Clausen, in the far northern Atlantic
Ocean. Of the ship’s complement, 25 died and 37 survivors were picked up
by the British armed trawler HMS Lord Middleton (FY 219) and the British
armed trawler HMS Northern Wave (FY 153). The 6,985 ton Empire Howard
was carrying war materials, including army trucks and was headed for
Murmansk, Soviet Union.The
unescorted and unarmed Panamanian steam merchant Desert Light was
torpedoed and sunk by the U-572, commanded by Kapitänleutnant Heinz
Hirsacker, in the western Atlantic Ocean. Of the ship’s complement, 1
died and 30 survivors were picked up by the destroyer USS Roper (DD
147). The 2,368 ton Desert Light was carrying supplies for the Naval
Operating Base in Bermuda, including ammunition and dynamite.The
unescorted and unarmed American steam merchant Robin Hood was torpedoed
and sunk by the U-575, commanded by Kapitänleutnant Günther Heydemann,
about 300 miles southeast of Nantucket Island, Massachusetts in the
western Atlantic Ocean. Of the ship’s complement, 14 died and 24
survivors were picked up by the destroyer USS Greer (DD 145). The 6,887
ton Robin Hood was carrying chrome ore, asbestos, concentrates, and
general cargo and was headed for Boston, Massachusetts.The
unescorted Dutch steam tanker Amsterdam was torpedoed and sunk by the
U-66, commanded by Korvettenkapitän Richard Zapp, 60 miles west of
British Grenada in the Caribbean. Of the ship’s complement, 2 died and
38 survivors were picked up by the Yugoslavian steam merchant Ivan. The
7,329 ton Amsterdam was carrying oil and was headed for Freetown, Sierra
Leone.The
unarmed and unescorted American steam merchant Alcoa Guide was sunk by
gunfire by the U-123, commanded by Kapitänleutnant Reinhard Hardegen,
about 300 miles east of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina in the western
Atlantic Ocean. Of the ship’s complement, 6 died and 28 survivors were
picked up by the destroyer USS Broome (DD-210) and the British steam
merchant Hororata. The 4,834 ton Alcoa Guide was carrying general Army
supplies, including flour and 8 tanks and was headed for Pointe-à-Pitre,
Guadeloupe.The
unescorted and unarmed Panamanian motor tanker Heinrich von Riedemann
was torpedoed and sunk by the U-66, commanded by Korvettenkapitän
Richard Zapp, off the coast of South America in the Caribbean. Of the
ship’s complement, all 44 survived
by reaching land by lifeboat or were picked up by the steam
merchant Maricaibo. The 11,020 ton Heinrich von Riedemann was carrying
barrels of crude oil and was headed for Aruba, Lesser Antilles.The
unescorted and neutral Argentinean motor tanker Victoria was torpedoed
and damaged by the U-201, commanded by Kapitänleutnant Adalbert Schnee,
approximately 300 miles east of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina in the
western Atlantic Ocean. Of the ship’s complement, all 39 survived. The
7,417 ton Victoria was carrying linseed oil and was bound for New York,
New York.Sailing
in a two column convoy, the unarmed American steam tanker Axtell J.
Byles was torpedoed and damaged by the U-136, commanded by
Kapitänleutnant Heinrich Zimmermann, approximately four miles off Wimble
Shoals, North Carolina in the western Atlantic Ocean. Of the ship’s
complement, all 40 survived. The 8,955 ton Axtell J. Byles was carrying
crude oil and fuel oil and was bound for New York, New York.The
unescorted British steam merchant Harpagon was torpedoed and sunk by the
U-109, commanded by Kapitänleutnant Heinrich Bleichrodt, about 150 miles
north-northwest of Bermuda in the western Atlantic Ocean. Of the ship’s
complement, 41 died and 8 survivors were picked up by the Argentinean
merchant Rio Diamante. The 5,719 ton Harpagon was carrying general
cargo, including explosives, aircraft, and tanks and was headed for
Bombay, India.The
unescorted Canadian steam merchant Vineland was torpedoed and sunk by
the U-154, commanded by Walther Kölle, north of Cap Haitien, Haiti in
the Caribbean. Of the ship’s complement, 1 died and 34 survived. The
5,587 ton Vineland was carrying ballast and was headed for St. Thomas,
Virgin Islands.The
unescorted British steam merchant Empire Dryden was torpedoed and sunk
by the U-572, commanded by Kapitänleutnant Heinz Hirsacker, east of Cape
Hatteras, North Carolina. Of the ship’s complement, 26 died and 25
survivors were picked up by the passenger ship Monarch of Bermuda. The
7,164 ton Empire Dryden was carrying government and general cargo and
was headed for Alexandria, Egypt.The
unescorted Swedish motor merchant Agra was torpedoed and sunk by the
U-654, commanded by Oberleutnant zur See Ludwig Forster, in the western
Atlantic Ocean. Of the ship’s complement, 6 died and 33 survived. The
4,569 ton Agra was carrying general cargo, including nitrate, and motor
trucks and was headed for Alexandria, Egypt.The
unescorted American steam merchant Steel Maker was torpedoed and sunk by
the U-654 approximately 350
miles east of Wilmington, North Carolina in the western Atlantic Ocean.
Of the ship’s complement, 1 died and 47 survivors were picked up by the
destroyer USS Rowan (DD-405) and the British steam merchant Pacific
Exporter. The 6,176 ton Steel Maker was carrying war supplies and was
headed for Abadan, Iran.The
Norwegian steam merchant Bris was torpedoed and sunk by the U-201,
commanded by Kapitänleutnant Adalbert Schnee, in the western Atlantic
Ocean. Of the ship’s complement, 5 died and 21 survivors were picked up
by the American motor tanker Chester D. Swain and the YT-132. The 2,027
ton Bris was carrying asphalt and flour and was headed for Natal,
Brazil.The
unescorted American steam merchant Pipestone County was torpedoed and
sunk by the U-576, commanded by Kapitänleutnant Hans-Dieter Heinicke,
about 475 miles east of Cape Henry, Virginia in the western Atlantic
Ocean. Of the ship’s complement, all 46 survived and were picked up by
the Norwegian steam merchant Tropic Star, the patrol vessel USCGC
Calypso (WPC 104), and the American fishing vessel Irene. The 5,102 ton
Pipestone County was carrying bauxite and was headed for Boston,
Massachusetts.The
unescorted and unarmed American steam merchant West Imboden was
torpedoed and sunk by the U-752, commanded by Kapitänleutnant Karl-Ernst
Schroeter, east of Nantucket Lightship, Massachusetts. Of the ship’s
complement, all 35 survived and were picked up by the destroyer USS
Bristol (DD 453). The 5,751 ton West Imboden was carrying general cargo
and was headed for Boston, Massachusetts.The
unescorted and unarmed Panamanian steam merchant Chenango was torpedoed
and sunk by the U-84, commanded by Oberleutnant zur See Horst Uphoff,
southeast of Cape Henry, Virginia in the western Atlantic Ocean. Of the
ship’s complement, 31 died and 1 survivor was picked up by a PBY
Catalina flying boat of the U.S. Coast Guard. The 3,014 ton Chenango was
carrying manganese ore and was headed for Baltimore, Maryland.The
unescorted British steam merchant Derryheen was torpedoed and sunk by
the U-201, commanded by Kapitänleutnant Adalbert Schnee, southeast of
Cape Hatteras, North Carolina in the western Atlantic Ocean. Of the
ship’s complement, all 51 survived and were picked up by the British
motor merchant Lobos. The 7,217 ton Derryheen was carrying general
cargo, including nitrates, and motor trucks and was headed for the
Middle East.The
unescorted and unarmed American steam passenger ship San Jacinto was
torpedoed and sunk by the U-201approximately 375 miles southeast of Cape Hatteras. Of the ship’s complement and passengers, 14
died and 169 survivors were picked up by the destroyer USS Rowan
(DD-405). The 6,069 ton San Jacinto was carrying general cargo and
passengers and was headed for San Juan, Puerto Rico.The
unescorted American steam merchant Lammot Du Pont was torpedoed and sunk
by the U-125, commanded by Kapitänleutnant Ulrich Folkers, about 500
miles southeast of Bermuda in the western Atlantic Ocean. Of the ship’s
complement, 17 died and 37 survivors were picked up by the Swedish motor
merchant Astri and the destroyer USS Tarbell (DD-142). The 5,102 ton
Lammot Du Pont was carrying linseed and was headed for New York,
New York.The
unescorted Norwegian motor merchant Reinholt was torpedoed and damaged
by the U-752, commanded by Kapitänleutnant Karl-Ernst Schroeter, off the
eastern coast of the United States in the western Atlantic Ocean. The
4,799 ton Reinholt was carrying hides and was bound for New York, New
York.The
unescorted British motor merchant Empire Drum was torpedoed and sunk by
the U-136, commanded by Kapitänleutnant Heinrich Zimmermann, north of
Bermuda in the western Atlantic Ocean. Of the ship’s complement, all 51
survived and were picked up by the Swedish merchant Venezia and a U.S.
destroyer. The 7,244 ton Empire Drum was carrying war supplies and
explosives and was headed for Alexandria, Egypt.The
unescorted British steam merchant Modesta was torpedoed and sunk by the
U-108, commanded by Korvettenkapitän Klaus Scholtz, about 110 miles
northwest of Bermuda in the western Atlantic Ocean. Of the ship’s
complement, 18 died and 23 survivors were picked up by the Belgian steam
merchant Belgian Airman. The 3,849 ton Modesta was carrying bauxite and
was headed for New York,
New York.The
unescorted and unarmed American steam merchant Alcoa Partner was
torpedoed and sunk by the U-66, commanded by Korvettenkapitän Richard
Zapp, about 80 miles north-northeast of Bonaire, Netherlands Antilles in
the Caribbean. Of the ship’s complement, 10 died and 25 survivors
reached land by lifeboat. The 5,513 ton Alcoa Partner was carrying
bauxite ore and was bound for Mobile, Alabama.The
unescorted steam merchant Arundo was torpedoed and sunk by the U-136,
commanded by Kapitänleutnant Heinrich Zimmermann, about 15 miles south
of the Ambrose Lightship, the marker for Ambrose Channel, the main
shipping channel for New York Harbor. Of the ship’s complement, 6 died
and 37 survivors were picked up by the destroyer USS Lea (DD-118). The
5,163 ton Arundo was carrying government cargo, including nitrate,
jeeps, trucks, 5000 crates of Canadian beer, and two locomotives as deck
cargo and was headed for Alexandria, Egypt.The
unescorted American steam tanker Mobiloil was torpedoed and sunk by the
U-108, commanded by Korvettenkapitän Klaus Scholtz, about 350 miles
northeast of Turks Island in the western Atlantic Ocean. Of the ship’s
complement, all 52 survived and were picked up by the patrol craft USS
PC-490. The 9,925 ton Mobiloil was carrying water ballast and was headed
for Caripito, Venezuela.The
unescorted Panamanian motor tanker Harry G. Seidel was torpedoed and
sunk by the U-66, commanded by Korvettenkapitän Richard Zapp, northwest
of Trinidad in the western Atlantic Ocean. Of the ship’s complement, 2
died and 48 survived. The 10.354 ton Harry G. Seidel was carrying
ballast and was headed for Caripito, Venezuela.Dispersed
from Convoy OS-25, the British motor tanker Athelempress was torpedoed
and sunk by gunfire by the U-162, commanded by Kapitänleutnant Jürgen
Wattenberg, about 180 miles east of Barbados in the western Atlantic
Ocean. Of the ship’s complement, 3 died and and some of the 47 survivors
reached land by lifeboat and others were picked up by the Norwegian
motor tanker Atlantic. The 8,941 ton Athelempress was carrying ballast
and was bound for Trinidad.The
Soviet steam merchant Ashkhabad was torpedoed and sunk by the U-402,
commanded by Kapitänleutnant Siegfried von Forstner, about 8 miles south
of Cape Lookout, North Carolina in the western Atlantic Ocean. Of the
ship’s complement, all 47 survived and were picked up by an escort. The
5,284 ton Ashkhabad was carrying ballast and was
bound
for Matanzas,
Cuba.The
unescorted and unarmed American steam tanker Federal was sunk by gunfire
by the U-507, commanded by Korvettenkapitän Harro Schacht, off the coast
of Cuba in the Caribbean. Of the ship’s complement, 5 died and 28
survivors were picked up by fishing craft from Gibara. The 2,881 ton
Federal was carrying water ballast and was
bound
for Banes, Cuba.The
unescorted Norwegian steam merchant Taborfjell was torpedoed and sunk by
the U-576, commanded by Kapitänleutnant Hans-Dieter Heinicke, about 95
miles east of Cape Cod, Massachusetts in the western Atlantic Ocean. Of
the ship’s complement, 17 died and 3 survivors were picked up by the
submarine HMS P-552. The 1,339 ton Taborfjell was carrying unrefined
sugar and chrome ore and was
bound
for Montreal, Canada.
Other Battle of the Atlantic EventsThe
destroyer USS Wilkes (DD 441) was damaged when accidentally rammed by
the British tanker Davila at Boston, Massachusetts.The
submarine USS Mackerel (SS 204) was attacked by a USAAF plane six miles
south of Watch Hill Light, Rhode Island but was not damaged in the
accidental encounter.The
motor torpedo boat PT-59, on a practice run in upper Narragansett Bay,
Rhode Island, accidentally torpedoed the cargo ship USS Capella (AK 13).
Tugs were on the scene immediately and anchored the damaged auxiliary in
shoal water. Eight crewmen were injured in the mishap.The
U.S. Coast Guard cutter USCG Vigilant (WPC 154) ran aground during a
search for submarine off St. Lucie Inlet, Florida but emerged from the
incident with only minor damage.A
nightly "dim-out" or "black-out" went into effect along a fifteen-mile
strip of the Atlantic coast around New York to counter German submarine
activity in the area. Lights were allowed to be used at the Polo Grounds
and Ebbets Field for only one hour around sunset.
The New York Giants and Brooklyn Dodgers decided to replace night
games originally scheduled with “twilight” games.The
first coastal convoy left New York, New York for the Delaware River.Admiral
Harold R. Stark assumed command of U.S. Naval Forces Europe.
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