Submarine warfare

[eppefour]

I am working on an excel database of Atlantic wrecks and obstructions. I found an interesting thing. There were 8 vessels sunk off of New England on 8-10-1918 by a submarine. All are listed at the same co-ordinates. Must be Fishing vessels, Did any one ever hear of this ? I did a rough search on google but didn't get any info. I though maybe someone from N.E. might know the story

[74Formula233]

These the ones you're talking about?

August 10, 1918: Aleda May, gas screw, gross 31 tons; sung with bombs by German submarine U-117 in western Atlantic; no casualties.

August 10, 1918: William H. Starbuck, gas screw, gross 53 tons; sunk with bombs by German submarine U-117 in western Atlantic.; no casualties.

August 10, 1918: Progress, gas screw, gross 34 tons; sunk with bombs by German submarine U-117 in western Atlantic; no casualties.

August 10, 1918: Reliance, gas screw, gross 19 tons; sunk with bombs by German submarine U-117 in western Atlantic; no casualties.

August 10, 1918: Earl and Nellie, gas screw, gross 24 tons; sunk with bombs by German submarine U-117 In western Atlantic; no casualties.

August 10, 1918: Cruiser, gas screw, gross 25 tons; sunk with gunfire by German submarine U-117 in western Atlantic; no casualties.

August 10, 1918: Old Time, gas screw, gross 18 tons; sunk with gunfire by German submarine U-117 in western Atlantic; no casualties.

August 10, 1918: Mary E. Sennett, gas screw, gross 27 tons; sunk with gun-fire by German submarine U-117 in western Atlantic; no casualties.

August 10, 1918: Katie L. Palmer, gas screw, gross 31 tons; sunk with bombs by German submarine U-117 in western Atlantic; no casualties.

[74Formula233]

Look slike U-117 was pretty busy that week.........

August 13, 1918: Steamship Frederick B. Kellogg, tanker, gross 7,127 tons; torpedoed and partially sunk by German submarine U-117 in western Atlantic, 12 miles north of Barnegat Light; salvaged; 7 killed, 1 wounded.

August 14, 1918: Dorothy B. Barrett, schooner, gross 2,088 tons; sunk with gunfire by German submarine U-117 in western Atlantic; no casualties.

August 15, 1918: Madrugada, gas screw, gross 1,613 tons; sunk with gun-fire by German submarine U-117 in western Atlantic; no casualties.

[74Formula233]

However, I guess they (U-117) surrendered shortly......

http://eastlandmemorial.org/uc97.shtml

[74Formula233]

Oh, here's where I found the U-117 sinkings on that date.....

Look at all the friggin' lost ships!!!!!!!

http://www.usmm.org/ww1merchant.html

[74Formula233]

This one is interesting....8 miles south of Fire Island, Long Island.

http://www.newsday.com/community/gui...ory-navigation

http://freepages.military.rootsweb.c...M_Christy.html

http://freepages.military.rootsweb.c...San_Diego.html

[74Formula233]

Maybe there is some info her ethat can help?

http://www.scuba-newengland.com/News....asp?NewsID=24

[flatbottom]

formula wow great history lesson for me to read.....saved thanks

[74Formula233]

Here ya go.....

http://www.hazegray.org/danfs/submar/u117.htm

Here's an excerpt describing the 9 ships sunk!

"However, once she reached the American coastal zone on 8 August, her luck improved. Two days later, U-117 encountered a fleet of fishing craft and went on a spree, sinking nine of the vessels with explosives and gunfire. On the 12th, she sighted th e ballast-laden SS Sommerstadt and, after observing that the Norwegian 879 steamer was armed, made a submerged attack that sank her with a single torpedo. The following day, the U-boat made another submerged torpedo attack and hit the 7,127-ton American tanker Frederick R. Kellogg bound from Tampico, Mex., f or Boston with 7,600 barrels of crude oil. The action occurred only 12 miles north of the Barnegat Light, in shallow water which enabled the ship to be salvaged.

Later that same day, the minelayer submarine began the other half of her duty by laying mines near Barnegat Light. That field later claimed a victim when SS San Saba struck a mine and sank on 4 October. On 14 August, U-117 took a brea k from mining operations to resume cruiser warfare when she encountered an American schooner. The U-boat brought her deck guns to bear on the sailing vessel and sent her to the bottom with gunfire. However, shortly thereafter, the hunter became the hunted when an American seaplane forced the submarine to seek refuge beneath the ocean. The plane and SC-71 subjected U-117 to a brief barrage of bombs, and SC-71 attacked the submarine with depth charges before losing track of her.

The next day, U-117 resumed her mine laying operations off Fenwick Island Lightship. That field later claimed two victims, one damaged and the other sunk. On 29 September, Minnesota (Battleship No. 22) struck one of those mines and suffered extensive damage. The Naval Overseas Transportation Service cargo ship Saetia (Id. No. 2317) entered the same field on 9 November, struck a mine, and sank. Later that day still 14 August-the submarine moved farther south and, after laying a third m inefield near Winter Quarters Shoal Lightship halted an American sailing vessel, the 1,613-ton Madrugada, and sank her with gunfire. A patrolling American seaplane foiled a subsequent attempt by the U-boat that day to stop another sailing ship.

On 16 August, U-117 resumed her mining operations, this time off Cape Hatteras, N.C. The approach of the 6,978-ton British steamer SS Mirlo interrupted her mine laying labors. Approaching the target submerged, U-117 fired a single tor pedo which sent the merchantman to the bottom. Following that attack, the submarine resumed her mining duties and laid her fourth and final minefield. At that point, a severe shortage of fuel forced the U-boat to head for Germany."

[74Formula233]

http://www.historycentral.com/navy/Submarine/u-117.html