TELL May-June 2020

{THE CAPTURE OF U-505}
By Reverend Sam Zwarenstein
Have you ever done something that when you look back on it, you can
not believe that you had the strength, courage and determination to
make the decisions that you made? Let’s enjoy a history lesson.
In June 1944, the U.S. Navy
captured their first enemy
warship (U-505) on the high seas
since the War of 1812. While
others had been sunk in the
wars they engaged in since then,
this was the first time the U.S.
Navy got to take a detailed look
inside one of Germany’s deadly
enemy submarines. The Allies
had previously intercepted two
U-boats, taking possession of
their Enigma machines, but those
submarines had been scuttled
(deliberately destroyed). In spite
of some popular opinion, the
U-571 was not one of them.
The movie U-571 was loosely
based on the British capture of
another U-boat earlier in the war.
This capture would prove to
be more than just a simple
triumph for the Allies,
bringing a sense of victory
and success, while presenting
some interesting challenges.
The capture of the Enigma
machines gave the Allies access
to essential intelligence, such
as which teams of U-boats
were working together, and
their approximate location.
Off the west coast of Africa,
U-505 was cornered by
Antisubmarine Hunter-Killer
Task Group 22.3, escorted by
five U.S. Navy Destroyers. The
Task Group was commanded by
Navy Captain Daniel Gallery,
an aviator and U-boat hunter.
His experience and innovative
leadership style allowed him to
realise that he would likely only
get one chance to command
such a powerful task group.
He also had higher aspirations,
so he was more than keen
to do an impressive job.
Through tactical planning and
attacks on the submarine’s
position, the Task Group
managed to cause minor leaks
in the engine room. The crew
onboard panicked and they
thought she was sinking. The
commander then proceeded to
surface the submarine, ready her
for scuttling, and abandon ship.
Captain Daniel V. Gallery, USN, on the bridge of the
captured German submarine U-505 on 4 June 1944
Part of Dan Gallery’s contingency
planning included preparing
“boarding parties”, which they
had been practising. He also
instructed his men to fire only
“small arms” on the sub, to avoid
mortally damaging the sub, but
at the same time creating further
panic on the submarine, forcing
them to abandon the submarine
without enough time to deploy
the scuttle charges, which was
standard German procedure.
The plan worked, and the
Germans abandoned their
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