In September of 1941, the Royal Canadian Navy forced the crippled German submarine U-501 (similar to the one pictured here) to the surface in the North Atlantic and captured several of its crew. Moments later the stricken vessel was lost. It was the first of of 33 confirmed U-boats kills for Canada in the Second World War. (Image source: Flickr)“Within two minutes of detecting the enemy submarine, Chambly released a pattern of five depth charges that damaged U-501, forcing her to the surface a mere 400 yards off Moose Jaw’s bow.”
By James Brun
IN THE LATE summer of 1941, one of the Second World War’s worst convoy disasters played out in the North Atlantic. Yet amidst the bloody chaos of that deadly crossing, which saw 16 merchant ships sunk by German U-boats over a three-day period, with another four damaged, there was one minor victory for the Allies: the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) managed to destroy its first German submarine of the Second World War — U-501.
It began in September, when 67 merchant ships comprising Slow Convoy 42 (SC-42) departed Sydney, Nova Scotia, bound for the British port of Liverpool. The convoy was escorted by His Majesty’s Canadian Ships (HMCS) Skeena, Orillia, Kenogami and Alberni.
Skeena, a River-class destroyer under command of Lieutenant Commander James Hibbard, boasted an experienced crew, well adapted to convoy operations in the North Atlantic. Orillia, Kenogami, and Alberni were Flower-class corvettes, built quickly at the onset of war to bolster escort forces for the deadly North Atlantic run. As fate would have it, SC-42’s convoy routing across the ocean navigated them directly into the jaws of the fourteen-submarine Markgraf wolf pack.[1]
SC-42 was just one of 117 slow convoys to cross the North Atlantic during the war. (Image source: WikiMedia Commons)Early in SC-42’s transit, British intelligence decrypted intercepts from German U-boat high command detailing a massing of submarines that could attack SC-42. This intelligence was sent to Naval Headquarters in Ottawa. Reports of the convoy’s perilous position were also received by the Newfoundland Force in St. John’s.[2] In response to the threat, Western Approaches Command in Liverpool ordered a task group of British destroyers to detach from another well-guarded westbound convoy, refuel in Iceland, and reinforce the Canadian warships of the 24th Escort Group, supporting SC-42. Commander James “Chummy” Prentice, the officer commanding the Newfoundland Escort Force’s Training Group, was preparing to put to sea for a “work-up” program when he read reports detailing threats to SC-42.
Prentice sought permission from Commodore Leonard Murray, commander of the Newfoundland Escort Force, to reinforce the eastbound Canadian convoy. Prentice, in command of HMCS Chambly, sailed in company with HMCS Moose Jaw, under command of Lieutenant Fred Grubb, to strengthen the escort group.
HMCS Skeena was one of SC-42’s escorts. (Image source: WikiMedia Commons)On Sept. 9, SC-42 was sighted by U-85 which signalled the Allied convoy’s position to the other submarines in the wolf pack. Late that evening, U-432 engaged the convoy, firing torpedoes into the merchant ship Muneric. Under the weight of her heavy cargo, she sank almost immediately with all hands. The wolf pack closed for further attack, creating disorder amongst the merchantmen and their inadequate escort force. After the loss of Muneric, the destroyer Skeena and smaller corvettes collapsed their defensive screen around the merchant ships in an effort to protect them from the onslaught of enemy attacks. Notwithstanding, within hours four more merchant ships lay at the bottom of the North Atlantic.[3]
As the wolf pack of German U-boats pressed their attack, Lieutenant Commander Hibbard commanded Skeena through the convoy vessels, responding to merchant ship distress calls while the corvettes pulled sailors from the icy and unforgiving seas. SC-42’s escorts remained focused on rescue efforts rather than fighting the U-boats. That would change when Chambly and Moose Jaw entered the fray.
HMCS Moose Jaw was just one of three Flower-class corvettes to take part in the action. (Image source: WikiMedia Commons)Upon their arrival at the scene, Chambly and Moose Jaw sighted signal rockets fired from the merchant ships being attacked, and closed them for action. Prentice commanded Chambly and Moose Jaw to approach in the darkness at top speed, with the moonlight on the far side of the beleaguered convoy.[4] Chambly’s anti-submarine detection equipment, known as ASDIC, identified a submarine contact closing her position from ahead, and Prentice ordered his ship to attack. Within two minutes of detecting the enemy submarine, Chambly released a pattern of five depth charges that damaged U-501, forcing her to the surface a mere 400 yards off Moose Jaw’s bow.[5]
Moose Jaw engaged the surfaced boat with her four-inch gun, before the weapon jammed. The crew then employed machine guns to press the attack. With its main gun out of action, Grubb pulled Moose Jaw alongside the U-boat, which was now dead in the water and rolling violently in the seas and yelled for the submarine to surrender.
U-501’s captain made a “magnificent leap” from his deck onto Moose Jaw’s waist, and members of his crew moved to follow.[6] Grubb quickly powered Moose Jaw away from the submarine, turned in a tight circle, and rammed the U-boat, managing a glancing blow, all while continuing to pepper the submarine with machinegun fire to prevent the German submariners from accessing its fitted deck gun.
A Type IXC U-boat. (Image source: WikiMedia Commons)Meanwhile, Chambly pulled close to the U-boat to launch an armed boarding party under the command of Lt Ted Simmons, Chambly’s first lieutenant.[7] The boarding party scrambled aboard the submarine and ordered the German sailors to return below decks. They refused, at which point, Simmons opened the hatch to see water surging through the control room below. Unable to salvage the sinking submarine, the Canadians went into the water along with the surviving enemy crew. Chambly plucked eight Germans from the water; Moose Jaw saved 29.[8] Eleven of the U-boat’s crew were killed during the action or drowned. One member of the boarding party also perished: Stoker William I. Brown was never seen again. He was thought to have been pulled under by the submarine as she sank.
At the time of her demise, U-501 had only been in commission for four months. The submarine was destroyed while attempting her first attack, during her first wartime patrol with an inexperienced crew. U-501 was the first submarine thought to be destroyed by a Canadian ship, until the British Admiralty reassessed an engagement that had occurred a year earlier, awarding HMCS Ottawa and HMS Harvester a kill for their attack on the Italian submarine Faa di Bruno.[9]
Ultimately, SC-42 was defended by a small RCN escort group. In all, the convoy faced 14 U-boats over a period of 66 hours until British surface and air support arrived to prevent further attacks. Despite the RCN’s best efforts, merchant losses were horrific, with 16 merchant ships being sent to the bottom.[10]
An Allied merchant vessel is destroyed by a German U-boat somewhere in the North Atlantic. A total of 16 ships of SC-42 suffered such a fate; another four were damaged. The RCN’s destruction of U-501 offered a glimmer of hope in that otherwise disastrous crossing.The battle for convoy SC-42 was one of the bloodiest battles of the Atlantic campaign, and led the Allies to strengthen future escort groups by adding British and American warships to reinforce RCN escorted convoys throughout the remainder of 1941.[11]
Despite the losses suffered by SC-42, masters of the convoy’s surviving ships communicated their unanimous appreciation of RCN escorts to defend them from “heavy and concentrated attacks made on the convoy by the enemy” to Admiral Noble, commander-in-chief, Western Approaches, upon their arrival in Loch Ewe on Sept. 17, 1941.[12]
U-501 was the first of four German submarines Commander James “Chummy” Prentice would sink throughout the war. For his actions during the battle, “Chummy” was awarded the Distinguished Service Order. Lieutenant Ted Simmons, Chambly’s first lieutenant, was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross. Later in the war, while commanding HMCS Port Arthur, Simmons would lead his crew in the destruction of the Italian submarine Tritone off the coast of Algeria. Lieutenant Fred Grubb was mentioned in despatches.
The RCN would ultimately destroy 33 enemy submarines during the Second World War.
James Brun is the commanding officer of the Royal Canadian Navy vessel HMCS Yellowknife and regular contributor to MilitaryHistoryNow.com. For his daily tweets of rare and fascinating World War Two photos, follow him at @lebrunjames81
[1] Douglas, W. A. B., Roger Sarty, Michael Whitby, Robert H. Caldwell, William Johnston, and William G. P. Rawling. No Higher Purpose: the Official Operational History of the Royal Canadian Navy in the Second World War, 1939-1943 Volume II, Part I. (St. Catharines, ON: Vanwell Publishing, 2002), 237.
[2] McKee, Fraser, and Robert A. Darlington. The Canadian Naval Chronicle: 1939-1945. (St. Catharines, ON: Vanwell Publishing, 996) 34.
[3] Milner, Marc. Canada’s Navy: The First Century (Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 1999) 95.
[4] Schull, Joseph. The Far Distant Ships: An Official Account of Canadian Naval Operations in the Second World War. (Ottawa: Queen’s Printer, 1961), 83.
[5] McKee and Darlington, Canadian Naval Chronicle, 35
[6] Douglas et al, No Higher Purpose, 246.
[7] McKee and Darlington, Canadian Naval Chronicle, 35.
[8] McKee and Darlington, Canadian Naval Chronicle, 35.
[9] Milner, Canada’s Navy, 88.
[10] Milner, Canada’s Navy, 96.
[11] McKee and Darlington, Canadian Naval Chronicle, 36.
[12] Douglas et al, No Higher Purpose, 256.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the role of military history in our lives?
Over the past few decades, there has been an unprecedented rise of conflict around the globe. It seems that there are many countries engaged in armed conflicts, from Syria to Ukraine and Libyan to Iraq. But why do these wars continue to break out? Why do we continue to experience war after wars? Is it possible for people to live peacefully in close quarters?
Our collective memory is the key. We may not realize it, but when we look back on the events of the 20th century, we find ourselves living in a world where violence between nations is commonplace. We live in a period of great change.
World War II, for example, ended 70 years ago. However, it occurred during a period that saw rapid technological advancements (including the development of an atomic bomb) which resulted in the creation of a global market. This economic system was a catalyst for the "globalization" movement, which is a worldwide political movement.
It is easy to forget all the progress we have made since 1945, as globalization continues. Today, the world is more interconnected than ever; international trade accounts for nearly 40 percent of global GDP; and most Americans depend directly on foreign goods for their everyday lives.
Yet despite the vast changes wrought by globalization, humanity still struggles with a fundamental problem: we cannot avoid conflict. It is understandable to want peace and prosperity for all nations. However, this is not realistic. As long humans are around, they will seek power and wealth.
We must learn from our mistakes. We must identify the root causes of our conflicts if we want to avoid them in the future.
Understanding the history of warfare is essential to develop strategies for preventing future conflicts. Let's start with World War II. What was the reason for this war? How did it get started? And what were the main causes?
Who started the military in the United States?
In the United States, the Revolutionary War began in 1775 when colonists rebelled against British rule. Though there had been previous conflicts between Britain and its colonies, the American Revolution marked the beginning of an entirely new war for independence.
The Americans fought against tyranny and for freedom. George Washington was a British colonel who led their cause. He rallied the troops of his troops in New York City. The Battle of Long Island was won by Washington, effectively ending all fighting in North America.
The British, however, continued fighting in Europe and defeated the Continental Army at Siege of Boston 1776. In 1776, Congress declared independence of Great Britain and established the United States.
The Treaty of Paris recognized the United State's independence status in 1783. This treaty also formally ended the Revolutionary War.
Even though the Revolutionary War ended in peace, tensions remained between the two countries. Despite not being officially at war, both countries were constantly under threat of invasion.
After the Revolutionary War, America emerged as the largest economy in the world. The new government, however, was lacking a strong central control. Instead, states competed for control of land and resources.
This was solved by the U.S. Constitution. The document gave federal powers to the executive branch while giving state governments certain rights. It established the Supreme Court as the final arbiter in constitutional disputes.
Despite these reforms, the U.S. was still fighting a major conflict less than ten-years after it had been ratified. President James Madison signed the War of 1812 into law in 1812.
The United States was in economic trouble at the time of War of 1812. For example, many believed that the Federalist Party no longer controlled the presidency or the Senate. They feared that their concerns might be ignored and that the administration might attempt to ignore them.
The War of 1812 started because the United States wanted a way to defend itself from Napoleon Bonaparte, the French ruler. The French emperor invaded Spain and threatened to invade England.
The U.S. declared War on April 19, 1812. The goal was to defend the nation's territory. The war lasted until February 1815. Peace negotiations took place in Ghent.
Despite having more soldiers, the U.S. was defeated in the War of 1812. Despite this, the war helped to establish U.S. Navy. It also strengthened ties among the Northern and Southern countries.
What are the differences between the 3 types?
Both sides experience war as an emotional experience. There is excitement for both the aggressor and the victim. He wants to make the enemy suffer. He views it as a game involving strategy and tactics.
The victim feels fear, uncertainty, or confusion. He knows that he's outnumbered and outgunned. He doesn't know from where the fight will be or how much damage he'll take.
But in the end, the victor wins because he is victorious. He feels strong. He is eager for the next challenge. His mind is clear and sharp.
He knows he may lose, but he is ready to accept that loss. He is prepared to lose. He recognizes that his opponent is more skilled and stronger than he.
The winner believes that he is the master of his domain. He believes that he is invincible. He is convinced that victory is possible.
War isn’t only physical. It's also mental.
It's psychological warfare.
It's about winning hearts.
It's about convincing people to follow you instead of your opponent.
What are the sources of military history?
The world was forever changed by the great war. From its beginning in 1914 to its end in 1945, the Great War saw millions die, empires collapse, and nations rise and fall. For the combatants, it meant life-changing experiences, including the deaths of loved ones and the loss of homes and livelihoods.
The Great War is a period for exploration, debate, controversy, and discovery for historians. It also serves as an academic discipline and provides a context for understanding the human response to extreme stress.
Although most of our knowledge about the Great War comes from the official documents and memoirs of participants, there are also stories that have been shared by people who were actually there during the conflict. These personal accounts can provide insight into the motivations and decisions that were made during wartime.
They provide insight into the emotions and feelings of soldiers as well as civilians and help us to better understand why these events occurred.
What is the difference between a war and a revolution?
A war is a conflict between two countries or individuals. They fight each other until one side wins.
A revolution is when your lifestyle changes. You overthrow the government and begin anew with new laws.
It can be hard to distinguish the differences between these two things.
They can look similar at times. One example is the French Revolution. It started as a war with the King, but it became a revolution after the King was killed.
The United States waged war against the Viet Cong during the Vietnam War. This communist group was eventually defeated.
The United States went through many changes before becoming a democracy today.
When was the United States' first army created?
The American Revolutionary War (1775-1783) saw the formation and formation of the First Army. The Continental Congress voted for an army of 20,000 men under the command of George Washington.
The army was created from the existing militia units. Its mission: to defend the colonies in the face of British invasion. The army had little training or supplies and was poorly equipped.
On June 14, 1776, the Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence. This document declared the thirteen states independent of Great Britain and called upon them to "secure these rights" to themselves and their posterity. On July 4th, the Continental Congress adopted a resolution calling for the creation of a continental army.
Initially, the newly created army was composed mainly of untrained militiamen. Washington took control of the army in August 1777. Washington started recruiting from the local militias. He also enlisted foreign soldiers. His force consisted of nearly 10,000 men, by early 1778.
The army fought at Saratoga (New York) in March 1779 its first major battle. Although the Americans lost the battle, it marked the beginning of the war's decisive turning point: the defeat of the British army and the surrender of General Burgoyne in October.
The Continental Congress disbanded the army after the war ended in 1783, although there would be short-lived attempts to create permanent national military institutions.
Statistics
- Fact: Kentucky provided more soldiers in the War of 1812 than any other state and suffered approximately 60 percent of the war's total casualties. (history.ky.gov)
- According to Peter Fraser Purton, the best evidence of the earliest gun in Europe is the Loshult gun, dated to the fourteenth century. (en.wikipedia.org)
External Links
networks.h-net.org
web.archive.org
- Documenting shock and awe: Investigating Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom
- HELLAS:NET - Warfare
jstor.org
How To
How many countries were involved in the Korean War?
1950 saw the Soviet Union supporting communist North Korea. The United States, along with other allies, supported the capitalist Republic of South Korea.
China reached a separate deal with the Communist North Koreans following the outbreak of fighting.
China sent troops through the 38th Parallel as support for their ally. This led to a Korean War.
The war was ended in 1953. The North Korean forces fled to China.
On June 25, 1953, the Armistice Agreement was signed. Both sides agreed that they would withdraw their armies.
The agreement was never implemented fully. Instead, fighting resumed on July 25, 1955.
It ended on July 27, 1952. All hostilities stopped when a truce was signed.
An estimated 3 million men died during the conflict. This makes it the deadliest war since the Second World War.
Did you miss our previous article...
https://lessonsbeyondthestory.com/world-wars/the-heroes-of-graignes-how-residents-of-a-small-normandy-town-saved-the-lives-of-more-than-100-us-paratroopers
