The Patrol Zone

Washington, D.C., August 3, 1944. The sinking of a German submarine by ramming and gunfire off the Atlantic coast recently through a coordinated attack by three destroyer escorts, two of them manned by Coast Guard personnel and one by the Navy, was described today by Lieutenant (junior grade) William D. Draper, USCGR, of 1408 Owen Street, Saginaw, Michigan, an officer aboard one of the Coast Guard vessels.

The underseas raider was tracked down as a convoy maneuvered into zig-zag formation upon an alarm that a U-Boat was attacking. Contact was made by one of the Coast Guard ships and depth charges forced the enemy craft to the surface, where it was rammed by the Navy vessel, Lieutenant (junior grade) Draper said.

Submarine crewmen poured from the conning tower, rushing for their deck gun, but were swept back by concentrated gunfire from the second Coast Guard escort, which had moved in from the opposite direction.

As the Nazi raider started sinking, the crew leaped into the water. The Coast Guard officer said a dozen survivors, including the U-Boat commander, were taken aboard his vessel. The entire action required but one hour and 30 minutes.