The German crew was transferred to a P.O.W.
On January 19, 1942,U-505set sail from Kiel with Capt.
Axel-Olaf Loewe in command on a training and familiarization cruise.
A U.S. Navy boarding party works to saveU-505shortly after she was abandoned by her German crew. Image: U.S. Navy
The second patrol resulted in four ships sunk, and the third patrol netted three ships.
With its fourth patrol and new Capt.Peter Zschech,U-505started to run out of luck.
Zschech was described as a hard commander, indifferent to the mens morale, and ill-tempered.
The U.S. flag flies overU-505before she was taken under tow by theCasablanca-class escort carrier USSGuadalcanal. Image: U.S. Navy
The victory was short-lived, however.
On November 11,U-505was spotted and attacked in the Caribbean Sea by an RAF Lockheed Hudson light bomber.
Zschech gave the order to abandon ship, which his crew ignored.
Capt. Daniel V. Gallery, Commanding Officer of USSGuadalcanal, on theU-505. Later an admiral, Gallery helped to save the boat for preservation in a museum. Image: U.S. Navy
The crew made hasty repairs and limped its way back to Lorient.
Three British destroyers hunted her for over 30 days, and she escaped and returned to Lorient.
After months stuck in Lorient,U-505attempted her 10thpatrol.
Capt. Daniel V. Gallery (L) and Lt. j.g. Albert L. David on board USSGuadalcanal. David led theU-505boarding party and was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions. Image: U.S. Navy
The boat submerged and rigged for depth charges.
The first officer, Paul Meyer, took command and brought the boat back to Lorient.
Lt. Harald Lange would replace Meyer two weeks after Zschechs death.
A boarding party from USSPillsburyworks to secure a tow line to the bow ofU-505. Note the large U.S. flag flying from the submarine’s periscope. Image: U.S. Navy
Hunted Down
Allied forces learned from decrypted messages that U-boats were operating near Cape Verde.
U-505began its last patrol with Lt. Harald Lange commanding.
The USSChatelainbegan depth charge attacks, along with two Grumman F4F Wildcat fighters.
German sailors are cooled off with a salt water hose on the USSGuadalcanal. In the center distance,U-505is towed to Bermuda by USSAbnaki(ATF-96). Image: U.S. Navy
WhenU-505surfaced, it came under immediate attack and surrendered.
With the flooding contained and the engines shut down, the boat was taken into tow.
On June 19, the submarine arrived at the United States Navys Naval Operating Base, Bermuda.
Sailors of the USSGuadalcanalstand in an Oerlikon 20 mm cannon tub as their ship takes the German submarineU-505in tow. Men on the submarine’s bow are members of a salvage party. Image: U.S. Navy
Now, the work began on learning this enemy submarines secrets.
While moored in Bermuda,U-505was painted to resemble a U.S. submarine and renamed USSNemo.
camps in North America.
Salvage parties at work onU-505as a Grumman TBM Avenger flies overhead. In the background is the USSChatelain, anEdsall-class destroyer escort. Image: U.S. Navy
The crewmen were isolated from other prisoners of war, and the Red Cross was denied access to them.
The crewmen were not returned to Germany until 1947.
Eventually,U-505was sent off to Portsmouth Naval Yard for storage until a decision was made about its future.
USSChatelainwith survivors of the captured German submarineU-505on her forecastle. Image: U.S. Navy
Eventually, it was decided to useU-505for target practice.
Rear Adm. Daniel Gallery vehemently opposed the decision, as he was the Task Force Commander whenU-505was captured.
Mr. Lohr told him that the museum was looking for a submarine for display.
Members of the U.S. salvage party use a small handy-billy pump to dewater the partially scuttledU-505. Note the twin 20mm anti-aircraft machine guns. Image: U.S. Navy
The U.S. Government donatedU-505under the condition the museum pay for transport.
Today you’re free to see and tour the German submarineU-505at the Griffin Museum of Science and Industry.
Go to forum thread
Griffin Museum of Science and Industry
The forward 53.3cm torpedo tubes of theU-505. Note the Roman numerals on each tube (even numbers to starboard, odd to port) and nicknames affixed to the two upper tubes. Image: U.S. Navy
The control panel for the electric motors of theU-505, a German Type IXC submarine. The image was taken after the boat’s capture by the United States. Image: U.S. Navy
Radio detection and communications equipment on board the U-505. The photo was taken shortly after the boat was taken as a prize of war. Image: U.S. Navy
Rescued German crewmen on the bow of USSChatelain. They are wearing U.S. survivor issue uniforms in place of their own clothing which was soaked when they abandonedU-505. Image: U.S. Navy
A Grumman TBF Avenger approaches the USSGuadalcanalfor a landing.Guadalcanalkept up flight operations for days while towing the captured submarine toward Bermuda. Image: U.S. Navy
The U.S. flag flies over the German naval ensign withU-505‘s periscope serving as the flagstaff. Note the hoses running from U-505’s fairwater indicating that she is still being dewatered. Image: U.S. Navy
