U-505 page 23

 U-505 page 23 by ric gustafson

Hans Goebeler was frustrated. U-505 had one of the German wonder weapons. It was a new type of torpedo. Because it was an acoustical torpedo, the torpedo would home on in an enemy's propellors. Skipper Kapitanleutnant Harold Lange was frustrated. He had new torpedoes and no targets to shoot at. The U-boat tried Monrovia. No targets. The boat tried Cape Palmas. No targets. 

On May 10 1944, a British freighter was spotted. The bad news was that a British destroyer was also detected. More bad news was that the destroyer was 5 miles from the U-505. This made it out of range even for a brand new torpedo. 

On the USS Guadalcanal, Captain Gallery is also frustrated. He has found no U-boat targets. His baby flattop was running low on fuel.

On May 29 1944, Gallery finds out one of his task force ships was hit by U-549. It was the baby flattop Block Island. Later that day, Gallery finds out the USS Ahrens sunk U-549. All 57 German sailors on the U-549 were lost.

Then, Gallery got some news which put a smile back on his face.

research help: ' Codename Nemo' by Charles Lachman

Peace and God's blessings. Love Ric