American Liberty lost-at-sea

Stationhill.com

Non-Fiction

Non-fiction by Jean Paul Lacroix

More than fifty years ago this winter, 39 Merchant Marines and 24 Navy Armed Guard gunners disappeared with their new Liberty ship, the SS Sumner I. Kimball.

Lost in the North Atlantic without a trace, mariners said. No one ever knew exactly what became of the Kimball, or its 63 sailors.

Built at the South Portland, Maine shipyard in late 1943, the Liberty was on its maiden voyage. Government files showed only that the freighter had sailed to join a westbound convoy after unloading her cargo of war material at Hull, England. Added as a "secret" notation was that the Kimball straggled in heavy weather without being in contact, that the ship was overdue...presumed sunk.

Now, the story can be told. A German U-boat's logbook found in the National Archives tells it all.

Capt. Arthur R. Moore of Hallowell, Maine an author specializing in World War II merchant ship research, has uncovered the only documented account of the Kimball's fate. The well kept log, written in German by the U-boat's commander, was translated for Moore by Professor Gerard Hasselwander of Montgomery, Alabama. It reveals an epic two-day struggle between a ship fighting for survival and a submarine stalking for a kill.

In mid-Atlantic and lost from convoy, Capt. Harry Atkins of Boston, Massachusetts knew he might be easy prey for U-boats. Steaming at full speed and changing course frequently was the order of the day. A veteran of the North Atlantic, he also knew that they would need a lot of luck to avoid detection.

The U-boat's logbook tells the story: On U-boat 960, it's January 18, 1944. Oberleutnant Gunther Heinrich, peering through his periscope, spots a lone merchant vessel weaving through heavy seas.

1620 hours: "To action stations" the young 24-year old skipper orders his crew. Closer, he sees that his prey is an American Liberty. Intent on a quick kill, he fires two torpedoes. They both miss the zig-zagging target.

1805 hours: Better aligned this time, but before he can unleash a spread of torpedoes, the ship "veered directly at my periscope," the German wrote. He emergency dives to avoid being hit.

1855 hours: He has sub aligned this time to fire a single magnetic torpedo, aimed at the merchantman's mid-section. He scores a hit. But, to his surprise, he notes that the steamer turned to starboard and kept on. It had slowed to half-speed, however. He estimates approximately six knots.

Heinrich tries to close again to resume his attack. Before he can position his sub, he sees the Liberty plowing right at him. He notes it; a second attempt to ram his U-boat.

The Kimball apparently had sighted the sub's periscope again. A collision would probably force it to the surface, giving the Armed Guard gunners a chance to engage the enemy in gunnery. Rushed to avoid being rammed, the German lost sight of his prey for awhile.

2040 hours: U-boat had the slowed freighter's bow lined up on the submarine's portside, barely 100 meters away. Two more torpedoes are ordered from the tubes. "Explosions" are heard after 30 seconds pass. Heinrich logged it. Now, he observes, the ship had turned and stopped.

Then he heard the Kimball's distress call finally breaking radio silence: "Dit dit dit ...dah dah dah...dit dit dit...WDLU (Kimball's call letters) torpedoed at 52-35N, 35W. Three times Heinrich heard the SOS leap from the pounding fingers of the wireless operator. Position is 900 miles east of Belle Isle Strait, Newfoundland. There would be no response.

2355 hours: U-960 unleashes another torpedo. It slams amidship. Heinrich observes "there's no reaction - it doesn't even move." Another one gushes from the tube. It explodes aft of the bridge.

0100 hours: Finally, the young skipper ordered his sub to the surface. From close range, he orders a shot fired from his surface gun into a sinking ship. This one he dubs the "coup de grace." Fascinated, he and his crew watch the Liberty break in two. It was the end.

0219 hours: U-boat 960 closed to circle the wreckage. The young captain made his last entry in the logbook. "No survivors found." Three words for 63 men, their only epitaph written by their executioner, on January 19, 1944.

This is dedicated to the men of the United States Merchant Marine Service and the U.S. Naval Armed Guard, shipmates of World War II, and especially to those who lost their lives, and to their families.

From Pearl Harbor to V-J Day, 731 U.S. merchant ships were sunk and 5,638 men of the Merchant Marine died as a result of enemy action. Also killed were 1,710 members of the U.S. Navy Armed Guard whose job aboard the merchant ships was to man the guns.

Jean Paul Lacroix was a gunner with the Armed Guard and served on two Liberty ships during WW II.