The Impact of German U-Boats on American Shipping During World War II

During World War II, German U-boats conducted a significant campaign against American shipping. The socalled Second Happy Time refers to the period when American shipping was particularly vulnerable to submarine attacks. This period followed the United States' entry into World War II following the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941. In this article, we will explore the extent of German U-boat attacks on American vessels and the impact of these actions on the War effort.

Timeline of Notable Attacks

Below is a partial list of American ships that were sunk by German U-boats during World War II:

USS Reuben James

The USS Reuben James, a destroyer, was sunk by U-552 on October 31, 1941, marking the first American ship loss in the Atlantic during the war.

USS Jacob Jones

USS Jacob Jones was sunk by U-578 on February 28, 1942, being one of the first ships lost by the U.S. in the Pacific theater. This incident highlighted the vulnerability of American merchant marines to submarine attacks.

USS Bristol

The USS Bristol, another destroyer, met its end on August 12, 1943, at the hands of U-371. It was engaged in anti-submarine duties.

USS Buck

USS Buck fell victim to U-420 on October 9, 1943, while performing similar anti-submarine duties.

USS Leary

USS Leary, a destroyer, was sunk by U-275 on December 24, 1943. This event underscored the challenges faced by the American maritime forces.

USS Leopold

USS Leopold, also a destroyer, was lost on March 10, 1944, to U-255. The attack was part of a widespread submarine campaign.

USS Fechteler

USS Fechteler was sunk on May 5, 1944, by U-967, highlighting the continuous threat posed by German submarines to American ships.

USS Fiske

USS Fiske met its end on August 2, 1944, at the hands of U-804. This loss occurred during a period of intense U-boat activity.

USS Fredrick Davis

The final ship mentioned, USS Fredrick Davis, was sunk on April 24, 1945, by U-546. This attack occurred just weeks before the end of the war.

Wartime Vulnerability of American Shipping

Initially, the American maritime forces were not as experienced as the Allies in dealing with the U-boat peril. As a result, American shipping became a prime target for German sub commanders, whom referred to it as the Second Happy Time. Many Americans had little belief that German U-boats could traverse the Atlantic to reach North American shores. However, by the end of World War I, German U-boats had already succeeded in sinking 200 American ships off the coast of North Carolina alone.

The war brought a significant escalation in this threat. A total of 450 American vessels, both merchant marines and warships, were sunk by German U-boats, with an additional 99 ships damaged. This campaign targeted not only commercial vessels but also naval warships, with attacks often conducted by individual U-boats and wolf packs.

Extent of the Campaign

The German U-boats were particularly successful during certain years. From 1939 until the end of the war, individual U-boats and wolf packs accounted for the sinking of 2,779 ships or 14.1 million tons of Gross Registered Tonnage (GRT). This represented approximately 70% of all Allied shipping losses during World War II. The best year for U-boats was 1942, with 6 million tons of shipping sunk, damaged, or captured.

Some of the most successful U-boat commanders during this period were:

Otto Kretschmer

With 16 patrols, Kretschmer sank 47 ships or 273,043 tons of GRT.

Wolfgang Luth

Luth achieved 46 victories with 15 patrols, sinking 225 ships totaling 204,000 tons of GRT.

Erich Topp

Topp, with 12 patrols, was credited with sinking 35 ships, amounting to 197,460 tons of GRT.

Conclusion and Further Resources

This campaign against American shipping was a crucial element in the naval and operational strategies of the Axis powers. The losses suffered by the U.S. underscored the need for improved anti-submarine warfare and the allocation of resources to protect American assets at sea.

For further reading, please see the following resources:

The U-boat Wars - 1939-1945 Kriegsmarine and 1914-1918 Allied Warships of WWII List of Most Successful U-boat Commanders - Wikipedia