A Little More History

On July 14, 1942, Convoy KS-520 left Hampton Roads sailing south to Key West. On the following day, off Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, the convoy was attacked by German U-576. The first ship struck was the American freighter Chilore.

Hit below the waterline, she sailed toward shallow water in hopes of anchoring. Instead of reaching safety, she sailed directly into a defensive U.S. minefield. Striking two mines, the Chilore sustained additional damage and was abandoned by the majority of her crew. She was towed to Hatteras Inlet where she was beached. Several weeks later, while being towed to Norfolk, the Chilore sank near the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay.

The second ship struck that day was the Panamanian tanker J.A. Mowinkel. Joining the Chilore in leaving the convoy for shallow waters, the J.A. Mowinkel also struck a mine. She was eventually towed to Baltimore, and later New York where she was repaired and returned to service.

The last convoy ship struck by the U-576 was the Nicaraguan freighter Bluefields. Struck by the third torpedo fired, the Bluefields sank, but not before all were able to abandon ship.

But U-576 did not continue on its deadly mission. The convoy struck back with American ship Unicoi ramming the U-boat while two U.S. navy VS-2 Kingfisher aircraft dropped depth charges. The U-576 sunk immediately, sending all forty-five aboard to a watery grave.