WWII U-Boat Found Off Coast in North Carolina

Crew members standing on the U-576 sub in Germany.

Over 72-years-ago, a U-boat for German troops was sunk during a battle right off the East Coast of the United States, near North Carolina. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced the news about the wreckage that was discovered this Tuesday. About 240 yards from the German sub there was another ship, a American Merchant tanker ship, called Bluefields.

According to documents, the U-576 German-sub in early July of 1942, head commander, Kapitanleutant Hans-Dieter Heinicke, had reported back to base claiming the ship was damaged and they were on their way back to Germany. They were on a month-long patrol against the American allied shipping supplies, and had no success. On their voyage back, the sub encountered 19 merchant vessels. Heinicke decided to fire, wanted redemption for their month long failure patrolling. At least seven torpedoes were fired; the U-576 had damaged two other ships including Bluefields. In response, a US Navy Kingfisher aircraft on board of one of the vessels, bombed the sub. Some deck guns from ships were also shooting at U-576. On July 14, 1942 about 4:30 P.M., the sub had sunk. Forty-five casualties were contained in the U-boat, and still are to this day.

Bluefields was damaged severely, but before it was fully submerged underwater, the American troops evacuated the ship.  

A sonar pictures of the U-576 German Sub.