North Carolina’s coast became a killing field in 1942 – and most Americans never knew

Operation Drumbeat’s Deadly U-Boat Campaign Off Beaufort

North Carolina’s coast turned into a war zone just weeks after Pearl Harbor.

In January 1942, Admiral Dönitz sent five U-boats to America’s East Coast, starting what sailors soon called “Torpedo Alley. ” The Germans sank the tanker Allan Jackson first, then kept going.

By summer, they’d blown up nearly 400 ships and killed over 5,000 people. Folks in Beaufort watched tankers burn so bright they could read by the flames at night.

Bodies and oil washed up on their beaches. The tide turned when Coast Guard cutter Icarus sank U-352 near Beaufort Inlet, capturing 33 Germans.

The wreckage of this deadly naval battle still lies beneath the waters off Beaufort’s shore.

Admiral Dönitz Unleashed Underwater Wolves On America’s Doorstep

Germany declared war on the United States on December 11, 1941, just days after Pearl Harbor. Admiral Karl Dönitz quickly launched Operation Drumbeat, sending five U-boats from France on December 18.

These subs crossed the Atlantic to attack ships along America’s East Coast. Britain warned American leaders about the coming U-boats, but the U.S. did little to prepare.

By January 13, 1942, German submarines reached North Carolina’s coast, with U-66 waiting near the Outer Banks.

The Allan Jackson Became The First Victim Off Cape Hatteras

U-66 spotted the tanker Allan Jackson on January 18, 1942, about 60 miles from Cape Hatteras. At 1:30 a.m. , two torpedoes tore the ship apart, spilling 7.5 million gallons of crude oil into the ocean.

The attack killed 22 of the 35 crew members and marked the first North Carolina victim in what sailors called “Torpedo Alley.”

At daybreak, the destroyer USS Roe found 13 survivors floating in oil-covered water. The killing off America’s shores had begun.

America’s Coast Stood Nearly Defenseless Against The German Threat

Eastern Sea Frontier Commander Admiral Adolphus Andrews faced a tough job.

He had only seven Coast Guard cutters, four old yachts, and a few outdated patrol boats to guard the entire East Coast. The waters near Beaufort had just one Coast Guard cutter, the Dione, on patrol.

Merchant ships kept sailing alone with lights on, following normal routes. The Navy refused requests for a convoy system, saying they lacked enough warships.

Burning Ships Lit Up The Night Sky As Bodies Washed Ashore

From January to August 1942, German submarines sank about 400 ships along the Atlantic coast. More than 80 went down off North Carolina, killing over 5,000 people.

Beaufort locals watched as tankers burned so bright offshore that people could read newspapers by the flames at night. Morning tides brought oil slicks, wooden pieces, and sometimes bodies onto North Carolina beaches.

The coastal waters became a killing zone.

Coastal Towns Kept Their Lights On Despite The Danger

Mayors and business owners fought against blackout orders, worried about losing money and tourists. This gave U-boat commanders a huge edge.

German submarine captains couldn’t believe their luck, as American ships sailed alone against bright city lights, making them easy targets. The East Coast didn’t agree to even a partial dim-out until May 1942.

Full blackouts finally started in July, but by then, hundreds of ships had already sunk.

U-352 Arrived With Bad Luck And A Frustrated Captain

German submarine U-352 reached American waters on May 2, 1942, after crossing the Atlantic for four weeks. Commander Hellmut Rathke tried to attack several ships but missed with every torpedo he fired.

On May 5, U-352 stalked the Swedish ship SS Freden but missed twice. The ship’s crew stopped to launch lifeboats, and Rathke lost track of his target in the mess.

After days without success, the frustrated captain decided to get more bold.

Coast Guard Cutter Icarus Turned From Prey To Hunter

On May 9, 1942, U-352 spotted what looked like an easy target, the Coast Guard cutter Icarus sailing alone 26 miles south of Beaufort Inlet.

The sonar man on Icarus picked up the submarine at 2,000 yards, and Lieutenant Maurice Jester called his crew to battle stations.

Rathke fired a torpedo at the cutter, but it either failed or hit the shallow seafloor, blowing up harmlessly 200 yards away. Jester ordered an attack with depth charges.

The Tables Turned When Depth Charges Forced U-352 To Surface

Icarus dropped five depth charges that badly damaged U-352’s tower and blew off its deck gun. Two more depth charge attacks followed as Rathke tried to hide on the seafloor, but the bombing continued.

After about an hour of hits, the damaged U-352 had to surface.

As German sailors came out to sink and leave their ship, Icarus fired machine guns, killing several crew members in the water.

Survivors Became The First Foreign POWs On American Soil Since 1815

Fifteen Germans died in the attack, while 33 survivors struggled in the water, many shouting “Help! ” and “Don’t shoot us!”

Lieutenant Jester asked for orders and got mixed messages, first to leave the Germans, then to save them. Icarus picked up the prisoners and one body, taking them to Charleston Navy Yard on May 10, 1942.

These Germans became the first foreign war prisoners caught on American mainland soil since the War of 1812 ended.

A 52-Year-Old Coast Guard Officer Made History

Lieutenant Maurice Jester got the Navy Cross for sinking U-352, becoming the first Coast Guardsman to win this award in World War II. At 52, Jester had started as a surfman in 1917 and worked his way up over 25 years.

Life magazine put him on its cover, though security rules stopped him from sharing battle details until 1943. The Navy moved him up to lieutenant commander, and he kept serving until he retired in 1944.

The Tide Turned Against The U-Boats By Summer

By mid-1942, America finally organized “Bucket Brigade” convoys that moved in daylight and anchored at night. Air patrols increased, more anti-submarine vessels arrived, and British naval experts helped improve tactics.

Coastal blackouts finally took effect, making ships harder to spot.

Between June 30 and July 15, 1942, Allied forces sank seven U-boats – unprecedented losses for the Germans.

On July 19, 1942, Admiral Dönitz pulled his submarines from East Coast waters, ending the “Second Happy Time” off America’s shores.

Visiting Beaufort Waterfront, North Carolina

You can explore Beaufort’s World War II “Torpedo Alley” history along the waterfront boardwalk on Front Street and Taylor Creek.

The NC Maritime Museum at 315 Front Street is temporarily closed for construction through early 2025, but the Harvey W. Smith Watercraft Center stays open weekdays 10 AM-5 PM.

For a hands-on experience, book dive charters through Discovery Diving to visit the U-352 submarine wreck 26 miles offshore from Beaufort Inlet.

This article was created with AI assistance and human editing.

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