Hello Carlos,

Sorry, but did I miss something. The U-530 interrogations disclosed that they had torpedoed and sank the USS Eagle PE-56 in off Portland, Maine on 23 April 1945? I must have missed that. My records indicate that they had been further South, on that date.

Why would OLzS Wermuth (and his entire crew) have denied credit for the sinking of the second to last U.S. Navy warship to be sunk by a U-boat before the end of declared hostility (second only to the USS Frederick C. Davis sunk by U-546 just a few hours later). Why, particularly during their internment by U.S. military personnel following their having been turned over by the Argenitne military authorities. Their interviews by members of Op-16-Z (the U.S. Navy's special intelligence 'interrogation' unit) would clearly have extracted some reference to that incident, which would have been a notable accomplishment for the crew, not a punnishable offense. The crew all took that accomplishment with them to their graves? Doubtful...in fact...absolutely untrue.

The U-853 (OLzS Froemsdorf) had been tracked by the allies from her departure from Norway, initially through HF/DF cuts, then through radar and visual contacts, into the Gulf of Maine. U.S. Naval Intelligence unit Op-20-G identified her by number "U-853" and actually correctly knew her Commander's name "Froemsdorf."

Following warnings to local Commanders, including Potland, Maine Cdr. Ernest Freeman, of the general presence of the U-853 threat, and the sinking of USS Eagle PE-56 at 12:14 PM on 23 April 1945, she (U-853) was depth-charged by the USS Slefridge (DD-357) within that hour.

A hunter-killer task group was immediately formed and they tracked the U-853 for the next twelve days. No subsequent radio transmissions were detected from 853, but radar contacts, diesel smoke from no surface sources, "believed to be snorkeling U-boat," and visual sightings from patroling aircraft, etc., led to several subsequent attacks. The U-853 was located on sonar and attacked by the USS Muskegon (PF-24) off Monhegon Island at 4:42PM on 24 April '45. She was tracked and again attacked by Monhegon, Eberly (DD-430) and Earle (DD-635) between 12:51 and 3:00 PM on 25 April '45. She was attacked on the 26th in the mid Gulf of Maine while surfaces, by a PBY5A, but dove and evaded the attack. She was located while surfaced 10 miles East of Cape Cod by an unarmed U.S. Navy F6F 'Hellcat' on 29 April '45, but dove before armed aircraft could be vectored to attack. She torpedoed and sank the SS Black Point 3.5 miles Southeast of Point Judith, Rhode Island at 5:35 PM on May 5, 1945 before being hunted down and destroyed with all hands by USS Atherton (DE-163), Amick (DE-168), Moberly (PF-63) and Ericsson (DD-440), between numerous attacks from the 5th and 6th of May '45.

The part that absolutely identifies the U-853 as the sub that killed the USS Eagle PE-56, is testimony of her survivors. Following the explosion, the crew scrambled to her dock, as she broke apart and started sinking amidships. A number of crewmen scrambled up her fantail, to her depth-charge racks, and witnessed a "black submarine surface several hundred yards away." In complete disbelief, several startled crewmen stared at the sub, particularly her conning tower, where "red and yellow' markings were noted.

Twelve days later, after the U-853 had been sunk, 6.7 miles due East of the North tip of Block Island, on 6 April 1945 a U.S. Navy hardhat diver named Edwin Bokelman descended on the wreck, and surfaced after only minutes. Scatterer on her deck were several very dangerous, unexpolded depth-charges. The conning tower hatch had been crammed with the twisted and pulverised bodies of her Officers and Crewmen, wearing Dreager escape equipment. Bokelman recovered the body of MtrOGfr. Herbert Hoffmann (04.09.22), and upon being de-briefed upon the salvage vessel, identified the U-boat to his superiors as that of the "U-853."

How did Edwin Bokelman identify the sub by her number? German U-boats did not bear their number "U-853" in large white letters and numbers as they had been seen decorated during the so-called "Victory Tours" to major port cities following the war. John Chatterton and Richie Kohler of "Shadow Divers" fame learned that one can not identify a U-boat by her exterior, alone. U-boats did not usually carry an external indication of their identity. But the U-853 had not been your typical boat. At some time prior to her departing Norway, KL Froemsdorf allowed an artistic crewman to ply his trade on the conning tower, with a depiction of her mascot, and symbol, "Dratseiltanzer" (Tightrope Walker), a red trotting horse, on a yellow shield. Edwin Bokelman had seen a painted conning tower insignia, revealing her identity.

Bokelman spied, through the dark, fuel and detritus obscured waters, a painted insignia on the submarine's tower. Obscured by the depths that turn other colors shades of blue, green gray and black, he saw a sheild and a figure of a trotting horse. On the Shield, just below the feet of the trotting horse, Bokelman saw the dark painted letter and numbers "U-853."

With all due respect, Carlos, your book "Ultramar Sur" is nothing but a poorly researched fable, and does little (if anything) to add to add to historical research on the subject.

Notwithstanding, I wish you the best.

Regards,

Paul