The USS Jacob Jones -DD-130 dropped more than 50 depth charges on a contact it made off Ambrose Light ship at the mouth of New York City harbor on Feb. 22, 1942. No kill was credited to it though there was an oil slick sighted. Just a few days later, on Feb. 28, 1942, the Jacob Jones was sunk off Cape May, NJ by U-578.

My question: Was there any U-Boat operating around Ambrose Light Ship on Feb. 22, 1942? Did the Jacob Jones find a real contact, but miss it? (It does not appear that any U-Boat is missing in that area.)

That brings up another point: What would cause a false sonar contact other than a whale? (I know a DE helmsman who told me his DE killed a whale late in the war thinking it was a sub).