The German U-Boat War Against the United States during World War II
An Ambitious and Audacious Campaign: Operation Drum Beat
In the early years of World War II, German U-boats focused heavily on sinking Allied merchant ships along the Atlantic, aiming to choke Britain into submission by targeting vital supply lines. By attacking transatlantic convoys off the American coasts, the Germans hoped to cut off food, raw materials, and war supplies, thereby weakening Britain’s resolve.
Following Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941 and Hitler’s subsequent declaration of war on the United States, Germany saw an opportunity to extend its U-boat campaign to the U.S. eastern coast. This effort, named Operation Drum Beat, aimed to attack shipping along North America's shoreline, where defenses were still ill-equipped and scattered. The goal was not just to disrupt supply routes but also to demonstrate Hitler’s reach—the ability to strike within sight of New York City.
The "Second Happy Time": U-boats Pose a Grave Threat
During the first phase of Operation Drum Beat, German U-boats experienced what they called the "Second Happy Time," mirroring their early successes in European waters. From January 1942 onwards, U-boats prowled the North American eastern coast, sinking ships at an alarming rate—609 ships totaling over 3 million tons were lost, with only 22 U-boats destroyed, primarily due to improved Allied defenses.
The boldness of these U-boats increased; they operated close to shore and even within sight of Manhattan’s skyline. One famous incident involved a submarine coming within visual distance of the New York Harbor, torpedoing ships just a few miles from the city, revealing the vulnerability of U.S. coastal defenses at the time.
The Mission of U-123 and Commander Reinhard Hardigan
One of the key U-boats involved was U-123, a Type IXB submarine, commanded by the renowned Reinhard Hardigan, a seasoned sailor with a storied career. Launched in December 1941, U-123 was loaded with torpedoes and equipped with surface guns and anti-aircraft weapons, making it a formidable foe.
Hardigan’s mission was to penetrate the U.S. coast near New York, exploit the weak defenses, and sink Allied shipping—a daring operation with a high risk of detection and destruction. In January 1942, Hardigan and U-123 achieved a significant milestone when they sank the SS Cyclops, an old but resilient merchant vessel, near Nova Scotia.
Soon after, U-123 approached the American coast, sailing near Long Island. Hardigan famously saw Manhattan’s illuminated skyline from the sea, describing it as "unbelievably beautiful and great," a haunting moment of reconnaissance that underscored the threat posed by the German U-boat fleet.
The Attacks Near New York City
In early 1942, U-123 struck several targets along the U.S. East Coast. On January 14, 1942, Hardigan torpedoed the Panamanian-flagged tanker SS Orange (or similar vessels depending on sources), causing spectacular explosions visible ashore. Over the following days, further attacks targeted ships near Cape Hatteras and Long Island.
The U-boat’s crew also took the extraordinary step of observing Manhattan’s skyline from the sea, with Hardigan noting how the city’s lights created an eerie backdrop for their operations. Although there was consideration of entering New York Harbor itself, decision constraints—mainly the shallow waters and incomplete charts—prevented such an assault.
The German Effort to Develop Long-Range Bombers
Parallel to submarine warfare, Germany contemplated daring plans to attack the U.S. mainland using long-range aircraft. The "America Bomber" project involved massive bombers like the Junkers Ju 390, which was designed to fly from Europe to America and back. Although prototypes were built and tested, the war ended before these aircraft could be deployed operationally.
Hitler’s ambitions extended even further, with designs for using refueling points in Portugal and the possibility of launching V-weapon missiles from strategic locations to reach U.S. shores. The V-1 flying bombs and V-2 ballistic missiles, initially intended for Europe, also had potential provisions to be launched from submarines, but these projects faced immense technical challenges and remained largely conceptual.
The Italian Connection: Prince Yunio Borazi’s Submarine Assaults
Italy, under fascist regime led by Benito Mussolini, also envisioned expanding offensive operations to the U.S. coast. Naval officer Prince Yunio Borazi—notorious for successful Mediterranean raids—proposed a covert operation to infiltrate New York Harbor using special submarines and frogmen.
Borazi devised a plan to insert commandos via small Italian submarines, to mine or sabotage ships at dockside along Manhattan’s West Street. His chosen vessel, the CA-type submarine, was modified for clandestine insertion missions carrying explosive charges or special equipment. The plan involved using Italian submarines in conjunction with larger mother vessels to ferry the commandos and stealth equipment.
However, the plan was thwarted when the Italian submarine Leonardo da Vinci was detected and sunk in May 1943, just before the planned operation. Italy’s surrender in September 1943 then halted further efforts. Borazi’s daring scheme demonstrated the strategic desperation and creativity of Axis plans against American targets.
As the war progressed, German scientists tried to develop weaponized U-boats capable of launching V-1 flying bombs or V-2 missiles at U.S. cities. Early experiments involved attaching rocket launchers to U-boats and even testing underwater launching systems for the V-2 ballistic missile.
Though these projects were technically far from realization, intelligence reports suggested that German U-boats could carry and launch V-1s from submarines. The potential for a city like New York to be targeted by guided missiles from subs was a terrifying prospect, and the U.S. intensified anti-submarine patrols and defenses as a result.
The Decline and End of German U-Boat Assaults on the U.S.
By mid-1944, the Allies had improved their anti-submarine tactics, deploying aircraft carriers, destroyer escorts, and radar technology to track and destroy U-boats. In April 1945, reduced to a few remaining vessels, the U-boats attempted to evade detection and continue their missions, but most were destroyed.
Despite ongoing fears of missile attacks, no V-1 or V-2 armed U-boats succeeded in reaching U.S. shores. All remaining German submarines either surrendered or were sunk before completing any mission of the sort. As the war in Europe concluded in May 1945, the last U-boat surrendered, and the German U-boat threat to American cities effectively ended.
Had these plans come to fruition—such as German long-range aircraft or submarine-launched missiles—the impact on American morale and homeland security could have been devastating. The technological limitations, logistical challenges, and fierce Allied countermeasures rendered these ambitious plans largely unrealized.
The Germans and Italians did manage to threaten U.S. shipping and launched daring operations, but the physical barriers of the Atlantic and the defensive vigilance of the Allies kept American mainland safe from direct attack. The stories of these daring covert operations, especially the Italian plans and the mythical long-range bombers, remain some of the most intriguing "what ifs" of World War II.
The German U-boat campaign off the U.S. coast was a bold and significant chapter of WWII’s naval history. The daring missions, technological experiments, and failed plots highlight the intense strategic desperation of the Axis powers in their attempt to strike at America's heartland. While most plans remained unfulfilled, they serve as a testament to the lengths nations went to wage unconventional warfare during this tumultuous period.
The threat of German missile-armed U-boats may have been averted, but the specter of that kind of attack helped shape U.S. naval and coastal defenses for decades to come.
Part 1/12:
The German U-Boat War Against the United States during World War II
An Ambitious and Audacious Campaign: Operation Drum Beat
In the early years of World War II, German U-boats focused heavily on sinking Allied merchant ships along the Atlantic, aiming to choke Britain into submission by targeting vital supply lines. By attacking transatlantic convoys off the American coasts, the Germans hoped to cut off food, raw materials, and war supplies, thereby weakening Britain’s resolve.
Part 2/12:
Following Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941 and Hitler’s subsequent declaration of war on the United States, Germany saw an opportunity to extend its U-boat campaign to the U.S. eastern coast. This effort, named Operation Drum Beat, aimed to attack shipping along North America's shoreline, where defenses were still ill-equipped and scattered. The goal was not just to disrupt supply routes but also to demonstrate Hitler’s reach—the ability to strike within sight of New York City.
The "Second Happy Time": U-boats Pose a Grave Threat
Part 3/12:
During the first phase of Operation Drum Beat, German U-boats experienced what they called the "Second Happy Time," mirroring their early successes in European waters. From January 1942 onwards, U-boats prowled the North American eastern coast, sinking ships at an alarming rate—609 ships totaling over 3 million tons were lost, with only 22 U-boats destroyed, primarily due to improved Allied defenses.
The boldness of these U-boats increased; they operated close to shore and even within sight of Manhattan’s skyline. One famous incident involved a submarine coming within visual distance of the New York Harbor, torpedoing ships just a few miles from the city, revealing the vulnerability of U.S. coastal defenses at the time.
The Mission of U-123 and Commander Reinhard Hardigan
Part 4/12:
One of the key U-boats involved was U-123, a Type IXB submarine, commanded by the renowned Reinhard Hardigan, a seasoned sailor with a storied career. Launched in December 1941, U-123 was loaded with torpedoes and equipped with surface guns and anti-aircraft weapons, making it a formidable foe.
Hardigan’s mission was to penetrate the U.S. coast near New York, exploit the weak defenses, and sink Allied shipping—a daring operation with a high risk of detection and destruction. In January 1942, Hardigan and U-123 achieved a significant milestone when they sank the SS Cyclops, an old but resilient merchant vessel, near Nova Scotia.
Part 5/12:
Soon after, U-123 approached the American coast, sailing near Long Island. Hardigan famously saw Manhattan’s illuminated skyline from the sea, describing it as "unbelievably beautiful and great," a haunting moment of reconnaissance that underscored the threat posed by the German U-boat fleet.
The Attacks Near New York City
In early 1942, U-123 struck several targets along the U.S. East Coast. On January 14, 1942, Hardigan torpedoed the Panamanian-flagged tanker SS Orange (or similar vessels depending on sources), causing spectacular explosions visible ashore. Over the following days, further attacks targeted ships near Cape Hatteras and Long Island.
Part 6/12:
The U-boat’s crew also took the extraordinary step of observing Manhattan’s skyline from the sea, with Hardigan noting how the city’s lights created an eerie backdrop for their operations. Although there was consideration of entering New York Harbor itself, decision constraints—mainly the shallow waters and incomplete charts—prevented such an assault.
The German Effort to Develop Long-Range Bombers
Parallel to submarine warfare, Germany contemplated daring plans to attack the U.S. mainland using long-range aircraft. The "America Bomber" project involved massive bombers like the Junkers Ju 390, which was designed to fly from Europe to America and back. Although prototypes were built and tested, the war ended before these aircraft could be deployed operationally.
Part 7/12:
Hitler’s ambitions extended even further, with designs for using refueling points in Portugal and the possibility of launching V-weapon missiles from strategic locations to reach U.S. shores. The V-1 flying bombs and V-2 ballistic missiles, initially intended for Europe, also had potential provisions to be launched from submarines, but these projects faced immense technical challenges and remained largely conceptual.
The Italian Connection: Prince Yunio Borazi’s Submarine Assaults
Italy, under fascist regime led by Benito Mussolini, also envisioned expanding offensive operations to the U.S. coast. Naval officer Prince Yunio Borazi—notorious for successful Mediterranean raids—proposed a covert operation to infiltrate New York Harbor using special submarines and frogmen.
Part 8/12:
Borazi devised a plan to insert commandos via small Italian submarines, to mine or sabotage ships at dockside along Manhattan’s West Street. His chosen vessel, the CA-type submarine, was modified for clandestine insertion missions carrying explosive charges or special equipment. The plan involved using Italian submarines in conjunction with larger mother vessels to ferry the commandos and stealth equipment.
However, the plan was thwarted when the Italian submarine Leonardo da Vinci was detected and sunk in May 1943, just before the planned operation. Italy’s surrender in September 1943 then halted further efforts. Borazi’s daring scheme demonstrated the strategic desperation and creativity of Axis plans against American targets.
The Threat of V-Weapon Launching from U-boats
Part 9/12:
As the war progressed, German scientists tried to develop weaponized U-boats capable of launching V-1 flying bombs or V-2 missiles at U.S. cities. Early experiments involved attaching rocket launchers to U-boats and even testing underwater launching systems for the V-2 ballistic missile.
Though these projects were technically far from realization, intelligence reports suggested that German U-boats could carry and launch V-1s from submarines. The potential for a city like New York to be targeted by guided missiles from subs was a terrifying prospect, and the U.S. intensified anti-submarine patrols and defenses as a result.
The Decline and End of German U-Boat Assaults on the U.S.
Part 10/12:
By mid-1944, the Allies had improved their anti-submarine tactics, deploying aircraft carriers, destroyer escorts, and radar technology to track and destroy U-boats. In April 1945, reduced to a few remaining vessels, the U-boats attempted to evade detection and continue their missions, but most were destroyed.
Despite ongoing fears of missile attacks, no V-1 or V-2 armed U-boats succeeded in reaching U.S. shores. All remaining German submarines either surrendered or were sunk before completing any mission of the sort. As the war in Europe concluded in May 1945, the last U-boat surrendered, and the German U-boat threat to American cities effectively ended.
Reflections on the "What Ifs"
Part 11/12:
Had these plans come to fruition—such as German long-range aircraft or submarine-launched missiles—the impact on American morale and homeland security could have been devastating. The technological limitations, logistical challenges, and fierce Allied countermeasures rendered these ambitious plans largely unrealized.
The Germans and Italians did manage to threaten U.S. shipping and launched daring operations, but the physical barriers of the Atlantic and the defensive vigilance of the Allies kept American mainland safe from direct attack. The stories of these daring covert operations, especially the Italian plans and the mythical long-range bombers, remain some of the most intriguing "what ifs" of World War II.
Conclusion
Part 12/12:
The German U-boat campaign off the U.S. coast was a bold and significant chapter of WWII’s naval history. The daring missions, technological experiments, and failed plots highlight the intense strategic desperation of the Axis powers in their attempt to strike at America's heartland. While most plans remained unfulfilled, they serve as a testament to the lengths nations went to wage unconventional warfare during this tumultuous period.
The threat of German missile-armed U-boats may have been averted, but the specter of that kind of attack helped shape U.S. naval and coastal defenses for decades to come.