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In the 1940's if you knocked the out the hydro electric power (possibly largest in the world)plants you'd have no abrasives i believe this area was the hub for abrasives . No abrasives no machining
Freebird, I'll take a stab at it.
U-boats did make it off the coast of New Jersey rather close so some type of froggy commando attack could have been made up the Delaware to the Philadelphia and Camden boat yards. Now I have no idea about the defenses or how shallow the Delaware is but maybe we could start there. Those two yards were very active during the war. And as they sit half-way between DC and NY, I'm sure some type of over reactive panic would ensue.
It would take place in early to mid 1942 Rabid.
Now contrary to what Glider believes a Uboat could carry many men besides the dedicated crew, a Type IX could easily haul along 25 extra men, and even more if the number of torpedoes carried were cut down. On top of that the Type IX had a cargo hold on the top deck, usually used for extra torps or mail, food (Incase of milkcow), equipment, looted goods etc etc. This cargo hold could ofcourse therefore be used to hold all the equipment needed for the raid.
Does anyone know what the closest a U-boat has come to the US shoreline?
I believe there were U-Boots within site of New York City. They surfaced just outside of the harbor and they could see the lights of the city.
Njaco, the Delaware is pretty shallow for the most part. About 40 foot in the channel with plenty of shoals. Be impossible to run a sub up there underwater. On top of the hazards to navigation, there would be a ton of traffic (especially during war time). Somebody would run it over.
I think a sub managed to lay some mines in the mouth of the Ches in early 42. Same thing for the sea lanes into NYC. One also got into the St. Lawrence Seaway in 42. There were also a bunch of them shooting up tanker traffic off Diamond Shoals down off Cape Hatterus (sp?). Also, close enough to see the lights on the following cities:
Miami
Jacksonville (made a landing there with spies)
Charleston
Wilmington NC
Atlantic City
N. Jersey
NYC
Those are the ones I know of. Seems there was a big problem with the local mayors not wanting to black out their cities because of worries over the tourist trade. Finally, after losing 400 ships in 6 months, it became manditory.
Decent book on the whole thing is "Operation Drumbeat". Rough english translation for the German Sub attacks on the East Coast. Link to book on Amazon. Ok book. Read it a while ago.
There actually was a a battle up here its called the Battle of the St Lawrence there was a number of U boat patrols in the St Lawrence one almost got to Quebec City
this link will explain it better then I but 42 attacks were made 22 ships were sunk including 3 naval vessels
The Battle of the Gulf of St. Lawrence - Veterans Affairs Canada
And a question for you Soren, looking at the pics of the Italian "manned torpedoes" could a U-boat transport 2- 4 of these things? I would assume that they are about 2,000 - 2,500 pounds, and that the shields for the riders can be removed
Tim, arent the currents around there quite tricky?
And navigating a midget sub in water thats usually murky isnt exactly easy to do.
There are no hills within LOS of the Phila Navy Yard. Jersey is dead flat at that point and so is most of Pa around there.