Action of 5 September 1918
Encyclopedia
The Action of 5 September 1918 was a naval battle 200 mi (173.8 nmi; 321.9 km) off the coast of France in the North Atlantic during World War I
. The action was fought between a German
U-boat
and American
warships.
operating between the U.S. and Europe. On the outbreak of the war, she sought refuge in the then-neutral United States to avoid the British Royal Navy and was taken into Bar Harbor, Maine
, where she was interned
. After America entered World War I in April 1917, the ship was seized and turned over to the United States Navy
, who renamed her USS Mount Vernon in honor of Mount Vernon
.
Mount Vernon′s was used to transport American troops
across the Atlantic to France.
SM U-82
—a German submarine
— had several successful patrols of the Atlantic to sink any and all allied
shipping.
s were off France
and steaming in convoy
toward the U.S. when Mount Vernon was attacked by U-82. The German vessels' periscope
was spotted 500 yd (457.2 m) off the starboard bow, by a man of Mount Vernon′s gun crew; they immediately fired a round from the gun.
The shot was a hit. Apparently unaffected by the shot which reportedly did not harm anyone, U-82 surfaced. The U-boat fired a single torpedo
at Mount Vernon and then submerged. The American captain ordered "right full rudder" but the ship could not turn fast enough and was hit.
The destroyers , , and responded immediately and approached the battle area. Once they arrived near Mount Vernon, they observed the damage from a large explosion on Mount Vernon′s side.
The German commander—seeing the fast approaching American destroyers—decided not to follow up with a second torpedo so no further damage to the U.S. auxiliary cruiser was sustained. The four destroyers dropped depth charge
s for many minutes after Mount Vernon was hit, but they failed to sink the U-boat which slipped away.
Despite this, the American destroyers were credited with saving Mount Vernon from being sunk. Mount Vernon steamed safely back to Brest with the loss of 36 out of the 1,450 persons on board. Thirteen others were wounded, all of the American casualties were the result of the single torpedo explosion.
The ship suffered considerable damage but after immediate improvised repairs, she was able to return to Brest under her own steam with an allied warship for additional protection.
Further temporary repairs were made at Brest
, and from there Mount Vernon proceeded to Boston
, Massachusetts
for a complete repair. This was Mount Vernon′s last battle of the war and one of the bloodier days for the U.S. Navy during the conflict with Germany. U-82 continued to fight, as did the four U.S. destroyers.
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. The action was fought between a German
German Empire
The German Empire refers to Germany during the "Second Reich" period from the unification of Germany and proclamation of Wilhelm I as German Emperor on 18 January 1871, to 1918, when it became a federal republic after defeat in World War I and the abdication of the Emperor, Wilhelm II.The German...
U-boat
U-boat
U-boat is the anglicized version of the German word U-Boot , itself an abbreviation of Unterseeboot , and refers to military submarines operated by Germany, particularly in World War I and World War II...
and American
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
warships.
Background
was a German ocean linerOcean liner
An ocean liner is a ship designed to transport people from one seaport to another along regular long-distance maritime routes according to a schedule. Liners may also carry cargo or mail, and may sometimes be used for other purposes .Cargo vessels running to a schedule are sometimes referred to as...
operating between the U.S. and Europe. On the outbreak of the war, she sought refuge in the then-neutral United States to avoid the British Royal Navy and was taken into Bar Harbor, Maine
Maine
Maine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...
, where she was interned
Internment
Internment is the imprisonment or confinement of people, commonly in large groups, without trial. The Oxford English Dictionary gives the meaning as: "The action of 'interning'; confinement within the limits of a country or place." Most modern usage is about individuals, and there is a distinction...
. After America entered World War I in April 1917, the ship was seized and turned over to the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
, who renamed her USS Mount Vernon in honor of Mount Vernon
Mount Vernon
The name Mount Vernon is a dedication to the English Vice-Admiral Edward Vernon. It was first applied to Mount Vernon, the Virginia estate of George Washington, the first President of the United States...
.
Mount Vernon′s was used to transport American troops
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
across the Atlantic to France.
SM U-82
SM U-82
SM U-82 was a Type Mittel U U-boat of the German Imperial Navy during the First World War.She was launched on 1 July 1916 and commissioned on 16 September 1916 under Hans Adam. She was assigned to IV Flotilla on 21 November 1916, serving with them throughout the war. She carried out 11 patrols...
—a German submarine
U-boat
U-boat is the anglicized version of the German word U-Boot , itself an abbreviation of Unterseeboot , and refers to military submarines operated by Germany, particularly in World War I and World War II...
— had several successful patrols of the Atlantic to sink any and all allied
Allies of World War I
The Entente Powers were the countries at war with the Central Powers during World War I. The members of the Triple Entente were the United Kingdom, France, and the Russian Empire; Italy entered the war on their side in 1915...
shipping.
Action
On the morning of 5 September 1918, Mount Vernon and four destroyerDestroyer
In naval terminology, a destroyer is a fast and maneuverable yet long-endurance warship intended to escort larger vessels in a fleet, convoy or battle group and defend them against smaller, powerful, short-range attackers. Destroyers, originally called torpedo-boat destroyers in 1892, evolved from...
s were off France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and steaming in convoy
Convoy
A convoy is a group of vehicles, typically motor vehicles or ships, traveling together for mutual support and protection. Often, a convoy is organized with armed defensive support, though it may also be used in a non-military sense, for example when driving through remote areas.-Age of Sail:Naval...
toward the U.S. when Mount Vernon was attacked by U-82. The German vessels' periscope
Periscope
A periscope is an instrument for observation from a concealed position. In its simplest form it consists of a tube with mirrors at each end set parallel to each other at a 45-degree angle....
was spotted 500 yd (457.2 m) off the starboard bow, by a man of Mount Vernon′s gun crew; they immediately fired a round from the gun.
The shot was a hit. Apparently unaffected by the shot which reportedly did not harm anyone, U-82 surfaced. The U-boat fired a single torpedo
Torpedo
The modern torpedo is a self-propelled missile weapon with an explosive warhead, launched above or below the water surface, propelled underwater towards a target, and designed to detonate either on contact with it or in proximity to it.The term torpedo was originally employed for...
at Mount Vernon and then submerged. The American captain ordered "right full rudder" but the ship could not turn fast enough and was hit.
The destroyers , , and responded immediately and approached the battle area. Once they arrived near Mount Vernon, they observed the damage from a large explosion on Mount Vernon′s side.
The German commander—seeing the fast approaching American destroyers—decided not to follow up with a second torpedo so no further damage to the U.S. auxiliary cruiser was sustained. The four destroyers dropped depth charge
Depth charge
A depth charge is an anti-submarine warfare weapon intended to destroy or cripple a target submarine by the shock of exploding near it. Most use explosives and a fuze set to go off at a preselected depth in the ocean. Depth charges can be dropped by either surface ships, patrol aircraft, or from...
s for many minutes after Mount Vernon was hit, but they failed to sink the U-boat which slipped away.
Despite this, the American destroyers were credited with saving Mount Vernon from being sunk. Mount Vernon steamed safely back to Brest with the loss of 36 out of the 1,450 persons on board. Thirteen others were wounded, all of the American casualties were the result of the single torpedo explosion.
The ship suffered considerable damage but after immediate improvised repairs, she was able to return to Brest under her own steam with an allied warship for additional protection.
Aftermath
Brest, France
Brest is a city in the Finistère department in Brittany in northwestern France. Located in a sheltered position not far from the western tip of the Breton peninsula, and the western extremity of metropolitan France, Brest is an important harbour and the second French military port after Toulon...
, and from there Mount Vernon proceeded to Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
for a complete repair. This was Mount Vernon′s last battle of the war and one of the bloodier days for the U.S. Navy during the conflict with Germany. U-82 continued to fight, as did the four U.S. destroyers.