USS Champlin Sinks U-Boat U-856

On just their third day of submarine patrol, the USS Champlin and accompanying destroyers make contact with a German U-boat, U-856, and spend nearly the entire day trying to destroy it, making and losing contact with the U-boat nearly ten times.  The exhausting battle came to a head at 16:52 when the U-boat’s periscope was spotted just off the Champlin’s port beam.  Seven minutes later, the Champlin scored a direct hit on U-856, causing the boat to start on fire.  Sensing his chance to destroy the U-boat for good, Commander John J. Shaffer ordered the Champlin to directly ram the U-boat.

Moments after ramming U-856, the Champlin circled around to continue her attack, but one of her 20mm projectile’s misfired on the bridge, causing a large explosion.  The explosion wounded four men, including Commander Shaffer.

Captain Shaffer was taken to the Emergency Cabin immediately, and would undergo an operation early the next morning in an effort to save his life, but his wounds were simply too serious.  At 08:03 on April 8th, 1944, Captain Shaffer died.

The projectile that had killed Shaffer was determined later to have exploded as a result of improperly out firing cam cut-out which did not allow for the open lid of the ready box.

U-856 surfacing on April 7th:

 

There were 28 survivors from the German U-boat U-856, of the 55 men on-board during the battle.  Below are some photos of the survivors: