Hell Below (2016–2018): Season 2, Episode 3 - U-Boat Killers - full transcript

AS THE SECOND
WORLD WAR DRAGS ON,

A GERMAN U-BOAT CREW
BEATS THE ODDS

TO DEFY
DEPTH CHARGES AND AIRCRAFT

TO CONTINUE TO SINK
ALLIED SHIPS

AND STILL RETURN TO PORT.

THE FACT THAT
THEY OVERCAME THE DAMAGES,

THAT THEY WERE ABLE TO SURVIVE
CONSTANT AIR INTERRUPTIONS-

I BELIEVE THAT ON THIS PATROL
THERE WERE 73 CRASH DIVES-

AND STILL MAKE IT HOME
IN ONE PIECE

IS REMARKABLE.

BUT IN EARLY 1944,



A NEW ALLIED HUNTER-KILLER GROUP
TARGETS THE U-BOATS.

AND NOW U-515
FACES THE ULTIMATE TEST.

IN WORLD WAR II,

A SUBSEA WEAPON ALLOWS WARRIORS
TO FIGHT FROM BENEATH THE WAVES.

WITH CUNNING,
FORCE, AND TENACITY,

THEIR ENEMIES STRIKE BACK.

REVOLUTIONARY,
BUT STILL SOMETIMES PRIMITIVE,

IT'S A DESPERATE BID
TO CHANGE THE COURSE OF WAR.

THEIR STORIES ARE LEGEND.

NOVEMBER 18, 1943.

NAZI U-BOAT U-515

SPOTS A MASSIVE ALLIED CONVOY
OFF THE COAST OF PORTUGAL.

12 ESCORTS GUARD 66 SHIPS,

INCLUDING 11 TANK LANDING SHIPS



DESTINED FOR
THE D-DAY INVASIONS.

GROSSADMIRAL KARL DÖNITZ

HAD ASSIGNED 26 SUBMARINES
TO FIND THE CONVOY.

BECAUSE OF
THE SIZE OF THIS CONVOY,

BECAUSE IT WAS PICKED UP
BY GERMAN INTELLIGENCE,

DÖNITZ DECIDED
TO MAKE AN ALL-OUT EFFORT

TO TRY TO INTERCEPT THIS CONVOY.

U-BOAT COMMANDER
KAPITÄNLEUTNANT WERNER HENKE

MUST SHARE THE SHIPS' LOCATION
WITH THE OTHER SUBMARINES.

HE SURFACES 12 MILES AWAY
TO TRANSMIT A MESSAGE.

BUT AN ALLIED PLANE ATTACKS,

FORCING HENKE TO DIVE.

THE U-BOAT IS UNABLE TO TRANSMIT
ITS CRUCIAL MESSAGE.

U- 515 IS ON ITS OWN.

THE PLANE BANKS AWAY.

BUT WHILE AT PERISCOPE DEPTH,

HENKE SIGHTS TWO WARSHIPS

BREAKING OFF
FROM THE ESCORT SCREEN.

THEY'RE COMING RIGHT FOR HIM.

THIS IS HENKE'S
FIFTH WAR PATROL.

HIS FIRST WAS
ONLY THE YEAR BEFORE,

WHEN HE RACKED UP
AN IMPRESSIVE NINE KILLS.

HE HAS ALREADY EARNED THE TITLE
OF U-BOAT ACE.

THIS ACHIEVEMENT IS IMPRESSIVE

AS GERMAN U-BOATS NOW STRUGGLE

AGAINST ALLIED
AIR AND RADAR SUPERIORITY

AND HAVE BEEN FORCED TO RETREAT

FROM THE MAIN CONVOY ROUTES
ACROSS THE ATLANTIC.

HENKE'S SUCCESS
MAKES HIM NOTORIOUS.

HE IS NAMED IN AN ALLIED
PROPAGANDA BROADCAST

IN MARCH 1943.

THEY WILL BLAME WERNER HENKE

FOR THE SHOOTING OF SURVIVORS
OF THE BRITISH LINER CERAMIC.

AND HENKE
IS ALSO UNPOPULAR AT HOME.

HE'S VERY MUCH AN OUTSIDER

WITHIN THE GERMAN NAVY.

IN A SERVICE THAT VALUES

RESERVE, REFLECTION,
AND SELF-DISCIPLINE,

WERNER HENKE IS KIND OF
THE OPPOSITE OF ALL OF THOSE.

HIS OWN CREW
SOMETIMES RESENTS HIM.

HE KEEPS THEM ABOARD U-515,

WHEN MANY OF THE PETTY OFFICERS
WOULD QUALIFY FOR A HIGHER RANK

OR PROMOTION
ABOARD OTHER U-BOATS.

BUT HENKE HAS AN IMPORTANT ALLY
IN DÖNITZ.

DÖNITZ APPRECIATES A MAVERICK.

DÖNITZ WAS WILLING TO MAKE
EXCEPTIONS FOR HENKE,

WHEN HE SEES THAT HE DOES
PRODUCE AS WELL AS HE DOES.

NOW, HENKE LEADS HIS MEN

TO FACE
TWO ENEMY WARSHIPS ALONE.

THE SHIPS HAVE
A TOP SPEED OF 20 KNOTS,

AND HENKE CAN'T OUTRUN THEM.

THE ONLY WAY U-515 CAN SURVIVE
IS TO ATTACK.

HENKE PREPARES TO LAUNCH

ONE OF THE KRIEGSMARINE'S
NEWEST WEAPONS-

THE T-5 ACOUSTIC TORPEDO.

IT WAS A CUTTING-EDGE
TECHNOLOGY OF THE TIME.

NOW YOU HAD A KIND OF
ACOUSTIC HOMING DEVICE.

AFTER THE TORPEDO LEFT,

THIS HOMING DEVICE DIRECTED IT

TO THE SOURCE
OF THE GREATEST NOISE,

WHICH USUALLY WAS THE PROPELLER
OF SOME KIND OF VESSEL.

BUT THE TORPEDO MISSES.

MISSED.

THE SHIPS CONTINUE THEIR CHARGE

AND CLOSE IN ON U-515.

WHILE SONAR USUALLY HELPS
TO FIND SUBMERGED U-BOATS,

IT ISN'T PERFECT.

IMPORTANTLY, THE SHIPS
CAN'T DETECT THEIR TARGET

AS THEY TRAVEL AT HIGH SPEED.

WHEN THEY SLOW DOWN AND HONE IN,
THEY HAVE ANOTHER PROBLEM.

WHEN YOU'RE
CARRYING OUT AN ATTACK,

YOU LOSE CONTACT BEFORE YOU FIRE
DEPTH CHARGES OVER THE STERN.

HENKE REMAINS
DETERMINED TO SURFACE

AND SEND THE MESSAGE
TO U-BOAT HEADQUARTERS.

WHEN THE SHIPS FAIL TO LAUNCH
THEIR DEPTH CHARGES,

HE CREEPS BACK
TO PERISCOPE DEPTH.

IT'S A MISTAKE.

THE PERISCOPE

IS THE MAIN SENSOR
OF THE SUBMARINE IN MANY WAYS,

CERTAINLY THE MAIN
VISUAL SENSOR.

BUT THE TROUBLE IS,

IF YOU PUT IT UP,
YOU BECOME VULNERABLE.

YOU SAY, "I AM HERE,
COME AND ATTACK ME."

BUT WITH A VIEW OF HIS TARGET,

HENKE ORDERS THE MEN TO FIRE
ANOTHER HOMING TORPEDO.

TOPSIDE, LIEUTENANT COMMANDER
ROBERT BRISTOWE

ORDERS HMS CHANTICLEER

TO CHARGE TOWARD
THE LAST PERISCOPE SIGHTING,

ABOUT 2,000 YARDS AWAY.

DEPTH CHARGES.

HE DIRECTS HIS MEN
TO READY TEN DEPTH CHARGES.

THE CREW LAUNCHES THE FIRST TWO.

JUST THEN,
HENKE'S TORPEDO HITS HOME.

THE RUDDER WAS ACTUALLY
BLOWN OUT OF THE WATER

AND COMES CRASHING BACK
ONTO THE SHIP.

VERY NASTY DAMAGE INDEED.

THE BLAST KILLS 30 CREWMEN.

BUT HENKE DOESN'T EVEN KNOW
HE'S SCORED A HIT.

A DEPTH CHARGE EXPLODES
AT ALMOST THE SAME TIME.

HENKE DIVES DEEPER TO EVADE.

DESPITE THE DAMAGE,
CHANTICLEER'S CREW FIGHTS ON.

YOU CAN'T KEEP A GOOD SHIP DOWN.

IF THE SHIP IS IN SONAR CONTACT,

EVEN THOUGH
IT'S IN DEEP TROUBLE,

THEN IT WILL CONTINUE TO ENGAGE.

WITHIN MINUTES,

CHANTICLEER'S SONAR
DOES REGAIN CONTACT OF U-515.

THE RUINED SHIP'S GUNNERS FIRE
RAPIDLY AT THE BUBBLING WATER

WHERE THE DEPTH CHARGES
HAVE JUST GONE OFF.

THEY HOPE TO
FURTHER WOUND THE U-BOAT

IF IT STARTS TO SURFACE...

WHILE SEAWATER GUSHES IN
THROUGH U-515'S EXHAUST VALVES.

THE DEPTH CHARGES
OF CHANTICLEER

CAUSED MAJOR DAMAGE
ON THE U-BOAT.

MAJOR DAMAGE
BUT NOT DEADLY DAMAGE.

SO, FOR INSTANCE,

THE AIR COMPRESSOR
WAS TORN OFF ITS MOUNTINGS,

BUT IT WAS NOT DAMAGED.

HENKE WANTS TO ESCAPE THE ATTACK

WITH THE U-BOAT'S
NATURAL ADVANTAGE:

DIVING.

IF HE CAN GET AWAY
AND RESURFACE,

HE CAN INFORM HEADQUARTERS
OF THE CONVOY'S LOCATION.

BUT ABOVE, THE SECOND ENEMY SHIP
NOW TRACKS U-515'S EVERY MOVE.

OVER THE NEXT THREE HOURS,

HMS CRANE'S SONAR PINPOINTS
U-515'S LOCATION SEVEN TIMES.

WE'VE GOT SONAR CONTACT.

RANGE 1,500 YARDS,
BEARING 2-7-0.

EACH TIME, THEY DROP
PATTERNS OF TEN DEPTH CHARGES.

WITH EACH BARRAGE,

HENKE'S MEN
DESPERATELY PLUG LEAKS

AND MAKE ESSENTIAL REPAIRS.

BUT TIME AND THEIR AIR
IS RUNNING OUT.

A WORLD WAR II U-BOAT,
WHEN IT WAS SUBMERGED,

HAD ONLY A VERY LIMITED
SUPPLY OF AIR.

WITH A RAISED STRESS LEVEL,
THE CREW CONSUMED MORE OXYGEN,

EVEN MORE
IF THEY WERE HARD WORKING,

DOING EMERGENCY REPAIRS.

U-515 HAS STRUCK
ONE BRITISH WARSHIP.

THE U-BOAT'S SURVIVAL REQUIRES
THEY ESCAPE ANOTHER.

HENKE ORDERS
THEY CHANGE COURSE RAPIDLY,

TWISTING AND TURNING U-515 TO
EVADE THE DEPTH CHARGE ATTACKS.

FINALLY, THE U-BOAT
SHAKES OFF HMS CRANE.

THE HYDROPHONE OPERATOR
TELLS HENKE

THAT THE ENEMY SHIP
HAS MOVED OFF.

U- 515 COMES TO THE SURFACE
FOR SOME MUCH-NEEDED FRESH AIR

AND TO ASSESS THE DAMAGE.

THE U-BOAT HAD SUFFERED
TREMENDOUS DAMAGE.

IT WAS HEAVILY PUNISHED
BY THE DEPTH CHARGES.

THERE WAS NOT ONLY LEAKS;

THEY HAD TO TRY TO
COUNTERBALANCE THE U-BOAT

AND STOP IT FROM SINKING.

HENKE'S ENGINEERING STAFF

REPORT ON
THE U-BOAT'S CONDITION.

SENIOR ENGINEER OFFICER
GEORG MAHNKEN

RECOMMENDS RETURNING TO PORT
TO HAVE THE SUBMARINE REPAIRED.

JUNIOR ENGINEER OFFICER
GÜNTHER ALTENBURGER DISAGREES.

TO RETURN TO LORIENT,

THEY MUST CROSS
THE BAY OF BISCAY,

ALSO KNOWN AS
THE GRAVEYARD OF THE U-BOATS.

THE ALLIES CAN HEAVILY PATROL
THIS BODY OF WATER

WITH AIRCRAFT BASED OUT
OF THE UNITED KINGDOM.

DAMAGE TO U-515
WOULD MAKE THEM EASY TO FIND.

THEY ALSO LOST OIL,

AND OF COURSE THIS OIL
WENT UP TO THE SURFACE

AND LEFT A TRAIL,

VERY MUCH LIKE A BLOOD TRAIL

LEADING A HUNTER
TO A WOUNDED DEER.

IN U-515'S CURRENT CONDITION,

ALTENBURGER ARGUES,

THEY'LL BE AS GOOD AS DEAD.

HENKE MUST DECIDE.

NOVEMBER 1943.

AFTER A DEADLY ENCOUNTER
WITH BRITISH WARSHIPS,

U- BOAT COMMANDER WERNER HENKE
MUST CHOOSE.

HIS SENIOR ENGINEER OFFICER
THINKS THE DAMAGE IS SO SEVERE,

THEY MUST RETURN TO PORT
IMMEDIATELY.

JUNIOR ENGINEER OFFICER
GÜNTHER ALTENBURGER

RECOMMENDS THEY REPAIR THE WORST
OF THE LEAKS AND DAMAGE

BEFORE MAKING
THE LONG JOURNEY HOME.

HENKE DECIDES TO FOLLOW

THE JUNIOR ENGINEER OFFICER'S
ADVICE.

ON NOVEMBER 22nd,

U- 515 TUCKS IN
NEAR THE CANARY ISLANDS.

HIDDEN FROM SIGHT,

THE CREW REPAIRS THE U-BOAT
AS BEST THEY CAN.

MOSTLY DUE TO ALTENBURGER'S
EXCEPTIONAL WORK,

U- 515 IS OPERATIONAL
IN JUST TWO DAYS.

OF COURSE THERE IS A LIMIT
FOR EVERY U-BOAT

ABOUT THE DAMAGE IT CAN TAKE.

SO THIS WAS THE WARNING
BY THE ENGINEER-

JUST AVOID ANY FURTHER DAMAGE

TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY COULD GET
BACK TO THE HOME BASE SAFELY.

DESPITE THE RECOMMENDATION,

HENKE CANNOT AVOID
THE LURE OF ENEMY SHIPS.

HE SINKS TWO BRITISH FREIGHTERS
AND A MOTOR SHIP

ON THE WEST AFRICAN COAST,

BEFORE HE FINALLY HEADS TO PORT.

THE U-BOAT, U-BOAT
VIRTUALLY IS A FLOATING WRECK.

THE ONLY THING THEY CAN DO
IS TRY TO LIMP HOME.

IT PROVES DIFFICULT
TO EVEN MAINTAIN POWER.

THE ATTACKS
ALSO DAMAGED THE BATTERIES,

AND THEY WON'T HOLD A CHARGE.

SINCE THEN, THEY'VE HAD TO
RECHARGE CONSTANTLY.

UNTIL NOW,

IT HASN'T BEEN A PROBLEM
TO REMAIN ON THE SURFACE.

BUT THEY STILL
HAVE TO RETURN TO LORIENT

THROUGH THE BAY OF BISCAY.

AND WITHOUT BATTERY POWER,

THE U-BOAT LOSES ITS ABILITY
TO DIVE TO PROTECT ITSELF.

JANUARY 10, 1944.

U- 515 ENTERS THE BAY OF BISCAY.

HENKE TRIES TO SURFACE
FOUR TIMES

TO RECHARGE THEIR BATTERIES.

AND EACH TIME, ENEMY AIRCRAFT
FORCE U-515 BACK UNDER.

SUBMERGED,

THEY TRAVEL VERY SLOWLY
OFF THE COAST OF NEUTRAL SPAIN.

AT 4 P. M., AFTER 22 HOURS,

THE BATTERIES FINALLY DIE.

THE ELECTRICAL MOTORS
LOSE POWER AND CUT OUT.

IN THE DEEP WATERS
OF THE OPEN OCEAN,

THIS WOULD BE A DISASTER.

FORTUNATELY, THE WATERS ALONG
THE COAST ARE SHALLOW,

AND U-515
SETTLES ON THE SEA FLOOR.

HENKE HAS ENOUGH POWER TO GET
TO THE SURFACE ONE LAST TIME

BUT MUST WAIT UNTIL NIGHTFALL.

THE RAF PATROLS
OVER THE BAY OF BISCAY

HAVE BEEN UNRELENTING.

BY THIS PERIOD IN THE WAR,

ANTISUBMARINE MEASURES
ARE EXTREMELY EFFECTIVE.

AND THE BAY OFFENSIVE,
AS IT'S CALLED,

IS BECOMING PRETTY EFFECTIVE.

YOU HAVE AIRPLANES EQUIPPED
WITH HIGH-FREQUENCY RADAR

IF THE SUBMARINE
IS TRYING TO CROSS.

THE SENSORS ARE NOW AVAILABLE

TO MAKE THE AIRPLANE
A VERY EFFECTIVE WEAPON INDEED.

THE U-BOAT CREW
KNOWS IT IS FUTILE

TO RESURFACE BEFORE DUSK.

THE MEN STAY DOWN FOR ANOTHER
EXCRUCIATING THREE HOURS.

ONCE DARKNESS FALLS,

HENKE ORDERS U-515
TO THE SURFACE

WITH A LAST BLAST
OF THE BALLAST TANKS.

THE DIESEL ENGINES ROAR TO LIFE.

IF ANOTHER PATROL PLANE
SPOTS THEM,

THEY'RE IN TROUBLE.

THEY MAY NOT BE ABLE
TO DIVE AND RESURFACE AGAIN.

BUT THEIR LUCK HOLDS.

THE SKY REMAINS CLEAR
OF ENEMY AIRCRAFT.

HENKE TRIES
TO TAKE THE LEAST RISK

TO GET BACK TO HIS HOME BASE.

HE FOLLOWS THE COAST OF SPAIN

BECAUSE SPAIN IS NEUTRAL.

AND THEN HE TRIES TO GET

ONLY ABOUT THE MINIMUM STRETCH
OF OPEN SEA

BACK TO LORIENT AND INTO SAFETY.

ON THE MORNING OF JANUARY 14th,

U- 515'S RELIEVED LOOKOUTS
SPOT TWO GERMAN MINESWEEPERS-

AN ARMED ESCORT INTO PORT.

JUST AS THEY NEAR
THE FINISH LINE,

TWO BRITISH FIGHTER-BOMBERS
COME OUT OF NOWHERE

AND LAUNCH AN ATTACK.

BUT U-515 WILL NOT BE DEFEATED
THIS CLOSE TO HOME.

ALL THREE GERMAN VESSELS
OPEN FIRE

AND FORCE THE AIRCRAFT
TO RETREAT.

U- 515 FINALLY LIMPS
INTO LORIENT AT 6 P. M.

THE MOST REMARKABLE ACHIEVEMENT

OF THIS FIFTH PATROL OF HENKE

IS NOT HIS SINKING SUCCESSES.

HE WAS FAR MORE SUCCESSFUL
ON HIS FORMER PATROLS.

BUT IT'S THIS MERE ACHIEVEMENT

OF GETTING BACK ALIVE
TO HIS HOME BASE

WITH A BADLY DAMAGED U-BOAT.

AND I THINK THIS IS A GOOD SIGN
FOR HIS QUALITIES AS A COMMANDER

AND OF COURSE
THE QUALITY OF HIS CREW.

IN THIS STAGE OF THE WAR,
THIS IS ABSOLUTELY ASTONISHING.

NEARLY ELEVEN WEEKS LATER,

A REVITALIZED U-515
DEPARTS FROM LORIENT

ON MARCH 30, 1944.

THAT SAME DAY, THE ALLIES LAUNCH
A TASK GROUP FROM CASABLANCA,

ABOUT 1,000 MILES TO THE SOUTH.

THEY CALL IT
A HUNTER-KILLER GROUP-

A TACTICAL COMBINATION

OF DESTROYERS, ESCORTS,
CARRIER, AND AIRCRAFT.

IT'S UNLIKE ANYTHING
SEEN IN THE WAR BEFORE.

THE HUNTER-KILLER GROUP IS
THE RESULT OF ALLIED SUCCESSES

AND ENHANCED FACTORY PRODUCTION.

BY JUNE 1943, ALLIED SHIPYARDS
PRODUCE MORE DESTROYER ESCORTS.

GERMAN DOMINANCE
IN THE ATLANTIC WANES,

AND VESSELS ARE FREED UP
FROM CONVOY ESCORT DUTIES.

THE RELEASED SHIPS
PARTNER WITH ESCORT CARRIERS

IN A SPECIAL CAMPAIGN TO PREVENT
A GERMAN U-BOAT RESURGENCE.

THE HUNTER-KILLER GROUP

IS SUPPOSED TO
CONNECT WITH A U-BOAT

WHERE WE KNOW APPROXIMATELY
WHERE IT IS, BUT NOT QUITE.

THAT'S THE HUNTER PART.

THE KILLER PART
IS ONCE THEY FIND IT,

THEY HAVE SUFFICIENT
RESOURCES TO KILL IT.

U.S. NAVY TASK GROUP 21.12

CONSISTS OF ESCORT CARRIER
USS GUADALCANAL,

CARRYING APPROXIMATELY 23
AVENGER AND WILDCAT AIRCRAFT,

SCREENED BY
FOUR DESTROYER ESCORTS.

WITH AN ESCORT CARRIER
WITH A CONVOY

OR AN ESCORT CARRIER
NEAR AN ATTACK,

AIRPLANES ARE THERE
WHEN THEY'RE WANTED.

SUDDENLY, INSTEAD OF A BASE
1,500 MILES AWAY,

YOU'RE LOOKING AT A BASE
50 MILES AWAY.

THAT'S ALL THE DIFFERENCE
IN THE WORLD.

IT'S A MOBILE AIRFIELD.

AND THAT'S REALLY
WHAT CARRIERS ARE ABOUT.

THEY SAIL UNDER THE COMMAND

OF THE U. S. NAVY'S
CAPTAIN DANIEL GALLERY.

GALLERY WAS BORN AND RAISED
IN CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

IN 1942, HE COMMANDED
THE U. S. NAVY FLEET AIR BASE

IN REYKJAVIK, ICELAND,

WHERE HE RECEIVED
THE BRONZE STAR

FOR EXCEPTIONAL
COMBAT OPERATIONS

AGAINST THE U-BOATS.

IN 1943, THE U. S. NAVY
GIVES HIM COMMAND

OF HIS OWN
HUNTER-KILLER TASK GROUP,

ON BOARD THE ESCORT CARRIER
USS GUADALCANAL.

CAPTAIN GALLERY WAS AN AVIATOR.

HE WAS CREATIVE.

AND HE WANTED TO SEE
WHAT HE COULD DO WITH HIS SHIP.

THAT'S A GOOD CAPTAIN.
THAT'S A GOOD OFFICER.

BUT HIS FIRST PATROL
WOULD PROVE CHALLENGING.

USS GUADALCANAL'S FIRST CRUISE

WAS SOMETHING OF A DISASTER.

THEY LOST ONE AIRCRAFT
THAT THE PILOT SIMPLY GOT LOST.

THEY HAD AN AIRPLANE CRASH
AS IT WAS LANDING ON THE DECK,

AND IT BLOCKED THE DECK
IN SUCH A WAY

THAT THE OTHER AIRPLANES
WEREN'T ABLE TO LAND.

GALLERY THEN SIMPLY HAD
THE COUPLE OF REMAINING AIRCRAFT

JUST LAND IN THE WATER,

AND THEY RETRIEVED THE CREW,

SO THEY LOST THE AIRPLANES
THAT WAY.

AT THE END OF THE CRUISE,
THEY ACTUALLY HAD,

OUT OF 21 AIRCRAFT
THEY HAD STARTED WITH,

THEY WOUND UP WITH SIX
THAT WERE STILL OPERATIONAL.

GALLERY WAS PREPARED
FOR SOME DAMAGE HERE,

BUT IT WAS RATHER MORE

THAN PROBABLY ANYBODY
REALLY EXPECTED.

DETERMINED
TO PUT THEIR COSTLY LESSONS

TO GOOD USE,

GALLERY AND HIS CREW ARE READY
TO RETURN TO THE ATLANTIC.

HUNDREDS OF MILES AWAY,

U- 515 ESCAPES THE DEADLY
BAY OF BISCAY UNSCATHED

AND MOVES OUT TO THE OPEN SEA.

THEY RECEIVE ORDERS TO RETURN
TO THE AFRICAN GOLD COAST

TO SINK ALLIED SHIPPING.

THE MISSION FOR HENKE
HAS NOT CHANGED.

IT'S SIMPLY ABOUT SINKING
AS MANY VESSELS AS POSSIBLE.

APRIL 8, 1944.

ON BOARD USS GUADALCANAL,
THE ATMOSPHERE IS CHARGED.

CONDITIONS ARE PERFECT
FOR AN EXPERIMENT.

NIGHT LANDINGS HAVE NOT BEEN
ATTEMPTED ON THESE SHIPS YET,

BUT IF THEY WORK,

IT WILL BE A GREAT ADVANTAGE
FOR THE ALLIES.

GALLERY IS KEEN TO TRY.

HE GOT INTERESTED
IN NIGHT OPERATIONS.

ONCE YOU'RE IN THE AIR,
NIGHT FLYING IS REASONABLY SAFE.

YOUR PROBLEM COMES
WHEN YOU TRY TO LAND.

AND YOU'RE LANDING
ON A SMALL DECK,

THERE ISN'T A LOT OF LIGHTING,

BECAUSE THAT'LL GIVE AWAY
THE CARRIER'S POSITION.

AND, OH, BY THE WAY,
YOU'RE IN THE ATLANTIC OCEAN,

WHICH DOES THIS TO YOUR CARRIER.

AT 6 P. M. GREENWICH MEAN TIME,

FOUR AVENGER AIRCRAFT TAKE OFF

FROM THE DECK
OF USS GUADALCANAL.

GO AHEAD.

BUT AT THEIR FIRST CHECK-IN,

THE PILOTS REPORT
THAT A STORM IS BUILDING.

GALLERY IS DISAPPOINTED.

HE HAD PLANNED A LATER FLIGHT
TO TEST THE PLANES IN FULL DARK.

THE WEATHER CONDITIONS
FORCE HIM TO CANCEL.

BUT A CHANCE SIGHTING
MAY PROVE A GAME-CHANGER.

U- 515 HAS BEEN SPOTTED
BY ONE OF GALLERY'S HUNTERS.

THEY MUST ESCAPE

BEFORE THE REST
OF THE TASK GROUP

CLOSE IN FOR THE KILL.

APRIL 1944.

GERMAN U-BOAT U-515

HEADS TO AFRICA'S GOLD COAST
TO HUNT ALLIED SHIPPING.

THESE WATERS USED TO BE SAFE
FROM LAND-BASED ALLIED AIRCRAFT,

ESPECIALLY AT NIGHT.

THE AVENGER HAS LAUNCHED

FROM THE CARRIER DECK
OF A NEW HUNTER-KILLER GROUP.

THE TASK GROUP COMMANDER
HAS ALSO BEGUN TO EXPERIMENT

WITH NIGHT FLYING.

SIR, THEY MADE CONTACT
WITH THE U-BOAT.

ALRIGHT.

IN THE CONFUSION,
WORD OF THE SIGHTING

DOES NOT MAKE IT
TO CAPTAIN DANIEL GALLERY.

THE AVENGERS RETURN
TO THE USS GUADALCANAL.

GALLERY
IS DEBRIEFING THE PILOTS,

AND IN THE PROCESS OF THAT,

ONE OF THE PILOTS SAYS,
"YOU KNOW, SKIPPER,

I ALMOST HAD HIM."

AND GALLERY IS ASTONISHED

BECAUSE HE HASN'T HEARD
ABOUT THIS AT ALL.

THE PILOT EXPLAINS,
"THE SUBMARINE.

DIDN'T YOU GET MY MESSAGE?"

"NO."

GALLERY DECIDES
THE SUB MUST BE PURSUED.

IN SPITE OF THE STORM,

HE ORDERS THE MEN
TO WAIT AN HOUR,

TO LULL THE U-BOAT
INTO A FALSE SENSE OF SECURITY.

THEN THE AVENGERS
WILL GO ON THE HUNT AGAIN.

IF THERE'S ONE LESSON

THE ALLIED HAD LEARNED IN
THE FIRST AND SECOND WORLD WAR,

FIGHTING THE U-BOATS,

WAS KEEP THEM BUSY,
KEEP THEM AWAY.

AIRCRAFT ARE
THE BEST WEAPONS FOR THE JOB.

TWO AVENGER TORPEDO BOMBERS
LAUNCH AT 11:15 P. M.

IN JUST OVER AN HOUR,
ONE SPOTS U-515,

AGAIN ON THE SURFACE.

THE AVENGER UNLOADS
TWO DEPTH BOMBS.

STILL ON THE SURFACE,

THE MEN OF U-515
RETURN FIRE WITH THEIR DECK GUN.

THEN, HENKE ORDERS
THE U-BOAT TO DIVE.

THE AVENGER LOSES CONTACT.

THOUGH THEY HAVE JUST
BEEN SPOTTED AGAIN,

HENKE REJECTS A SUGGESTION
TO SHAKE OFF THEIR PURSUERS

BY REVERSING COURSE.

IT IS NOT CLEAR TO HIM

THAT THE AIRCRAFT CAME
FROM NEARBY SHIPS.

AS LONG AS HE HAS NOT
CONTACT WITH HIS HYDROPHONES,

HE PROBABLY THINKS
HE'S QUITE SAFE,

SO DANGER IS NOT IMMINENT.

BUT, UH...

IT TURNS OUT, UH... HE'S WRONG.

GALLERY'S
NIGHT-FLYING EXPERIMENT

IS ALREADY A SUCCESS,

WITH TWO U-BOAT SIGHTINGS
IN JUST A FEW HOURS.

HE IS EAGER TO PUT THE REST
OF THE TASK GROUP TO THE TEST.

APRIL 9, 1944.

EASTER SUNDAY.

ONCE AGAIN, HENKE'S BATTERIES
ARE RUNNING OUT OF POWER.

HENKE HAS TO
SURFACE HIS BOAT,

WHETHER HE WANTS IT OR NOT,

BECAUSE WITHOUT THE MINIMUM
CHARGE OF THE BATTERIES,

HE IS, UM, VIRTUALLY HELPLESS.

HE CAN'T DIVE.

HE CAN'T, UH, EVADE ANY DANGER.

THERE HAS BEEN NO SIGN
OF THEIR STALKERS FOR HOURS.

HENKE DECIDES TO SURFACE.

HE IS CAREFUL TO PUT AS MANY
LOOKOUTS AND GUNNERS AS HE CAN

ON DECK.

THE SKIES STAY CLEAR,

BUT ONLY FOR 45 MINUTES.

LOOKOUTS SPOT SOMETHING
OFF THE PORT QUARTER.

THEY IDENTIFY WARSHIPS,

INCLUDING AN AIRCRAFT CARRIER
HEADING THEIR WAY.

AT THAT VERY MOMENT,
AN AVENGER DROPS OUT OF THE SKY,

RIGHT ON TOP OF THEM.

U- 515'S GUNNERS
FIRE ON THE ENEMY,

BUT THE 37-MILLIMETER GUN JAMS.

LUCKILY, THE TWIN-MOUNT
20-MILLIMETER GUNS STILL WORK.

THE AVENGER PILOT
DROPS DEPTH BOMBS.

BUT U-515'S RETALIATION
FORCES HIM TO BANK AWAY.

THANKS TO THE GUNNERS,
THE BOMBS FALL SHORT OF U-515.

HENKE IMMEDIATELY
ORDERS A CRASH DIVE.

ON BOARD USS GUADALCANAL,

ALONG WITH MORE FIGHTER PLANES,

GALLERY ORDERS DESTROYER ESCORTS
USS PILLSBURY AND FLAHERTY

TO LOCATE AND ENGAGE THE ENEMY.

ALL AHEAD FLANK.

DESTROYER ESCORTS
CARRY A NEW WEAPON

CALLED THE HEDGEHOG.

IT WAS CALLED A HEDGEHOG

BECAUSE IT LOOKED LIKE
A BUNCH OF PORCUPINE QUILLS.

IT FIRED 24 MORTAR ROUNDS.

THEY MADE A CIRCULAR PATTERN
IN THE WATER.

THE ACTUAL NEW FEATURE IS

THAT YOU CAN KEEP YOUR
SONAR CONTACT WITH THE U-BOAT

WHILE ATTACKING.

THEY DON'T INTERFERE
WITH YOUR DETECTION SIGNAL,

SO YOU CAN KEEP THE CONTACT
AND GO IN FOR ANOTHER ATTACK.

HENKE HAS ORDERED U-515

TO DIVE TO ABOUT 660 FEET.

FOR AN AGONIZING 30 MINUTES,

THE MEN WAIT FOR
THE EXPECTED DEPTH CHARGES.

THEN THEY HEAR PROPELLERS,

SO THEY KNOW THE SHIPS
ARE CLOSING IN.

WITH USS FLAHERTY IN SUPPORT,

PILLSBURY LAUNCHES
A HEDGEHOG ATTACK.

OPEN FIRE.

ONE ROUND
MAKES CONTACT AND EXPLODES.

IT MUST HAVE STRUCK
WITH A GLANCING BLOW.

HAD IT LANDED SQUARELY
ON THE U-BOAT AND EXPLODED,

THE PRESSURE HULL
WOULD HAVE CRACKED.

DESPERATE TO ESCAPE,
HENKE HAS A RISKY PLAN.

AT 600 FEET,

U- 515 NEARS THE MAXIMUM
DIVING DEPTH OF THE SUBMARINE.

HE WILL HAVE TO DIVE DEEPER
TO EVADE THE HEDGEHOG ROUNDS,

BUT HE MAY PUSH THE U-BOAT
PAST IT LIMITS.

APRIL 9, 1944.

GERMAN U-BOAT U-515

IS PINNED DOWN
BY A HUNTER-KILLER GROUP.

OPEN FIRE.

ITS DESTROYER ESCORTS
DROP ROUNDS OF HEDGEHOG MORTARS.

IN A BID TO ESCAPE,

U- BOAT COMMANDER WERNER HENKE
ORDERS HIS SUBMARINE DEEPER,

BELOW MAXIMUM DIVING DEPTH.

NO U-BOAT COMMANDER

KNOWS ACTUALLY THE CRUSH DEPTH
OF HIS U-BOAT.

THERE'S A SAFE MARGIN.

AND EVERYTHING
OVER THIS SAFE MARGIN

IS SIMPLY A MATTER
OF TRIAL AND ERROR.

SO FAR THE U-BOAT IS HOLDING.

HENKE STILL NEEDS TO FIND
A WAY TO ESCAPE THE SHIPS.

HE STILL HAS
AN ACE UP HIS SLEEVE-

A DECOY DEVICE CALLED A BOLD.

IT'S A SMALL CYLINDER
FILLED WITH A CHEMICAL.

HE PRESSES OUTSIDE
TO A SPECIAL TUBE.

AND AS SOON AS THIS CHEMICAL

GETS INTO CONTACT
WITH THE WATER,

IT STARTS TO MAKE BUBBLES.

IT'S ALMOST LIKE AN ALKA-SELTZER
IN A GLASS OF WATER.

THESE GAS BUBBLES IN THE WATER

GIVE THE IMAGINATION
OF A NEW BOAT.

THE COMPOUND
OF CALCIUM AND ZINC

CREATE MASSES
OF UNDERWATER BUBBLES

AND SIMULATE
THE ECHO OF A SUBMARINE.

WE GOT SONAR BEARING...
1-3-5.

BRING HER AROUND.

BRING IT AROUND.

IT WORKS.

THE DECOYS CONFUSE
THE DESTROYER ESCORTS.

HENKE'S MEN CAN HEAR
THE PROPELLER SOUNDS

MOVING AWAY FROM THEM.

ABOVE, DESTROYER ESCORT
USS CHATELAIN

JOINS THE SEARCH
WITH FLAHERTY AND PILLSBURY.

BUT THEY'RE ALL GOING
THE WRONG WAY.

THEY SEARCH FOR TWO HOURS,
BUT THE U-BOAT HAS VANISHED.

GALLERY KEEPS PLANES IN THE AIR
ON CONSTANT LOOKOUT,

BUT THEY FIND NOTHING.

THAT MEANS THAT
IF THE SUBMARINE IS CLOSE

AND THEY'VE LOST TRACK OF IT,

THERE IS A CHANCE
THAT THE SUBMARINE COMMANDER

WON'T FEEL HE'S ON THE RUN,

THAT HE'LL TURN THE TABLES.

GALLERY CALLS IN
HIS FOURTH DESTROYER ESCORT,

USS POPE,
TO PROTECT THE CARRIER.

SONAR CONTACT.

POPE'S SONAR PICKS UP
A CONTACT 700 YARDS AWAY.

BEARING 0-9-0.

WE'VE GOT CONTACT,
BEARING 0-9-0.

THEY'VE FOUND U-515.

LAUNCH HEDGEHOGS.

USS POPE LAUNCHES THE FIRST

OF TWO HEDGEHOG ATTACKS.

BOTH MISS.

THEY REALIZE
THAT THE SUBMARINE

IS PROBABLY TOO DEEP
FOR A HEDGEHOG ATTACK TO WORK.

INSTEAD, USS POPE
LAUNCHES CONTINUOUS PATTERNS

OF DEPTH CHARGES.

ONE OF THE DETONATIONS
OF THE DEPTH CHARGES

CREATES A LEAK IN THE BOAT,

AND THE PROBLEM IS,

BECAUSE OF THE DEPTH
THE BOAT IS SAILING,

THERE'S A HIGH PRESSURE
OF WATER.

SO THIS WATER RUSHES IN,

AND IN A VERY LIMITED
PERIOD OF TIME,

A HUGE AMOUNT OF WATER
IS GETTING INTO THE BOAT,

AND SO IT'S GETTING
OUT OF BALANCE.

TO COMPENSATE,

THEY SHIFT WATER AROUND
INTERNALLY,

MOVING IT FORWARD
FROM ONE TANK TO ANOTHER,

TO REBALANCE THE U-BOAT.

MEANWHILE TOPSIDE,
USS POPE SLOWS TO 10 KNOTS

TO GET A READ ON WHERE
THEIR PREY IS HIDING.

USS POPE PREPARES
A PATTERN OF DEPTH CHARGES

AT POINT-BLANK RANGE.

HENKE TRIES TO ANTICIPATE
HIS ENEMY'S NEXT MOVE.

HE ATTEMPTS A HAIRPIN TURN
TO EVADE THE ATTACK.

HE DECIDES
FOR A LAST-DITCH MANEUVER.

HE TRIES TO SWING OUT HIS U-BOAT

OUT OF THE RANGE
OF THE DEPTH CHARGE.

HE'S TRYING TO PLAY EVERY TRICK
HE HAS EVER LEARNED

AND PROBABLY FINDING
SOME NEW ONES

JUST TO EVADE
THE NEXT DEPTH CHARGE.

EVERYTHING DEPENDS ON
THE U-BOAT'S TURNING ABILITY.

IF IT DOESN'T MOVE FAST ENOUGH,

U- 515 COULD SUFFER
SEVERE DAMAGE.

USS POPE LAUNCHES
13 DEPTH CHARGES

DIRECTLY ABOVE THEM.

THE U-BOAT MOVES
JUST FAR ENOUGH.

THE DEPTH CHARGES
STRIKE U-515'S AFT DECK

AND ROLL OFF BEFORE DETONATING.

THE DEPTH CHARGE
DOES NOT HAVE TO HIT THE U-BOAT.

YOU HAVE A NEARBY EXPLOSION,

THE SHOCKWAVE RIPS OPEN
ONE OF THE BALLAST TANKS

AND BREAKS SOME PIPELINES.

MORE WATER,
NOW MIXED WITH FUEL OIL,

FLOODS THE AFTER TORPEDO ROOM.

THE WEIGHT OF THE WATER DRAGS
THE STERN OF THE U-BOAT DOWN

BY OVER 20 DEGREES.

ALTENBURGER WORKS FRANTICALLY
TO PLUG THE LEAKS

WHILE CREWMEN RUN FORWARD,

TRYING TO BRING BALANCE
TO THE U-BOAT

WITH THEIR OWN WEIGHT.

ON THE SURFACE,

USS POPE'S CAPTAIN
KEEPS A CONSTANT WATCH

FOR THE TELLTALE SIGNS
OF A SUBMARINE SINKING.

USS CHATELAIN
COMES TO ASSIST IN THE ATTACK.

ON U-515,

AN EXHAUSTED ALTENBURGER HAS
PLUGGED THE MOST CRITICAL LEAKS.

HE WARNS HENKE THAT THE U-515
CANNOT TAKE ANY MORE DAMAGE.

DROP DEPTH CHARGES.

BUT USS POPE

LAYS THREE MORE PATTERNS
OF DEPTH CHARGES.

THE LAST ROUND

KNOCKS ALTENBURGER'S
IMPROVISED PLUGS LOOSE.

LEAKS SPRING OPEN AGAIN,

AND THE SITUATION
BECOMES MORE AND MORE HOPELESS

FOR THE BOAT AND THE CREW.

THEY TRY TO SECURE
THE WATERTIGHT HATCH

TO THE MOTOR ROOM

SO THE WATER DOESN'T GO
ANY FURTHER INTO THE U-BOAT.

BUT ONE OF THE BOLTS IS BROKEN.

RISING WATER
CONTINUES TO STREAM IN.

IF THE ELECTRIC
ENGINE ROOM IS FLOODED,

IF THE ELECTRICITY SUPPLY
BREAKS DOWN,

YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY HELPLESS.

YOU CAN'T USE
YOUR PUMPS ANYMORE.

YOU DON'T HAVE
ANY PROPULSION ANYMORE.

SO THE VESSEL IS A DEAD WRECK.

U-515 PLUNGES

AS THE WATER RUSHES
TO THE REAR OF THE SUBMARINE.

HENKE INCREASES SPEED
AND JETTISONS FUEL.

HE FIGHTS A DESPERATE BATTLE
TO LEVEL THE U-BOAT

AND STOP IT FROM SINKING.

APRIL 9, 1944.

U- 515 PLUMMETS BY ITS STERN

AFTER A SEVERE
DEPTH CHARGE ATTACK.

U- BOAT COMMANDER WERNER HENKE
AND HIS CREW WORK FRANTICALLY

AND FINALLY BLOW
THE MAIN BALLAST TANK.

BY REPLACING THE WATER
IN THE TANK WITH AIR,

IT SHOULD LIGHTEN THE SUBMARINE.

AT LAST,
AT A DEPTH OF ABOUT 660 FEET,

U- 515 RETURNS TO BALANCE.

BUT THEN THE SUBMARINE
OVER-CORRECTS.

WATER FROM THE STERN
MOVES FORWARD,

WHICH MAKES THE BOW HEAVIER.

INSTEAD OF GAINING AN EVEN KEEL,

THE ENTIRE U-BOAT
NOW RISES RAPIDLY

TO THE SURFACE BY THE STERN.

TOPSIDE, HOWEVER,

THE AMERICANS
HAVEN'T GONE ANYWHERE.

AS THE U-515
IS RAPIDLY ASCENDING,

THE POPE LOSES
ITS SONAR CONTACT.

BUT NOW USS CHATELAIN'S
SONAR OPERATOR

HAS BEEN ABLE TO GET A LOCK
ON THE SUBMARINE.

BRIDGE, CIC, WE HAVE
A CONFIRMED U-BOAT CONTACT.

HER COMMANDING OFFICER
ORDERS A DEPTH CHARGE ATTACK.

ALL OF THE SUDDEN,
THE U-BOAT BREAKS THE SURFACE

OUT OF CONTROL
AND AT A VERY SHARP ANGLE.

U-BOAT! U-BOAT!

HENKE GIVES
THE ORDER TO ABANDON SHIP.

HE CLIMBS ONTO THE BRIDGE.

THE DESTROYER ESCORTS
POPE, CHATELAIN, AND FLAHERTY

ENCIRCLE U-515,

WHILE PILLSBURY

AND THE ESCORT CARRIER
USS GUADALCANAL

CLOSE IN.

THE AMERICAN VESSELS
SURROUNDING HIM

AND AIRPLANES
FLOWING OVER HIS HEAD.

AND, UM, YEAH,

SO THIS WAS
THE MOMENT OF DEFEAT.

THE ALLIED SHIPS
MISTAKE HENKE'S SURRENDER

FOR AN ATTACK.

GERMANS ARE
POURING OUT OF THE U-515.

GALLERY AND HIS MEN

THINK THAT THE GERMANS ARE
ATTEMPTING TO MAN THEIR GUNS

AND OPEN FIRE,

SO THEY OPEN FIRE FIRST.

OPEN FIRE.

FIRE!

FIRE!

FIRE!

A THREE-INCH SHELL

STRIKES THE LOWER PLATFORM
OF THE CONNING TOWER

AND IGNITES HYDROGEN BOTTLES
THAT ARE STORED THERE.

THEY IMMEDIATELY
SET OFF AMMUNITION,

SO THAT THERE'S A HUGE FIRE

AND AN ENORMOUS PLUME
OF WHITE SMOKE

POURING UP FROM THE SUBMARINE.

AVENGERS ALSO TARGET
U-515 WITH ROCKETS.

GATHERED IN THE FORWARD
COMPARTMENTS OF THE U-BOAT,

SOME OF THE MEN DON'T HEAR
THE ORDER TO ABANDON SHIP.

AS WORD GETS PASSED, OTHERS
ESCAPE THROUGH THE HATCHES

AND AVOID THE HEAVIEST FIRE.

WILDCAT FIGHTER PLANES
CONTINUE TO STRAFE THE U-BOAT,

KILLING SEVERAL CREWMEN
IN THE WATER.

CEASE FIRE.

CEASE FIRE!
CEASE FIRE!

WHAT HAPPENS TO HENKE

IMMEDIATELY AFTER
THE SINKING OF THE U-515,

HE'S RESCUED BY THE CHATELAIN,

AND THAT SAME DAY,

HE'S TRANSFERRED
TO THE GUADALCANAL.

GALLERY'S TASK GROUP
WOULD GO ON TO SINK U-BOAT U-68

THE VERY NEXT DAY.

HIS NIGHT-FLYING SORTIES
FROM ESCORT CARRIERS

ARE SO SUCCESSFUL

THAT THE U. S. NAVY
ADOPTS THEM FULL TIME.

KNOWLEDGE GAINED
FROM THE SINKING OF U-515

INSPIRES GALLERY
TO CAPTURE A U-BOAT.

ON HIS NEXT PATROL,
HE SEIZES U-505 INTACT.

GALLERY UNDERSTOOD
HOW MUCH THAT MATTERED.

HE WAS A BENEFICIARY
OF THAT KIND OF INTELLIGENCE,

AND HE KNEW
THAT HE WANTED TO HELP.

HE WASN'T CAPTURING IT
AS SOME KIND OF TROPHY;

HE WAS CAPTURING IT SPECIFICALLY
BECAUSE OF WHAT IT WOULD YIELD.

THAT'S A LOT MORE SOPHISTICATED
THAN PEOPLE MIGHT IMAGINE.

WARNER HENKE'S STORY
WOULD END VERY DIFFERENTLY.

ON BOARD GUADALCANAL,

HE REVEALS TO SOMEONE

THAT HE HAD ONCE BEEN NAMED
A WAR CRIMINAL

IN A BROADCAST BY THE ALLIES.

WORD TRAVELS TO CAPTAIN GALLERY,

WHO HOPES HENKE WILL ANSWER
QUESTIONS MORE FULLY

IF HE FEARS BEING
TURNED OVER TO THE BRITISH.

GALLERY USES THE OPPORTUNITY

TO PRESENT A FORGED LETTER
FROM BRITISH OFFICIALS

ASKING FOR HENKE'S TRANSFER
TO THEIR CUSTODY

TO BE TRIED FOR WAR CRIMES.

THE THREAT WORKS.

HENKE AGREES TO COOPERATE WITH
INTELLIGENCE INTERROGATIONS.

AS GALLERY
POINTED OUT IN HIS MEMOIRS,

HE WOULD NEVER, EVER
HAVE TURNED OVER

THE MEN THAT HE'D CAPTURED
FROM HIS UNIT'S EFFORTS

TO BRITISH AUTHORITIES.

THEREFORE,
GALLERY ALWAYS INTENDED

THEY WOULD COME
TO THE UNITED STATES.

ON MAY 3, 1944,

THE U. S. NAVY TRANSFERS
WERNER HENKE FROM ITS CUSTODY

TO FORT HUNT,

A SECRET INTERROGATION CENTER
OUTSIDE WASHINGTON, D. C.

HENKE HAS PLEDGED
THAT HE WOULD COOPERATE

IN HIS INTELLIGENCE
INTERROGATIONS.

HENKE NOW REFUSES
TO ANSWER THEIR QUESTIONS.

HE WOULD SAY LATER THAT

THIS PLEDGE FROM ME
WAS OBTAINED UNDER DURESS,

AND AS A GERMAN NAVAL OFFICER,

IT IS IMPROPER FOR ME
TO COOPERATE.

AND HE DOES NOT.

AUTHORITIES DECIDE
THAT THE BEST THING TO DO

IS TO SEND HIM TO CANADA,

WHERE MANY OTHER
U-BOAT POWs ARE HELD.

HENKE LEARNS OF THE TRANSFER.

IN HIS MIND,

HE IS NOW GOING TO BE
TURNED OVER TO THE BRITISH

FOR WHAT WILL OBVIOUSLY BE
A SHOW TRIAL

AND LIKELY EXECUTION.

ON THE EVENING
OF JUNE 15, 1944,

WERNER HENKE GOES OUT FOR HIS
DAILY HOUR-LONG EXERCISE PERIOD.

55 MINUTES
INTO THAT EXERCISE TIME,

HE SUDDENLY MAKES A BOLT

FOR THE FIRST BARRIER
OF BARBED WIRE.

AFTER CROSSING THE BARBED WIRE,

HE STARTS TO CLIMB A FENCE.

HE IS CALLED ON TO STOP

BY A GUARD IN THE SENTRY TOWER.

WHEN HE REFUSES TO STOP,
HE IS SHOT.

ONE BULLET WILL STRIKE HIM
THROUGH THE HEAD.

TWO OTHERS AT LEAST
WILL STRIKE HIM IN THE BODY.

KAPITÄNLEUTNANT WERNER HENKE,

ONE OF GERMANY'S
LAST U-BOAT ACES,

IS DEAD.

THERE IS NO OTHER U-BOAT CAPTAIN

WHO ACHIEVED AS MUCH
IN THE WAY OF SINKINGS

AS DID WERNER HENKE

FROM SEPTEMBER 1942 TO 1944.

SO, FOR THE KRIEGSMARINE,
EVERY LOSS,

ESPECIALLY THE LOSS OF QUITE
A PROMINENT U-BOAT COMMANDER,

IS OF COURSE A SERIOUS DRAWBACK
ALSO TO KEEP UP WAR MORALE.

IT'S A SEVERE LOSS.

THE DEADLY TOLL
WOULD CONTINUE.

BUT AS THE SINKING OF U-515
CLEARLY SHOWED,

U- BOAT COMMANDERS
LIKE WERNER HENKE

HAD MASTERED
THE TACTICS SO WELL,

THE ALLIES HAD TO COMMIT
POWERFUL RESOURCES

TO FINALLY DEFEAT
THE U-BOAT THREAT.