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World War II Navy Ship Wreck Located Off North Carolina Coast

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS090909-21
Release Date: 9/9/2009 5:04:00 PM

From Naval History and Heritage Command and National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration Public Affairs

WASHINGTON (NNS) -- The wreckage of YP-389, a trawler converted to a U.S. Navy ship for protection of the Atlantic coast-line during World War II, has been discovered by a National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) research team.

On June 19, 1942 YP-389 discovered German submarine U-701 in coastal waters off Diamond Head, Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. Armed with only machine guns the American crew attacked the enemy submarine. The one 3-inch gun mounted on YP-389 had a broken firing pin and was not available during the fight. The U-boat, reportedly, emptied all of its deck guns on the nearly defenseless trawler and after 90 minutes YP-389 sank.

Of the 25 crew members, five were declared missing and presumed dead. A sixth body was recovered on the beach near Morehead City.

"Though this loss occurred many years ago, for the Navy, we offer our sincere condolences to the families of those who gave their lives in this action," said retired Rear Adm. Jay A. DeLoach, director, Naval History and Heritage Command. "The U.S. Navy considers the YP-389 discovery a grave site and by law, it is to be left undisturbed. The Navy greatly appreciates the work of NOAA on this project."

David W. Alberg, expedition leader for NOAA also said, "Consistent with U.S. and international policy…the YP-389 wreck [and other sites in the area] are considered war graves and are protected by U.S. and international laws, including the Sunken Military Craft Act, which prohibits removal of artifacts, and any alteration or disruption of the wreck site.

Alberg also added that the YP-389 fight with U-701 "is one of the most dramatic accounts of an engagement [along the Atlantic Coast] between Axis and Allied warships during the dark days of World War II. The story of the YP-389," he said, "personifies the character of the Battle of the Atlantic along the East Coast of the United States, where small poorly armed fishing trawlers were called to defend American waters against one of Germany's most feared vessels,"

At the time the North Carolina coast-line where this action occurred was labeled "Torpedo Junction" because over a seven month period more than 400 ships were sunk or damaged.

Major funding for the expedition that discovered YP-389 was provided by NOAA's Office of Exploration and Research.

For more news from Naval History and Heritage Command, visit www.navy.mil/local/navhist/.