It was May 5, 1945. Adolph Hitler was dead, and the European campaign of the second World War was drawing to a close. The Nazi government had issued a cease-fire for all U-boats patrolling the North Atlantic. German submarine U-853 never received the order.
Twelve days earlier, U-853 had fatally torpedoed PE-56, a patrol boat working off Cape Elizabeth, Maine. Only 13 of the 67 crewmembers survived*. To avoid detection, U-853 moved south and remained submerged as often as possible, with no communication.
Meanwhile, the U.S. collier Black Point was transporting 7500 tons of coal from Norfolk to Boston. Built in 1918, the 369 foot ship had left her convoy in New York Harbor, and proceeded eastward through Long Island and Block Island Sound. At approximately 5:40 pm, 3 miles south of Point Judith, a torpedo ripped into her stern, sending her to the bottom within minutes. Twelve crewman lost their lives.
An SOS signal was immediately sent out by the Pt Judith lightkeeper, and the Yugoslavian freighter Kamen, which had witnessed the explosion. The anti-submarine warships USS Ericsson, Amick, Atherton, and Moberly had just left New York, bound for Charleston, and were redirected to Pt Judith. On the morning of May 6, two blimps arrived from Lakehurst, New Jersey to assist in the pursuit.
After a 16 hour attack of hedgehogs and depth charges, a liferaft, chart table and officers cap floated to the surface, seven miles east of Block Island.
The wreck sits in 130 feet of water, with its periscope still extended, and the remains of the 55 crewmembers aboard.
On May 7, less than 48 hours after the sinking of the Black Point, Germany surrendered.
Ralph DiCarpio: Battle Of Pt Judith (well researched)
USMM.org: Black Point; The Last U-Boat Victim
Providence Journal: Nazi Sub Sunk Off Block Island
Providence Journal: Vets Honor Merchant Ship Crew
BNET: The Last U-Boat Battle
Wreckhunter (go to Wrecks Of Rhode Island)
Wikipedia: Battle of the Atlantic 1939-1945
* The sinking of PE-56 is an entire story unto itself. For decades, the US Navy denied that she had been torpedoed. Only in 2001 were the crewmembers awarded Purple Hearts.
Boston Globe: The Truth About PE-56
photo credits: USS Moberly launching hedgehogs (top) Wikipedia
U-Boat 853 (middle) AquaExplorers
USS Black Point (bottom) Ahoy-Mac's Weblog