Evening star., 1943-09-07
American Forces GOT
y German U-Boats
OF 90 Sunk by Allies

United States forces sank 30 oi
the 80 enemy submarines destroyed
during May, June and July, the
Navy announced today
Five submarines were sunk by
Army aircraft and "a by naval
forces.
President Roosevelt and Prime
Minister Churchill reported recent
ly that nations fighting the Axis had
sunk more than 80 submarines in
May. June and July. The Navy's
announcement today did not locate
the actions,
The Navy's disclosure came short
ly after Secretary Knox had told
reporters that although the subma-
rine menace may appear to be less
serious than a few months ago, the
lack of enemy activity may be be-
cause Germany has withdrawn
many U-boatS to bases for repairs
and refitting with additional anti
aircraft weapons before launching
new attacks.
Expect U-Boats Again.
Its as sure as sunrise that they
will be back in there again" he told
his press conference.
Mr.. Knox said new tactics en-
ployed by German submarines had
reduced the usefulness of blimps
and any potential usefulness of hell
copters in anti-submarine warfare.
Until they took to firing at them,
the blimps were an exceptionally
good weapon against submarines, >
Mr.. Knox said, adding that now
"any means of lowering over sub
marine either by helicopter or by
blimp has been circumscribed in its
usefulness"
Several weeks ago the Navy re-
ported that submarine had sue
ceeded in shooting down a blimp.
1t was the first reported loss of that
kind in the American anti-submarine
service.
Mr.. Knox refused to discuss the
probability of ever developing a
helicopter for use against submarines
in this war on the ground that he
did not wish to engage in con-
troverSy." He said the Navy has
orders for some experimental types,
but agreed with questioners that
escort aircraft carriers have largely
met the need for aircraft protection
for merchant shipping in areas of
the Atlantic where land-based air.
craft do not go.
Menace Still Exists.
Of the submarine fight generally,
Mr.. Knox reiterated his frequent
statement that there is no reason
to believe we have disposed of the
submarine menace
In addition to the 90 U-boats de-
stroyed by United States forces, at
least three additional undersea craft
and probably others were sunk by
United States forces co-ordinating
their attacks with craft of other
United Nations, and by other Amer
ican operations, the Navy said
Eleven submarines we're sunk by
Navy long range patrol planes MAR
tin Mariners, Vega Ventures and
Consolidated Catalinas and Liber-
ators).
Nine of the enemy undersea raid
ers were destroyed by naval carrier
based planes (Gruman Avengers as
sisted by Gruman Wildcats.). Navy
surface craft (destroyers and PC
boats accounted for two sub
marines, one was destroyed by COM
bined naval surface and aircraft
action Martin Mariners, and an
other was sent to the bottom by
Navy aircraft of an unreported type.
Captain Saved.
The Navy said only positive
sinkings" we're included in its COM
pilation, adding that probable and
possible sinkings we're purposely
omitted.
Co-incident with the announce
ment of the submarine sinkings the
Navy told of the destruction of a
U-boat by United States patrol
chaser 565, while engaged in pro-
tecting a convoy in the Atlantic.
The captain of the German subma-
rine, who swan clear of the vessel
after it had been depth bombed, was
taken prisoner and was the only