Continued from October 16th.
During the battle with the U-701, the YP-389 used its 30 caliber machine guns and depth charges. Unfortunately, the 3-inch deck gun was inoperative during the fight.The German submarine returned fire with its 20 mm flak guns and 88 mm deck gun.
YP stands for Yard Patrol boats. It was built in 1941 as the fishing trawler Cohasset and purchased by the Navy for use off the US coast.
It was found 20 miles off Cape Hatteras. Six sailors, including Fireman 3rd class Wilson Burnette Cole, of Great Falls, Montana, died in the fight. His widow was offered $2,000 in insurance money after his death and she offered to turn it over to the Navy to build a boat in his honor. She was told they couldn't accept it, but that she should buy war bonds.
The wreck sits upright.
The expedition that found it lasted three weeks and also surveyed the HMT Bedfordshire, a converted British fishing trawler sunk by a torpedo from the U-588 May 12, 1942. All 37 British and Canadian crew were killed and four washed ashore and are buried at the British Cemetery on Ocracoke Island, considered a war graves site and protected by US and International Law.
The wrecks of three German U-boats were also examined.
From Wikipedia and Sept. 10th Great Falls (Mt) Tribune.
It Is About Time This Little-Known Part of the War becomes Known. --Cooter
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