Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 1:46:07-1:46:20

USCGC Campbell's U-boat ramming and its screen portrayal

USCGC Campbell's damaging U-boat ramming became a Coast Guard combat story that screen portrayals sometimes reassigned to the US Navy.

Anti-Submarine WarfareCoast Guard CuttersUS Coast GuardWorld War II
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Question

Was the cutter Campbell damaged after ramming a U-boat, and has the incident appeared on screen?

Short answer

Yes. Campbell lost power and was badly damaged, while film and television versions have sometimes presented the action as a US Navy episode.

Notes

USCGC Campbell rammed a German U-boat during the Second World War. The cutter suffered heavy damage and lost engine power. Film and television portrayals sometimes recast the episode as a US Navy action. That change can obscure the Coast Guard's combat role in Atlantic anti-submarine operations.