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U-123
27" X 42" Oil Painting
Video
Sinking of the SS Gulfamerica off the coast of Jacksonville
by German submarine. April 11, 1942.
It was the second year of World War II. The German Submarine
force had begun "Operation Drumbeat" - a large scale plan to
attack shipping routes along the eastern seaboard of North
America, sinking supply and oil vessels destined for the
Allied Forces in Europe.
During this time, the oil tanker, SS Gulfamerica had set sail
from Texas on her maiden voyage, laden with oil and petroleum
bound for the war. The new ship rounded the tip of Florida and
sailed parallel to the east coast, northward. At a point just
four miles off of Jacksonville, on the night of April 11, U-boat
123 struck the tanker with torpedoes that ignited the fuel into
a massive firestorm aboard her. But the ship was slow to sink.
The submarine then surfaced and, with her deck gun, began to
shoot into the hull to expedite the sinking.
U-boat Commander, Kapitanleutenant Reinhard Hardigan prepared
to engage the ship but observed the nearness of the
shore - there he could see evidence of the well populated coast
of Jacksonville. Realizing that if he fired, there was a
possibility that overshots could hit the shore, putting civilians
at risk. He navigated around the Gulfamerica to a place where his fire
would be directed to sea. In doing so, he lost valuable time and
was engaged by American warships. The damaged U-123 made a narrow
escape back to Europe.
The Gulfamerica sank, losing nineteen of her crew, but Hardigan's
humane conduct in not firing on the shores of the city was
recognized.
Long after the war, the former U-Boat Commander visited Jacksonville
and was warmly hosted by the community that was once in his gunsights.
The friendship has remained.
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