The U-505, a Type IXC U-boat (1940). She was laid down in late 1940 and first saw action the following year for the Kriegsmarine in WWII. U-505 sank five ships off the west coast of Africa in early 1942, three in the Caribbean in June, and one north of Venezuela in November. Shortly afterward, it was successfully attacked around Trinidad by a Lockheed Hudson bomber and badly damaged. However, the staff was able to save it, and the safe return of the most damaged submarine to date boosted morale. In 1943, she was attacked by a fleet of British destroyers, prompting the captain to commit suicide, the only officer in any navy to commit suicide while commanding a ship in battle.In June 1944, it was again on patrol off the coast of Morocco when it was intercepted by a US naval task group. The USS Chatelain destroyer escort hit the sub, forcing it to surface. The Germans on board failed to scuttle the ship when they evacuated and it was captured by the USS Pillsbury destroyer escort. The captured ship provided the Allies with useful intelligence on German Enigma Machines, which was used to decipher German transmissions. The leader of the boarding party was awarded the Medal of Honor. The submarine was donated to the Museum of Science and Industry in 1954 and has been a museum ship ever since.
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