The only case in history of a battle between an American airship and a German submarine

American K-class airships, created for the US Navy by the GoodYear aircraft manufacturing company, 134 units entered service with the American Army in 1938. These airships were of soft construction and were equipped with sonars, radars and other equipment. They were widely used in patrol and anti-submarine operations.

The German submarine U134 was launched in May 1941 in Bremen. To combat air targets, this submarine had an 88-mm SK C/35 anti-aircraft gun and a 37-mm SK C/30 anti-aircraft gun.

On July 17, 1943, the US airship K74 took off from the Richmond Naval Air Station on a routine anti-submarine patrol. The crew of ten was led by Lieutenant Nelson Grylls. Suddenly, the radars detected an object, which, when approaching, turned out to be a German submarine moving on the surface at a speed of up to 18 knots.

The aircraft commander decided to launch an attack. The airship approached the target from a height of 76 meters at an angle of 30 degrees so that the bombs could hit the long side of the submarine. The speed was increased to 55 knots. The behavior of the submarine indicated that the presence of the airship had not been detected.

The airship opened fire from a 50-caliber machine gun, as a result of which one of the rapid submersion tanks was damaged. The submarine returned fire from an anti-aircraft gun. Since the submarine was already directly under the airship, it was impossible to continue machine-gun fire and the aircraft commander decided to start bombing. However, none of the bombs detached from the external suspension pylons.

As a result of the attack, one of the airship's engines caught fire from the submarine's anti-aircraft gun, and the elevators also stopped working. In addition, the shell of the airship was pierced, which is why it began to slowly sink downward with its rear end.

After the airship fell into the water, its crew left the flooded gondola and swam away using life jackets. One of the crew members died due to a shark attack, and the rest made it safely to shore.

Comments

[your1970]

The submarine shot down the airship without being harmed.
And then loudly - “A fight between an airship and a submarine!!”

[Arkadich]

Agree. A bold but reckless attack.

[Hagalaz]

Unless they expected the submarine to be equipped with an anti-aircraft gun. Such a large and slow-moving target has virtually no chance of survival. If the Germans had not blundered, the Americans would have been cut to pieces on the way.

[isv000]

Quote: Arkadich

Agree. A bold but reckless attack.

Cowboys in their repertoire: patrol the water surface and do not provide watercraft, especially where hungry sharks are prowling. It’s clear that they don’t give a damn about people, but feeding trained specialists to sharks... I would mean to serve on these airships...

[AllX_VahhaB]

and the rest reached the shore safely.

Swim?

[AndreyKam_Z]

Swim? belay

Mostly, yes, but when the sharks began to taste one, they may have switched to other methods of movement.

[stankow]

In fact, the airship lost the battle outright. But he’s Amer’s, and we know, wow...

[Revolver]

No fear, no brain.
_____________________

[isv000]

Quote: Nagan

No fear, no brain.
_____________________

"No fear, no brains..."
Worthy as a motto on the American coat of arms!

[cpls22]

Let's start with bombs, maybe. and everything turned out differently. If the bombs didn’t come off, then they wouldn’t wake them up with a machine gun.

[isv000]

Quote from cpls22

Let's start with bombs, maybe. and everything turned out differently. If the bombs didn’t come off, then they wouldn’t wake them up with a machine gun.

These are Americans, cowboys! We decided to attack the boat with a machine gun... On the prairies we are used to grasping the Colt a little...

[cpls22]

Quote: isv000

We decided to attack the boat with a machine gun... .

M.b. they simply hoped that the boat would immediately try to go into the depths, but they damaged the quick dive mechanism, to their misfortune. The enemy had no choice but to accept the battle. You cannot drive a rat into a corner if you are not ready for its last jump.

[Scharnhorst]

Isn't 10 crew members on an airship too much? Something similar would be useful now in the Black Sea Fleet for patrolling against naval drones instead of helicopters. And the speed is decent, and you don’t waste the energy of the motors hanging in the air!

[Dekabrist]

and were equipped with sonars, radars and other equipment

There were no sonars on them, there were hydroacoustic buoys.

After the airship fell into the water, its crew left the flooded gondola and swam away using life jackets. One of the crew members died due to a shark attack, and the rest made it safely to shore.

The crew did not swim anywhere, they stayed near the gondola floating on the surface, where they were picked up by the arriving ship, except for the mechanic’s assistant, whom the sharks managed to eat.