U-Boat U-576
Nazi submarine (U-576) wreck found off coast of U.S. likely contains remains of 45 German soldiers.
The U-boat skipper, Hans-Dieter Heinicke, had a crippled submarine and was headed home when he spotted the juicy allied convoy off the coast of North Carolina.
Although Heinicke, 29, had a damaged boat, he had sunk only three ships on his four prior patrols, and probably saw the 19 merchant vessels of convoy KS-520 plodding south at eight knots as a chance to redeem himself.
About 4 p.m. on July 15, 1942, about 50 kilometres off Cape Hatteras, U-576 attacked. In the ensuing free-for-all, the sub sank one ship and damaged two others, but was assailed by aircraft and escorts, and sank with all hands.