Hi the USS Reuben James was torpedoed and sunk by U 552 , commanded by Erich Topp ’ who sunk 30 ships, and survived the war. he later became a rear Admiral in the west German Navy and work with nato allies. He died at the age of 91 in 2005. I saw an interview with him once, he told the story while commending U 552 off the coast of eastern North America they were travelling on the surface and when he noticed a young sailor asleep while on watch , So the sailor was taken before Topp who told the him how important a lookout was and how all their lives are depending on him so after the stern talking-to he was dismissed and sent back on watch. A few days later TOPP come up to the conning Tower and noticed the same young sailor dozing off on watch again this time the captain took him down and charged him with with being asleep on watch and dereliction of Duty so far penalty ( I suppose he could have been sent to the Russian front) the captain told him since you’re tired you get three days off you will lay in your bunk and do nothing and your meals will be brought to you. Now when you consider that in a U-boat two people had to share the same bunk when was on watch the other was up which means someone gets no place to sleep for 3 days and someone’s got to cover the kids watches I suppose it didn’t make him too popular , but like Topp said he had to be taught a lesson
4 Likes