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U-505 Naval History Program: 6th Annual Fulfillment Ceremony
In cooperation with the Museum of Science and Industry and with the generous support of Tawani Foundation, the Museum & Library supports the training of Navy Chief Petty Officer (CPO) selectees by hosting and sponsoring activities related to the USO of Illinois' U-505 Naval History Program.
The first of its kind in the nation, created by the USO of Illinois, the program connects the American public with future U.S. Navy chief petty officers in a mutually beneficial partnership between the American public, military learning institutions and the naval population at the nation’s only Navy boot camp—Naval Station Great Lakes, just north of Chicago.
CPO selectees travel to MSI and the Pritzker Military Museum & Library for a day of training on the history and artifacts related to the U-505—the only German U-boat captured during World War II—and to conduct research on naval leadership. Now located in a 35,000-square-foot exhibit at MSI, the vessel is extremely relevant to the U.S. Navy experience and serves as a national war memorial for those who lost their lives in the two battles of the Atlantic during World Wars I and II. U.S. submariner veterans also join in the training to impart their knowledge and experience to the selectees, building connections between future Navy Chief Petty Officers and past generations.
Navy Chief Petty Officers serve as not only technical experts, but as exemplary leaders who possess high personal and professional standards. CPO selectees then volunteer at the U-505 Submarine exhibit for several days in early September, answering questions and engaging museum guests with various submarine-related artifacts. Museum guests have an opportunity to not only learn about the U.S. Navy’s heroic effort during World War II and how those actions changed history, but to also gain a greater awareness and appreciation of the men and women serving in uniform.
2016 U-505 Program Winning Essay
Defining Our Past and Guiding Our Future by Kevin Daniels, Sr.
Winston Churchill once wrote, "The Battle of the Atlantic was the dominating factor all through the war. Never for one moment could we forget that everything happening elsewhere, on land, at sea or in the air depended ultimately on its outcome."
The Battle of the Atlantic was fought for these tremendously high stakes. The Atlantic campaign would become the longest, largest, and most complex battle of the war, and the "X" factor in that great clash was the German submarines (U-boats) used to attack Allied warships and shipping convoys.
By mid-1940, Germany had gained direct access to the Atlantic via its occupation of France. During that same time, British Destroyers were being diverted away from the Atlantic in support of other campaigns. This chain of events would set the stage for a highly successful run by the German submarines.
A major key to the success of the German fleet was their powerful encryption device called Enigma. Enigma housed a sophisticated system that converted words into a code that was thought to be unbreakable. If a German sub spotted a British convoy, it could transmit an encrypted message to onshore commanders, who could dispatch all U-boats in the area to perform an orchestrated attack on that shipping lane. By the end of 1940, the Germans were sinking over 230,000 tons of Allied ships per month.
It wasn't until the capture of U-505, by Captain Daniel Gallery and his "Hunter-Killer" Task Group that the greatest windfall of cipher materials and German intelligence fell into Allied hands, and changed the fate of the U-boats. Among the materials discovered was the special "coordinate" codes, which enabled Allies to intercept the exact positions of German subs. The information enabled convoys to avoid U-boats and aided Hunter-Killer task groups to find them. The quality of the various cryptologic materials discovered saved lots of time and work for cryptanalysts, which proved invaluable.
Another U-505 discovery that gave the Allies a decisive advantage was two acoustic homing torpedoes. Analyzing and testing them enabled the Allies to improve torpedo countermeasure systems as well as the doctrine used to protect convoys.
It was also said by Winston Churchill that the capture of the Enigma machine shortened the war by two to four years. Without the interception of crucial German intelligence, no one knows what the outcome of the war would've been. Thankfully, because of heroes like Captain Gallery and his task force, we don't have to ponder that question.
Initially, Rear Admiral Daniel Gallery's vision of preserving the U-505 as a memorial seemed just as unlikely as the capture of the submarine itself. However, the man who witnessed one the greatest displays of courage, skill and seamanship in naval history, would also observe one of the greatest displays of patriotism, philanthropy, and teamwork in naval history. It was through the combined efforts of Americans (and some Germans) that the U-505 found its permanent home, where it will live to tell its story until the end of time.