U-853-- Part 7: Legacy: Propellers

LEGACY

The submarine's two propellers were on display for many years at the Inn at Castle Hill in Newport and are now in custody of the U.S. Naval War College Museum at Newport Naval Station.

The USS Atherton was transferred to Japan and served as part of the Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force until 1975 when she was returned to the United States.  She was then given to the Philippines in 1978 and served as the BRP Rajah Humabon (PS-11) with the Philippine Navy until 2018.

Interest has been expressed in returning the Atherton to the United States so she can be restored to her World War II appearance to be opened to the public. The Rajah Humabon was decommissioned on 15 March 2018 and is planned to be part of the Philippine Navy museum in Sangley Point.

--GreGen

Naval Ceremony for the USS Eagle-- Part 2

This was held this past Tuesday.

The sinking occurred during the waning days of World War II, with the Germans surrendering just two weeks later, on May 7, 1945.  Japan surrendered on September 2, 1945, ending the war.

*  The vessel was one of a class built by Henry Ford at the end of World War I.

**  The U-583 didn't survive the Eagle by long.  The submarine was discovered in 18 fathoms (108 feet) and depth charges and hedgehogs were dropped during a 16-hour attack.  At first, it tried to hide by lying still.  Both times it was found by sonar.

On the morning of 6 May 1945 two K-Class blimps from Lakehurst, New Jersey, the K-16 and K-58 joined the attack, locating oil slicks and marking suspected locations with smoke and dye markers.  The K-16 also attacked with 7.2-inch rocket bombs.

Numerous depth charge and hedgehog attacks from the USS Atheron and USS Moberly resulted in planking, life rafts, a chart tabletop, clothing and an officer's cap floating to the surface.

The U-853 was one of the last U-boats sunk during World War Ii and the last to be sunk in U.S. waters.

--GreGen