Wednesday, April 19, 2017

"I am sorry to have to sink you
and do this to you, but this is war."

SUN 19 APR 1942
Pacific
Japanese guardboat No.21 Nanshin Maru, damaged by Enterprise (CV-6) planes on 18 April, is scuttled by gunfire of light cruiser Kiso, 37°12'N, 151°15'E; guardboat No.1 Iwate Maru sinks as the result of damage inflicted by Enterprise planes on 18 April. Submarine I-74 rescues No.1 Iwate Maru's crew and ultimately transfers them to Kiso on 22 April.

Caribbean
German submarine U-130 shells oil installations at Curacao, N.W.I.

Atlantic
U.S. freighter Steel Maker is torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U-136 west of Bermuda, 33°05'N, 70°36'W, all hands save one (36 crewmen, the 9-man Armed Guard, and one passenger) survive. "I am sorry to have to sink you and do this to you," one German officer says apologetically after the enemy has questioned the survivors about the ship, its cargo, and destination, "but this is war." He promises to send Steel Maker's position to enable the Americans to be rescued (see 22, 29 April and 18 May).

Destroyer Broome (DD-210) rescues 27 survivors from U.S. freighter Alcoa Guide, sunk by German submarine U-123 on 16 April (see 18 May).

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