U-873
Date of Action: 11 May 1945
USCG Units Involved: USS Durant and Vance
Sinking/Capture/Assist? Surrender
Location: Portsmouth, New Hampshire
Credit by U.S. Navy? Yes
Enemy Warship's Commanding Officer: Kapitänleutnant Friedrich Steinhoff
Enemy Casualties: None
USCG Casualties: None
Details/Updates:
On the morning of 11 May 1945, four days after Germany had surrendered, the Coast Guard-manned destroyer escorts USS Vance and USS Durant, underway off the Azores escorting their last convoy to the Mediterranean, sighted a light up ahead in the convoy. They closed to investigate. The Durant illuminated the target, which was the surfaced submarine U-873, a Type IX D2 U-boat, which had been at sea for 50 days. Vance, while screened by Durant, hailed the "erstwhile enemy" over her public address system, established her identity, and then ordered her to heave to. On board were seven officers and 52 enlisted men.
Vance placed a 21-man prize crew on board the captured U-boat and they delivered the prize at Portsmouth, New Hampshire, on 16 May 1945.
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