NOAA recently announced that a World War II Navy patrol boat (YP-389) was found at the beginning of August off the coast of Hatteras, NC.
The boat was sunk by a German sub in 1942 during the “Battle of the Atlantic” and has been untouched since.
YP-389 was involved in a 90 minute battle with a German U-boat that led to its demise. The U-boat was sunk two weeks later about 10 miles north.
The “Battle of the Atlantic” refers to the early years of WWII when ships were regularly attacked by German submarines off the East Coast. During this time, 137 allied, German, and merchant vessels were lost along North Carolina. Of the 137 vessels lost, only 40 have been located!
The boat is 325 feet underwater, and it is believed that 5 men may be entombed. The site is protected by federal laws that prohibit the touching or removing of artifacts.
