USS Borie and U-405: The Lethal Embrace

On November 1, 1943, the USS Borie (DD-704) engaged the Type VIIC submarine U-405 approximately 26 miles from a prior radar contact. At 0153 hours, in rough seas and low visibility, Borie lost radar contact at 2,800 yards but quickly picked up the submarine on sonar. After deploying depth charges, U-405 surfaced, prompting Borie to attack with gunfire from a distance of 400 yards.

Despite being struck by U-405's six 20mm autocannons, which hit Borie’s forward engine room and the area near the bridge, the destroyer's 20mm fire eliminated the exposed crew members on the submarine's deck. A salvo of three 4-inch shells destroyed U-405's deck gun before it could respond. Borie then rammed the submarine, causing both vessels to lock together and engage in a close-quarters battle, illuminated by Borie's spotlight.

Initially positioned perpendicularly, the wave action and efforts from both crews shifted them into a locked "V" formation, resulting in flooding in Borie's forward engine room. While Borie had superior firepower, targeting U-405 effectively proved difficult, and the submarine's machine guns remained active. In the intense fighting that ensued, Borie’s crew used various small arms to fend off German sailors attempting to man their deck weapons. The crew of Borie could see the polar bear insignia on U-405's conning tower, which was heavily damaged and unable to submerge following the depth charges. Despite U-405's formidable armament, the loss of several crew members limited its ability to counter Borie's exposed personnel effectively. 

Ultimately, U-405 and USS Borie separated, and both crews attempted to fire torpedoes at each other, but neither struck its target. By this time, around 35 of U-405's 49 crew members had been killed or lost overboard. Borie, heavily damaged, was moving at a reduced speed, while U-405 retained some maneuverability. The submarine's tighter turning radius hindered Borie from effectively utilizing her superior broadside firepower.

In a tactical move, Borie's captain turned off the searchlight, hoping U-405 would attempt an escape, providing a better target. When the submarine did accelerate away, Borie switched the searchlight back on and positioned herself to engage with her broadside guns and depth charge thrower. U-405 was bracketed by shallow-set depth charges and struck by a 4-inch shell, causing it to stop. Borie's crew then witnessed about 14 sailors signaling their surrender and abandoning the ship in yellow rubber rafts, prompting Hutchins to order a cease-fire as several appeared to be injured. The last man to leave the sinking U-405 wore an officer's cap. The submarine slowly sank by the stern at 0257 and was later seen to explode underwater, likely due to scuttling charges set by the last officer to evacuate.