A World War II terror of the Atlantic is about to meet its match.
On June 4, 1944, a German submarine was prowling the waters off the West African coast for American and Allied ships. Part of a U-boat fleet terrorizing the Atlantic, this submarine was known as U-505. But on this day, the U-505 had just become the hunted.
An Epic Underwater Story
For weeks, a U.S. Navy Task Group had tracked a shadowy U-boat. Despite a crack team and the latest technology, the Task Group was unable to pinpoint their elusive prey. Low on fuel, the frustrated captain had just called off the search when … there was something on the sonar.
Finding and destroying the sub would save Allied lives and supplies; capturing it could help win the war by cracking the U-boat mystery—but only if the Germans thought the sub had sunk. Securing the U-505 and keeping the capture secret was the key.
How do you hide something the length of a city block, weighing three times the Statue of Liberty?
Experience the only German sub in the U.S. in this dramatic exhibit and national war memorial to American sailors.
The U-505 submarine has amazed Museum guests since 1954, and now has a captivating exhibit to match its scale and dramatic capture. How did U-boat technology work? What was life like on the sub? How was the capture kept secret? This riveting wartime story comes alive.
The German vessel is surrounded by a completely immersive exhibit, included in Museum Entry. Want even more of the U-505 experience? Take the optional on-board tours available daily. From the cramped quarters to the feel of battle, it's an interactive walk through a piece of history that you'll never forget.
