Last U.S.-Flag Merchantman Sunk By A U-Boat In World War II

SAT 5 MAY 1945
Pacific
In the second of two operations aimed at blockading Japan's industrial centers, 98 USAAF B-29s sow mines in the Inland Sea and off Kobe, Osaka, Tokyo and Nagoya.

Off Okinawa, kamikazes damage seaplane tender St. George (AV-16), 26°10'N, 127°19'E, and surveying ship Pathfinder (AGS-1), 26°38'N, 127°53'E.

Japanese army cargo ship Manshu Maru is damaged by USAAF B-29-laid mine, 33°47'N, 131°35'E.

Japanese merchant tanker No.5 Takasago Maru is sunk by aircraft, 34°44'N, 126°16'E.

Japanese merchant tanker No.11 Takasago Maru is sunk by aircraft, off Yosu, Korea.

Japanese merchant cargo ships Yamatogawa Maru and Naka Maru are sunk by aircraft off Mokpo, Korea.

Navy patrol bomber (PBMs and PB4Ys are operating in this area) sink Japanese merchant cargo ship No.9 Taiun Maru west of Kunsan, 34°00'N, 130°00'E.

USAAF B-24s (13th Air Force) raid Japanese shipping and shore installations at Makassar, sinking cargo vessel Kenzan Maru.

Japanese merchant cargo ship Okusu Maru is sunk by aircraft off Karatsu.

Japanese merchant cargo ship Washi Maru is sunk by aircraft, 35°33'N, 126°18'E.

Japanese escort destroyer Oki is damaged by aircraft, 37°36'N, 126°00'E.

Atlantic
U.S. freighter Black Point is torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U-853 about five miles southeast of Point Judith, Rhode Island 41°19'02"N, 71°25'01"W. One of the five Armed Guard sailors is killed, as are 11 of the 41-man merchant complement. Yugoslavian freighter Karman and Norwegian Scandanavia, crash boats from Quonset Point, Rhode Island and a Coast Guard craft rescue the survivors of the last U.S.-flag merchantman sunk by a U-boat in World War II. U-853's sailors, however, do not get to ponder the significance of their achievement for long (see 6 May).