OPERATION TEARDROP: THE WWII MISSION TO PROTECT NEW YORK

During the final moments of World War II, many Americans believed the war in Europe was almost over. Some newspapers reported American victories, and many assumed the conflict would soon end, given that Allied Forces held the advantage.

Suddenly, the U.S. Navy received troubling reports that prompted them to take action. They were told that the Germans were heading towards North America, with submarines equipped with V-1 rockets.

If the submarines had come close to the shore, they could’ve potentially struck major American cities such as New York. The Navy didn’t dismiss the threat; instead, it launched Operation Teardrop to hunt down the submarines.

The V-1 and V-2 Rockets of the German Military

In early 1945, Germany suffered heavy bombing from Allied Forces, making it run low on resources. However, the German forces possessed an incredible technological advantage. They had advanced rocket weapons.

They had the V-1 rocket, often called the “buzz bomb,” and a more sophisticated V-2 rocket. Both of these were major leaps in military technology.

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The V-1 was essentially an early cruise missile. It could travel hundreds of miles before detonating with a powerful explosion. The Germans used this rocket against London and other European cities.

On the other hand, the V-2 rocket was even more dangerous. It was more advanced and the world’s first long-range guided ballistic missile. The V-2 rocket could move faster than the speed of sound, and couldn’t be intercepted once launched.

These weapons made Allied intelligence worry about how Germany could use them in new ways. Included in that worry was the possibility of launching rockets offshore with the use of German submarines. From there, the U.S. Navy suspected that the WWII German submarines were preparing to hit New York City.

What Triggered Operation Teardrop?

U.S. Intelligence suggested that a group of German submarines left Norway and is heading west across the Atlantic. These submarines were part of a group known as “Seewolf.” The mission of the German submarines was unclear. However, German submarines were equipped to carry rocket weapons such as the V-1 and V-2.

At the same time, U.S. authorities detained 2 German spies in late November 1944. William Colepaugh and Erich Gimpe landed on the coast of Maine by a submarine. They ended up in FBI custody and were interrogated from there on.

The FBI learned that Germany was preparing several submarines to be equipped with V-1 rockets, which would strike New York and other East Coast cities.

In addition to this, German Architect Albert Speer, who was also a Nazi Minister of Armaments at the time, made a public broadcast stating that V-1 and V-2 missiles would strike New York by February 1, 1945. This announcement and Speer’s subsequent German propaganda further fueled interest in the operation.

That was enough proof for the U.S. Navy, and they didn’t wait to see what would happen. They prepared and decided to intercept the submarines before they even reached North America.

However, the War Department didn’t think this threat would develop, so they dismissed it. But the U.S. Navy disagreed. They wanted to be prepared for whatever might come. Vice Admiral Jonas Ingram ordered the Atlantic Fleet and warned them that missile attacks were possible.

The Ship That Broke in Half

Operation Teardrop began when Ingram and the 10th Fleet staff concluded that boats passing through their area carried V-1 rockets in March 1945. With this, they initiated the operation.

Each of the Allied Forces has 2 escort carriers and more than 20 destroyer escorts. They need to form patrol lines across the North Atlantic, and any WWII German submarines that approach American waters would receive fire before they even reach the coast.

On April 24, 1945, USS Frederick C. Davis, a destroyer escort, made contact. There were confrontations between the destroyer and the German submarine U-546. The destroyer was preparing to drop depth charges, but the submarine struck first.

The German submarine launched an acoustic homing torpedo, hitting USS Frederick C. Davis in the forward engine room, which caused a massive explosion. Within minutes, the ship broke apart and sank in the Atlantic. In that incident, 126 Navy personnel lost their lives, making it the most tragic loss during Operation Teardrop.

Germany Didn’t Intend to Launch Rockets

The Navy sent 8 specialists of the German submarine U-546 into isolation and separated them from other prisoners for interrogation. All of them endured different treatment until one of them agreed to write an accurate account of U-546's history. At the time, Germany had already surrendered 4 days earlier than the agreement.

Eventually, the truth came to light after the postwar analysis. The Germans never had success with submarine-launched weapons. Therefore, the Seewolf just carried conventional torpedoes, and not rockets. Albert Speer's public announcement was just purely propaganda. He just added fuel to the fire.

Even though the feared attack never happened, Operation Teardrop still involved an intense exchange of blows between the Americans and Germans, resulting in tragic losses. It shows us that war doesn’t begin with what the enemy has done, what they might be capable of, or the fear of what could happen if no one stops them.

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