Action of 27 March 1942

Part of World War II, Battle of the Atlantic

Date	27 March 1942
Location	off Norfolk, Virginia, Atlantic Ocean 35°38′N 70°14′W / 35.63°N 70.23°W / 35.63; -70.23Coordinates: 35°38′N 70°14′W / 35.63°N 70.23°W / 35.63; -70.23
Result	German victory

Belligerents

United States

Nazi Germany

Commanders and leaders

Harry L. Hicks †

Reinhard Hardegen

Strength

1 Q-ship

1 submarine

Casualties and losses

141 killed
1 Q-ship sunk

1 killed
1 submarine damaged

The Action of 27 March 1942 was a naval battle fought between the United States and Germany during World War II in the Atlantic Ocean. While patrolling 300 miles off Norfolk, Virginia, an American Q-ship encountered a U-boat and a short surface engagement ensued.

USS Atik, under Lieutenant Commander Harry Lynnwood Hicks, was originally a merchantman named SS Carolyn which was converted to a Q-ship after America's entry into World War II. Atik displaced 6,610 tons with a crew of 141 men and an armament of four 4-inch (100 mm) naval guns, eight machine guns and six K-guns. It was about 5:00 pm on 27 March when U-123 detected Atik. Over two hours later at 19:37, Kapitänleutnant Reinhard Hardegen fired a spread of G7e torpedoes from a surfaced position and one of them struck Atik's bow on port side. The Q-ship caught on fire and started to list slightly. Lieutenant Commander Hicks apparently decided that the only way to lure the U-boat within range of his guns was by ordering a lifeboat to be lowered on the starboard side. The trick worked so when U-123 was maneuvering to starboard, around Atik's stern, she opened fire with all of her weapons, including depth charges. The first shots fell short of the U-boat and the others deflected. The American machine gunners were successful though and the U-boat's bridge was slightly damaged and one German midshipman was mortally wounded.

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