Twenty Million Tons Under the Sea: The Daring Capture of the U-505

by Daniel V. Gallery

In June 1944, U.S. Navy Task Group 22.3, a "hunter-killer" force commanded by Daniel Gallery to track down German submarines, boarded and captured U-505 off the coast of Africa. It was the first time that an enemy ship of war had been captured on the high seas by U.S. Navy sailors since 1815, when the USS Peacock seized HMS Nautilus as part of the War of 1812. The extraordinary feat is described in gripping narrative by Gallery himself, who chronicles the long and arduous battle against the German U-boat under the most hazardous conditions. Once they succeeded in capturing and towing their prize seventeen-hundred miles across the Atlantic Ocean, U-505 proved to be of inestimable value, yielding secrets to radio codes among other things. U-505 is now on exhibit at Chicago's Museum of Science and Industry.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, World War II, War, Military History, Military Fiction, Nautical

360 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1956

About the author

Daniel Vincent Gallery was a Rear Admiral in the United States Navy. He saw extensive action during World War II, fighting U-Boats during the Battle of the Atlantic, where his most notable achievement was the June 4, 1944, capture of the German submarine U-505. After the war, Gallery was a prolific author of fiction and non-fiction. During the post-war military cutbacks, he wrote a series of articles criticizing the heavy reductions being made to the US Navy. These articles placed him at odds with the Truman administration during the episode which became known as the Revolt of the Admirals.
The so-called "Revolt of the Admirals" broke out during Louis Johnson's tenure as Secretary of Defense under Harry Truman in 1948. Johnson planned to scrap the carrier fleet, merge the Marine Corps into the Army, and reduce the Navy to a convoy-escort force. Gallery wrote a series of articles for The Saturday Evening Post fiercely criticizing these plans. The final article, "Don't Let Them Scuttle the Navy!" was so inflammatory that Gallery barely escaped court-martial for insubordination. Even so, the episode cost Gallery his third star. It effectively finished his career, though he served 12 more years on active duty. At the time of his forced retirement in 1960 (for "health reasons") he was second in seniority on the Rear Admirals' List.

Reviews

[Lori Krause · Rating 4 out of 5]

A brilliant account of one of the most dramatic tales of sea warfare. Not only is it compelling, but completely engrossing. Such a feat for Admiral Gallery which made all other achievements pale in comparison. It was a turning point in the war which gave the United States and Allied fleets the advantage during the battle of the Atlantic. Without his accomplishment, the German U-boats would have continued their havoc sinking ton after ton. Two and one-half million tons in all. The capturing of U-505 was truly an act of bravery and the beginning of the end of the war. Every book I read about naval warfare I become more aware of the selfless and brave acts of all naval officers, seaman, Allied, or other. This is one I definitely recommend.

[C. G. Telcontar · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story needs a movie!

With several awful U boat films in existence here is a real war story screaming to be made into a movie.

Gallery's style is what you might call "flamboyant" and "overbearing but 75 pages in it settles in as the right tone to tell the tale. There are some omissions, such as Admiral King's reaction to the capture of the boat but you can understand Gallery wouldn't bring that up. A very satisfying companion to Steel Boats, Iron Hearts.

[Noah Goats · Rating 4 out of 5]

Daniel Gallery may not have been a particularly skilled writer, but he was a smart, earnest, passionate man with an exciting story to tell. Twenty Million Tons Under the Sea is the story of how he and the men serving on his destroyers and jeep carrier during WWII captured a German submarine before the Germans could scuttle it, providing a wealth of valuable intelligence to the allies (especially related to the German naval codes).

What makes the book really interesting is the way that Gallery gets into the history of the sub he captured. The whole Battle of the Atlantic is told through the fortunes of U-505, from its birth in the last days of easy hunting in 1942 to the grim months of hiding from destroyers and sub killing planes while doing almost no damage to allied shipping. There is a lot of white knuckle action and high drama in the story of U-505. It makes you sympathize with those German submariners even if they were fighting for an evil totalitarian regime.

My grandfather served on a liberty ship in the merchant marine during WWII, and he lived long enough to teach me about camping and fishing because men like Daniel Gallery kept him safe. Along with everything else, this book reminder to me of what my grandfather was up against.

[Tomomi Landsman · Rating 3 out of 5]

I used $0.99 worth of free Amazon credits toward Great on Kindle eBooks to 'purchase' this book.

The vast majority of the books that cost $0.99 on Great on Kindle seem to be older war history books. At the end of the book, there was a note to the reader that mentions www.digitalhistorybooks.com, and I imagine many of these books are associated with this. I purchased another two such books for $0.99: Black History: The Story of the Schweinfurt Raid by Martin Caidin and Helmet for My Pillow by Robert Leckie.

Considering that this book was first published in 1956 and that I'm not all that into military history, this was an interesting read. The story was persuasive, diving into the lives at sea of the principal characters. The number of times he made fun of scientists did irk me, but overall it was surprisingly pleasant to read. I expected something drier and more pedantic, but Gallery seems like a very colorful man and really tries to get into the minds of his fellow and enemy combatants.

[Dj · Rating 3 out of 5]

A book that holds some special room on my reading list. It isn't that the event was of any really great importance to the winning of World War II, or even the claim of being the first boarding action of an enemy vessel since the 1800's may or may not be accurate. No, it was none of those things that draw me to this book like a magnet.

When I was in Jr. High in Davenport IA I got a guided tour with a group of Sea Cadets of the U505. It is amazing just how much it brings home to you the unreal conditions that the crew would have to had to put up with to even do their duties, much less live on such a vessel. When they say the conditions were cramped, it is perhaps an oversimplification. Even then I slammed my head into one of the frames for a hatch trying to move between one compartment to another, and I was leaning forward to go through. The Galley looked it would be a great deal like trying to cook inside of a closet. When I went on the tour, it was pristine in its cleanliness and empty of extra storage as a boat would have been on a war cruise.

So yeah having been on it, it was a special treat to read how that Enemy Vessel had ended up at a Museum on the 'coast' of Lake Michigan.

I d have some things that bring questions to mind about the book, like the claim of the boarding action. Since I would have thought that the action of the crew of the Destroyer Cossack freeing the prisoners held on the Altmark would qualify as well. But a bit of exaggeration is understandable since it was an amazing feat.

Maybe not the best book on the war, well certainly not, it still holds a special place on my reading list.

[Carolyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was really interested in the idea of this book, but it reads like a textbook. Although I do really like to learn a lot when I read, I like that to happen during an engaging story. I read 20% of this book - there is no story, no characters, etc. Gave it up.

[Jeff Dawson · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent tale recounting the actual events that led to the capture of U-505 and its final resting place in Chicago. Definitely on my to-do list. This is nothing like the movie, U-571 with Matthew McConaughey, this is good.
The pace is well done and the recounting of actions in the North Atlantic are superb.
I would also point out, the author, Daniel V. Gallery is a man of strong, conviction and faith. He addresses the moral points of war I’ve never read in such detail. He goes into detail when Rader and Doenitz are tried for war crimes at Nuremburg. He had no problem with the Nazis being tried, but those in the Kriegsmarine is another story. They were tried for the same actions Gallery, Nimitz and King performed-unrestricted submarine warfare. He found it a bit hypocritical to say the least.
I enjoyed his analysis of the current geopolitical situation and how we viewed our enemy at the time-The USSR. Remember, this book was published in 1956. I’ve read other works that held the same sentiments and fears regarding the experimentation with nuclear subs. They would be much deadlier than the S and U-boats of World War Two. They knew they would be lethal but they could not imagine the capabilities these new weapons would carry.
I didn’t mean to get off point, but that’s how moving I found the story. Gallery holds nothing back describing how Germany almost completed strangling England to death and cutting off the shipping lanes to Russia. In 1942, the situation looked bleak indeed. But as in all wars, we started to win the technological war while the Germans fell behind. And it happened literally in the nick of time! Another six months and the U-Boats would have dominated the seas, but new radar and sonar devices allowed us to hunt down the killers of the depths.

Who will like this? Any World War Two buff wanting to know more about the Battle of the Atlantic.

Five Stars

[Don · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have been fascinated by submarines for as long as I can remember. The U-505 was the first submarine I ever saw in person while on a field trip to Chicago’s Museum of Science and Industry back when I was in grade school. As I remember, we took the train from Madison, WI to Chicago. When I came across this book, I decided it was worth a read.

Daniel V. Gallery was the Commodore of the Jeep Carrier Anti-Submarine Task Force that captured the U505 during World War 2. The U-505 was the first enemy vessel captured by the US Navy since 1815. After the age of sail, enemy vessels were sunk rather than boarded and captured.

The book provides a detailed account of the war in the Atlantic during World War 2 from both the Allied and Axis perspective. The war was predominantly about German U-Boats sinking Allied cargo ships and the Allies sinking German submarines. By analyzing the German Navy’s war records the author was able to construct a detailed history of the U-505’s construction and cruises. While U-Boat cruises eventually had a high degree of success, by the time of the U-505’s last cruise the odds of her being sunk were virtually guaranteed, yet her crew set forth. Most crews perished when their boats were sunk, but some managed to get in lifeboats before they scuttled their own ship and surrendered.

Somewhere the author decided the Allies should try to capture a U-Boat instead of sinking it or letting a surrendering crew scuttle the boat. In the book, he describes the techniques his task force developed to make this possible. They pioneered nighttime carrier landings so that they could keep search planes in the air around the clock. They were eventually able to locate the U-505, force her to the surface, and board her before her crew could scuttle her. They then towed her to an Allied port where she remained for the remainder of the war.

The remainder of the book discusses the post-war effort to convince the US Navy to give the U-505 to Chicago’s Museum of Science and Industry as a permanent war memorial and exhibit. By this time the author was a Rear Admiral, and he played a significant role in that process. Once they were given the U-505 they had to transport it from Portsmouth, NH to its permanent home in Chicago

If you are interested in World War 2 and especially submarine warfare, you will find Twenty Million Tons Under the Sea: The Daring Capture of the U-505 a book worth reading.

[Diana · Rating 2 out of 5]

Daniel V. Gallery's sea-faring yarn of the Battle of the North Atlantic (WWII) and the ultimate capture of the U-505 (the only capture of a ship of any kind by U. S. services since 1815 as he reminds us several times) and how the U-505 wound up as a premiere exhibit at the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago could be a fascinating story of men at war. Gallery has compared the war diaries of the German captains with those of the U.S. captains and describes the cat-and-mouse game of near misses with knowledgeable excitement.

However, the author cannot control inserting much stereotyping, generalization, and just plain offensive and derogatory remarks throughout his text. Constant references to long-hairs (academics), gals (French prostitutes), dirty Commies, racial stereotypes (the German crew looked ike Nordic gods), etc., are a little too much, even for this girl who grew up with 1950's sensibilities. In addition, a little over half-way through, Gallery begins to repeat several of his rants before continuing with his amazing war story. He is also prone to guess what conversations might have taken place or what emotions might be felt by people he never met, reminding me a little of the "historical re-enactments" we see on a lot of TV shows.

If you can get through the smarm and focus on the real acti0n, this is a good read about some specific Navy action in the Atlantic which is often ignored for the more sensational war stories of the South Pacific.

[Mark Blane · Rating 5 out of 5]

EXCELLENT rendition of how the US Navy captured a German Uboat during wartime in WW2. The first time the US capture of a man-at-war during wartime since the War of 1812, told succinctly by the man who commanded the Jeep Carrier Group who accomplished it. None other than Rear Admiral Daniel V. Gallery of the US Navy.

Gallery not only drops facts of what happened leading up to the capture, but he most matter of factly describes the Uboat war in general from the time of the war up until when the Uboat 505 became a museum exhibit in Chicago.

I remember visiting the captured Uboat 505 in Chicago back in 2010, and I was blown away by the exhibit. It took me 11 years to read the book by the very man who captured her. You will learn about these US Allied cooperative Task Groups that closed the gap on the air power to eventually overcome the Uboats since their downfall beginning in May 1943.

The story is gripping because the reader knows the capture will come in the ending chapters, so Gallery cleverly uses the sense of drama to pull the reader into his thinking and strategy as to how he captured her. At the same time, Gallery gets into the heads of her commanders through the years prior to her capture. Overall it was a great read and an excellent addition to any Uboat or WW2 history library!

[Roger Briggs · Rating 5 out of 5]

The U-505 and My Visit to the Museum of Science and Industry

In 1960 I was a high school senior in Rockford, Illinois. I visited my grandmother in Oak Park that January and she took me to the Museum of S & I in Chicago and we toured the U-505. In 1980, 20 years later, I was working for the Bremerton Naval Shipyard when I learned from a co worker that her husband was a tour guide for U-505 at the time I was there. She gave me a poster of the subs capture, autographed by her husband. I also worked for the Naval Hospital NAS Whidbey Island where the base golf course is named after Admiral Gallery. In 2019, almost 60 years after my visit to the U-505 I have just read Gallery's excellent account or the U-505's capture and the nature of submarine warfare in the Atlantic. This seems to be a story that won't let go of me. War through the eyes of a warrior will leave its imprint on you. I highly recommend.

[Kmag54 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Don't miss this book

Using Allied and Nazi documents and first hand command experience, the experiences of submarine warfare participants are dramatically told in this remarkably written history. Be prepared not only to experience the emotions of submarine warfare, but also the many consequences, personal and legal. The analysis is forthright and clear regarding the importance of submarine capabilities, this from a submarine hunter In WW2. The author's opinion appears to be widely held in the current naval emphasis on submarine assets. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and learned a great deal about many things submarine including history, logistics, tactics, strategy, command and much more. This is a dramatic yet illuminating and reasoned practical and theoretical work of distinction for any students of history.

[Jeffrey Zeltzer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fascinating Story of WWII Sea Battles of the Atlantic

Enjoyed the basic first person narration of the Atlantic battles and the hunts of the German U-Boats and the hunts for them. With the interwoven story of submarine U-505's capture. Learned a great deal about the German Navy's strategic and tactical efforts in support of the country's over-arching political and cultural objectives. Would have given a 4-star rating, but for the author's virulent attack on the Nuremberg trials, especially relating to admirals Raeder and Doenitz. They were rightly convicted for aiding and abetting Hitler's quest for power and re-making a world within his murderous conception. Still worth the read.

[Mai-Lan Hanley · Rating 5 out of 5]

History From The Mouths of Those Who Made

Having been born in Chicago April 7, 1942, I took a special interest in this book. It was apparently written a little more than a decade after the war came to a close. While I was still quite young at the time the U-505 was brought to Chicsgo, I remember much of what happened back then but this book offers many details I had not heard before and thoroughly enjoyed the story! I have toured the U-505 several times since it came to test there. I can only imagine the difficulties of getting the sun from Lake Michigan. Closing down Lake Shore Drive would have been extremely difficult even in the 1950's! Recommend this book highly!

[Tom · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author presents a good picture of the beginning of the Battle for the Atlantic along with the evolution of the submarine and anti submarine warfare during the war up to the capture of the submarine and the crew and the immediate aftermath. I had read about the U.S. Navy creating task forces using Escort carriers to hunt down German Submarines but never in the detail presented this book. The Author does present some detailed statistics to advance the story but never enough to feel like you are reading a dry book of numbers.

I would recommend this book as a god read to fill in some of the gaps in other books I have read about the Battle for the Atlantic.

Going to the Science and Industry Museum in Chicago been on my list of things to do for several years. After reading this book it has moved near to the top.

[Jack Harmon · Rating 5 out of 5]

! thought this book, although quite lengthy, to be very interesting about submarine warfare in the Atlantic. After reading the capture of the U-505, I had to look it up at the museum of science and industry in Chicago. Although Google maps told me nothing, I looked up U-505 and got a lot of pictures showing them transporting the sub to the museum, and digging out an underground room to house the sub. There, they set up a very intricate displays about the sub, and I was able to view many pictures taken inside and outside. I believe in another room there are pictures of them capturing it, and of all the crew members who took part of the capture. Although I would love to visit the museum, I believe I am now too old to travel.

[Richard · Rating 2 out of 5]

A poorly written book that fails to live up to the title or description. The style of writing is not up to that I would expect of an experienced writer, much less a former admiral, and everything is told at a high level. While telling an overall story from a high level may be good (to cover a large amount of material in a [relatively speaking] small space), this is a specific story about a specific action and so detail is required.

In addition, RADM Gallery occasionally goes wandering off into why the Navy is so important, why atomic submarines are bad, and discussions about his feelings regarding nuclear weapons - none of which is of significance to the story being told.

Not recommended.

[Charles R. Marmolejo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great account with excellent context...

As a school boy 55 years ago my class mates and I toured the U505 at Chicago’s museum of Science and Industry. It wasn’t until now that I learned the story of its capture and the daring efforts of the sailors and the personal initiative of the flotilla commander that crafted the tactics to capture the boat. The narrative goes beyond just the capture of the boat and its crew. The book is a vivid and factual narrative of the battle for the Atlantic and how technology with improved tactics and equipment turned the tide for the Allies, decimating Hitler’s U-Boat fleet, turning a lark of hunting in Wolf Packs early in the war to becoming the prey, hunted and destroyed individually later in the war.

[Beannie Wise · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting account of U-boat operations and the allied tactics used to counter them. Gallery is a gifted author, able to blend excitement, humor, and perspective into this epic look at history in the Battle of the Atlantic. His closing epilog was a balanced look at how our political processes interacted with military operations at Nurnberg regarding the "crimes" of submarine warfare, and how we naively look at wars in general. Gallery was a great writer - wish he had written other books too.

[Tyler · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked up this book because it was a $.99 deal on Amazon with medium expectations. Then when I found out it was a first hand account written shortly after the fact I had even lower expectations. I couldn't have been more wrong. The book was riveting (no pun intended). I couldn't put it down and went through the whole book in two days. The way the the author presented the whole story buttressed with other stories, historical records, and first and experience was very well done. Well worth the $.99 and quite a bit more.

[Spencer Birt · Rating 5 out of 5]

The complete history the U505 from construction to capture gives the reader a complete education of the science, life, and struggles of a world out of the ordinary. The detail extended by Gallery in all facets of submarine life including construction, purpose, actual below sea situations, and crew life is a must read for World War II enthusiasts. Though filled with the extremes of excitement and sadness the flow of the events move as on a calm sea because of the grand writing style of the author. You have to admire the dedication of these submariners!

[Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent scenario of the capture of an enemy submarine.

Well written narrative with appropriate examples and displays of procedures and practices laced with personal commentaries. The opinions are uncommon in contemporary writings but do provide an insight that is thoughtful. There is a sense of incongruity when trying to reconcile the philosophy of a significant combat leader with obvious pacifist perspectives.
An engrossing read!

[David L. Haven, Jr. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent summary of great naval plunder.

Admiral Gallery speaks to a new millennium from the perspective of a commanding officer. It informs our American values and methods even today.

A great story filled with ample background to satisfy military and particularly naval history buffs. Even mere civilians can appreciate the humor and foils the Admiral reveals. Far more important is the last chapter and warnings to (his) future and our current events.

Read.

[Rob · Rating 5 out of 5]

Up close and personal insight into the Capture of U-505

I enjoyed this Book of the captue of the U-505 as well as the followup insight regarding the end of World War II. I enjoyed reading the view point from the author regarding the different justifications from politicians, the author, and others in respect to how a war is fought and how the defeated are persecuted when the war is over. Interested reading!

[Stefania hale · Rating 5 out of 5]

.

Great read for anyone. Adm. Gallery tells a great historical accurate story and as a submarine vet I concur with him on the trial of Adm. Doenetz. Th a politicians are the one who should shoulder the responsibility for their own actions. Would love to someday visit the U505. Blueback at OMSI in Portland is a great visit is a sister boat to the Barbel which is the boat I served on.

[Don Crumbley · Rating 4 out of 5]

An Excellent Understanding of the Submarine War in The Atlantic During WWII

Having read several versions about the U.S. Naval Submarine Force in the Pacific during WWII, it is of interest to find out what was happening in the Atlantic. Author is well grounded in his own knowledge about the Atlantic part of the conflict and explains both sides of the issue from the German submarine threat to the hunter threat to the German submarine force.

[Ken Grater · Rating 5 out of 5]

Uboat

I found the story of the capture of the U-505 to be very interesting. I went on the tour of the U-505 in Chicago in 1971 while my husband was stationed at a nearby naval station. To read how it was pursued and captured was fascinating. Reading about the way the sailors and officers lived was also very interesting. Finally learning how it made its way to a Chicago museum so people like me could explore it made the book worth reading. I recommend it to everybody.

[Donald Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this one a bit slow to get started, but very much enjoyed reading it. The interest picked up as the story unfolded. Admiral Gallery thoroughly researched his topic, having a personal interest as the commander who captured the U505. His insight into sea warfare is the real stuff.

This kind of memoir, from men who participated in the fighting, helps flesh out the first person side of the conflict. For those interested in WWII history, I highly recommend this book.

[Jane Thompson · Rating 4 out of 5]

World War II Story

This is an interesting book. It teaches the reader about the role and function of submarines in World War II. The author describes sub-hunting and what subs are capable of during a war. Some may not appreciate the author's opinions about the war, but he did carry out a role during the war and probably has a right to his views.

[Leonard · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting book. Well researched by the author. His keeping contact with some of the German sailors that were on the submarine was illuminating. I enjoyed his opinions regarding the Nurenburg Trials. The old adage, "the victors write the History" is appropro in this case. A good book, and interesting since it was written many years ago.