Which cutter was responsible for sinking an enemy submarine during World War II by ramming it?

• A. The Campbell
• B. The E. C. Frost
• C. The Bear
• D. The Taney

Answer: (A)

Ramming a submarine happened when a surfaced U-boat could be struck directly by a pursuing warship, delivering a fatal hull hit at very close range. In World War II, this dramatic tactic proved decisive when other weapons failed to quickly finish the threat. The Campbell, a U.S. Coast Guard cutter, is credited with sinking an enemy submarine by ramming during the war. After the submarine was forced to surface by prior attacks, Campbell closed in and struck, causing catastrophic damage that led to the submarine’s sinking. This action stands out because most anti-submarine work relied on depth charges and torpedoes, not a direct hull collision. The Campbell’s bold maneuver exemplifies how quick, aggressive decision-making in close quarters could end a submarine threat, a distinction not matched by the other cutters listed.