Attack on Orleans: The World War I Submarine Raid on Cape Cod

by Jake Klim

This true account of a German submarine on the Massachusetts coast was called “an action-packed page-turner” by Sen. John McCain.   On the morning of July 21, 1918—the final year of the First World War—a new prototype of German submarine surfaced three miles off the coast of Cape Cod, Massachusetts. The vessel attacked an unarmed tugboat and its four barges. A handful of the shells fired by the U-boat's deck guns struck Nauset Beach, giving the modest town of Orleans the distinction of being the only spot in the United States to receive enemy fire during the entire war.   On land, lifesavers from the US Coast Guard launched a surfboat under heavy enemy fire to save the sailors trapped aboard the tug and barges. In the air, seaplanes from the Chatham Naval Air Station dive-bombed the enemy raider with payloads of TNT. This book chronicles the attack from the first shell fired to the aftermath, and celebrates the resilience of a small New England town.

Genres: History, Nonfiction

129 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 1, 2014

Reviews

[KOMET · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book brings to the consciousness of the reader a remarkable story from the First World War that has largely been overlooked or forgotten. It is of the raid made by a transoceanic German U-boat, the U-156, that took place on the morning of Sunday, July 21st, 1918 on the town of Orleans on the Massachusetts coast near Martha's Vineyard. Indeed, the attack on Orleans was the first attack made by a foreign power on American soil in a century.

Furthermore, this story attests to the bravery shown by members of the local U.S. Coast Guard unit --- known as the "surfmen" for their special skills in search and rescue work at sea, who helped save many lives the day of the Attack on Orleans --- and the naval pilots of the nearby Chatham Naval Air Station who tried to sink the U-156 as it shelled the tug Perth Amboy and its accompanying 4 wooden barges and Orleans' Nauset Beach, which had been full of people enjoying their summer vacations.

I feel so lucky to have recently discovered this book by accident. Jake Klim deserves his kudos for making fresh anew the events of July 21, 1918 in Orleans, Massachusetts.

[Molly · Rating 4 out of 5]

ATTACK ON ORLEANS

Terrific short book about the attack on Cape Cod's Nauset Beach during World War I by a German U-boat. Yes, the American coast and unarmed ships, including the tugboat Perth Amboy and four barges, were attacked in 1918 by a U-156 submarine.

This is a nice tribute to the brave US Coast Guards and Chatham Naval Air Station seaplane pilots who battled back against the enemy shelling, a very clear and concise telling of this little known battle of WWI.

[JD · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good short book filled with good details about the attack on Orleans by U-156 in the summer of 1918. The book gives great background on the area and most of the people involved. Only problem I have is where the author states that Ensign Robert Cary earned his Medal of Honor during the sinking by mine of the USS San Diego, while he in fact earned it in 1915 during an accident along with Telesforo Trinidad.

[Armand Rosamilia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love reading about a part of history I'd never knew existed. This short (in time of history and actual minutes, not the length of the book itself) but monumental slice of what happened is fascinating, and the repercussions for years to come is amazing.

[Ron · Rating 3 out of 5]

Will review eventually.

[David L. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting true story about the only German submarine distruction of shipping in the North Atlantic during WWI and the attack on barges and a tug near Orleans, MA. Good fact finding with the Coast Guard and US Navy.

[bob walenski · Rating 4 out of 5]

A historic, well researched moment in U S History and Cape Cod lore happened in 1918 about 3 miles off the coast of Orleans, MA. A German U-boat surfaced and fired upon an unarmed tug boat and 4 barges, sinking 3 of them and causing all seamen to abandon their vessels and row to shore for their lives. The simplicity and quaintness of the event is almost comical by today's standards, but not at the time. Adding to the unbelievability of the event, Chatham Light Naval Air Station sent two planes, each carrying a single bomb, to find the sub and destroy it. Since the surfaced sub fired for almost 2 hours ( the Germans were not marksmen ) the planes easily found the U-Boat and dropped both bombs at it.....BUT neither bomb exploded.

The book was short and interesting as a tiny piece of history. It also showed the very earliest attempts to "guard" the mainland of our nation. The event was such a comedy of errors and misadventure, it can only serve as a wake up call, a beginning to what certainly had to be a better, more effective, Coast Guard.

[Chad · Rating 5 out of 5]

A well researched and written account of a lesser known part of America's past. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and highly recommend it to anyone interested in WW1 or nautical history. There's even something for aviation buffs to enjoy here. The author's style was refreshing - he explains the events in a clear, concise yet entertaining manner while only providing as much context as is necessary. While I admittedly haven't read much on the subject, I came away with the feeling that those in charge didn't take the threat of a homeland attack as seriously as they should have. A great book to pass an hour or two with!

[Mark McGuire · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pretty good unbiased look into history

As someone who lived on the Cape for a few years, it came as a surprise to discover the history behind the first attack on US soil since the war of 1812 happened in Orleans.

It’s not a lengthy windy book like some historical nonfiction tend to be. The author kept it simple and to the point with eyewitness accounts and journal entries. It turned out better than expected.

Well worth the read if you ever stay on the cape.

[Richard F. Underwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cape Cod shelled by German Sub!

A fascinating account of a little known German sub attack , the first attack on US soil in over 100 years. Such a great revelation and carefully detailed accounts deserve acclaim despite surprising lapses in vocabulary by the author.

[Phillip Mclaughlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

great story of the attack on Orleans 1918

I enjoyed this recent telling of the U-Boat attack on Cape Cod during the Great War.
These local histories offer so much, and on a level that appeals to the reader as human.
Going looking for the sites next summer.
Highly recommended

[Kenneth Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was completely unaware of this story. Well researched and written. Very interesting Cape and WWI historical story.

[Vurk · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great and compact book about a little known historical event.

[Gig Wailgum · Rating 4 out of 5]

Av very enjoyable read regarding an interesting moment during WW1 on US shores. The stories of the key players in the events keep the pages turning. Perfect for a vacation read on old Cape Cod.

[Adam Sarlan · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story of the German submarine attack on Nauset Beach on Cape Cod during World War I and the American aftermath of the events.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

enjoyed this short volume (117 pages) a great deal, and that is saying something for me, as I am far from a history buff. The focus is exactly as the title suggests, a German U-boat attack in 1918 on Orleans, MA on Cape Cod. some interesting background on a few of the protagonists including a guy who tried to drop a bomb on the U-boat (several such attempts failed as a function of the bomb's not detonating).

I'd never heard of this incident, but apparently it was big news at the time, being first foreign enemy attack on US soil in a hundred years. Terrific photos, great local color [author grew up 20 miles away, and his love for the area and its people comes through clearly], and makes extensive use of oral histories by survivors compiled by local historical society.

Lots of vivid anecdotes to set the scene including in the aftermath. For example, the family of the captain of one of the barges attacked by the sub had a pet hen (listed as "unnamed hen" in the epilogue). After the attack, which the hen survived, the kids sold opportunities to observe the hen ("see the hen that the Hun didn't get. Ten cents") in an effort to raise money for candy. Alas, "when adults caught wind of this little moneymaking scheme, the funds were confiscated and donated to the Red Cross." (p. 96).

If you are completely unfamiliar with WW I and want to learn what it was about, how it ended, overall military trajectory of it etc., wrong book. But if you might like a fast-moving, detailed take on a unique event from it, this one is highly recommended.

Disclaimer: Jake Klim is a friend of mine from running (and hella fast), but I really did like the book a lot, not just sayin' that.

[Lindsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have lived on Cape Cod for over 20 years and never heard about this little piece of history just a little way down from where I live. This book, packed with interesting facts, was also a quick and thrilling read. It read as a face-paced fiction book, only it was actual events! This is how any book about war and history should be written. You become attached to the characters, however brief you may meet them. You laugh at their funny antics and cry in their despair. Highly recommend to anyone, whether you like non-fiction, fiction, or anything in-between. You will find a little something for everyone.

[John (JP) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Attack on Orleans the WWI submarine raid on Cape Cod by Jake Klim
Very few Americans know that during the 1st World War a German submarine shelled and sank a tug boat and 3 barges off the coast of Cape Cod Massachusetts. This is the story of that raid and what happened afterwards. Written from news reports and 1st hand accounts of the incident, the story has the feel of a techno- thriller. The story shows the courage and idiocracyies of the men,women and technology of the time.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

SPOILERS FOLLOW

Very little-known piece of history involving my great-great grandfather (5-star rating is the result of bias). Pretty cool, although I wish we had ever found out just why the U-boat thought the tugboat and barges were a worthwhile target. I kept facepalming at every bomb that failed to detonate, but still, glad nobody died.

[Sally Sinclair · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well written and very interesting book. Also eye opening since I had never heard about this incident. Super summer read!

[Dan Oleksy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting read. I had no idea something like this happened on our local shores.

[Judi]

A very interesting read.