Uncle Harry Ross, Machinist Mate 3rd Class, passed away recently and my mother and father helping with the estate uncovered a shell casing used to sink German U-515 submarine off the coast of Africa in WW2. The shell comes from the single twin 40mm AA gun on the USS Chatelain DE-149 Destroyer Escort used to help sink the German U Boat on Easer Sunday April 9th, 1944.
Uncle Harry was a stoic man that never had too much to say. He came from strong Scottish heritage still having his kilt and sash. He was a true seaman collecting many nautical trinkets and memorabilia from his time in the Tin Can Sailors. The shell however he had made into a lamp that took some time to remove all the pieces that made up the fixture.
After closer inspection there was an inscription etched into the side of the shell casing. It reads “Shell Used in Sinking German U Boat 515 Easter Sunday 1944 Off Coast of Mederia Islands USS Chatelain DE-149” Along with a US flag and a U-boat with the U-515 on the submarine.
After researching we verified the shell’s story and Uncle Harry’s US Navy Service on the USS Chatelain. Sure enough it measured 40mm matching the armaments onboard and the date the U-boat was sank. There was quite a bit of photography from the event and have shared some with you in this article.
Uncle Harry didn’t talk much about his involvement during World War 2 but sadly after his passing we find out the history behind the ship he served aboard. He was a Machinist Mate 3rd Class during the entire time at sea and was on board for the famous capture of U-boat 505 June of 1944.
Hats off to this amazing sailor and his service in fighting fascism in the world. Along with many who served aboard the Tin Can Destroyers of the US Navy, Uncle Harry was a hero that humbly participated in some of the greatest moments in naval history.
USS Chatelain was a U-Boat Nemesis
USS Chatelain (DE-149) was an Edsall-class destroyer escort in service with the United States Navy from 1943 to 1946. Destined to play a significant role in patrolling the Atlantic of German submarines, Chatelain escorted two convoys from the east coast to Derry in England and Gibraltar south of Spain between 20 November 1943 and 7 March 1944, and was then assigned to the hunter-killer group formed to protect the USS Guadalcanal (CVE-60). In the last year of the war in the Atlantic, while serving with the Guadalcanal group, Chatelain helped in the sinking of two German U-boats, and the capture of a third.
