World War II Shipping in the Gulf of Mexico and the Impact of the German U-boat Threat: the Archaeological Evidence

Summary

An estimated 56 commercial vessels were sunk by German U-boats in the Gulf of Mexico during targeted campaigns conducted between 1941 and 1943.  In the years since, an estimated 14 of these wrecks have been located and identified with a high degree of confidence.   A number of these sites have undergone varying levels of archaeological analysis, although very few have been scientifically excavated, resulting in little related material culture.  This paper will review the archaeological evidence offered by World War II-era casualties in the Gulf of Mexico, and explore valuable information provided by the archaeological record regarding efforts made to evade and counter the German threat.  

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• To "Hazard a Turbulent Sea:" Marine Archaeology in the Gulf of Mexico--Examining 500 Years of Exploration and Exploitation   •
• Society for Historical Archaeology 2016

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Individual & Institutional Roles

Contact(s): Society for Historical Archaeology

Record Identifiers

PaperId(s): 274