First Nazi Ship to Lose to Artillery Told by City Member of Gun Crew
Camden Courier-Post
Pine Street Gunner Sends Parents Description of Odd Battle at Lorient, France; Victory Ended German ‘Control’ of Big Harbor
A Camden soldier yesterday was revealed to have been a member of the artillery unit credited with being the first in the European theatre to sink an ocean-going vessel.
Pfc. Fred Tamru, Jr., of 315 Pine street, was one of 10 members of the fieldpiece crew whose big gun sent a German freighter to the bottom at Lorient, France, while the Nazis still held that port.
The story of the feat is contained in the “Black Panther,” official publication of the 66th Infantry Division. The division’s gun crew sank 10 other boats in the same harbor, including a steamship, minelayer, steam barges and dredges and even a floating pier, according to the division paper just received by Tamru’s relatives.
Waited Long for Spring
Here’s how the paper describes the sinking:
“For a long time, German vessels enjoyed immunity because of the heavy fogs and mists which shrouded the harbor but the advent of Spring gave artillery observers the visibility for which they were waiting.
“The first vessel sunk, however, remains the greatest single artillery feat on this front and one of the rare ones in ETO warfare. Our accuracy led to the destruction of a freighter.
“The Nazis were confident that their ship was out of range of Panther artillery and calmly headed for the port. Lt. Leonard Sink, of Berrin Springs, Mich., spotter for the 66th, was in his plane when he noticed the steamer plowing through the harbor. It wasn’t the first vessel Lieutenant Sink had glimpsed in the harbor but when it edged closer to Panther batteries he started to take notice.
Make Almost 30 Hits
“He radioed Lt. J. T. Mack, Cambola, Pa., at a gun battery, informing him that there was a less-than-fair chance of reaching the vessel. The gun crew went to work. The first round was a little off. Lieutenant Sink adjusted.
“The fact that the boat was at extreme range made little difference. Panthermen were out for a sinking. Excitement was high. In the middle of everything, some German batteries started some counterfire. The ship was forgotten for a moment while those guns were silenced.
’Sink Sank Same’
“Then the long barrels of the 66th guns swept back to the boat. Gradually, the rounds crept closer to the boat. Finally a hit. Fifty-nine rounds in all were fired. About half of them hit the boat. Result, the boat sank.
“But the story doesn’t end there. A German barge ventured out to attempt salvage operations. Sixty-sixth artillerymen sent that down to Davy Jones’ locker, too. Sinking of the ship brought the obvious remark:
“’Sink sighted ship. Sink sank same.’
“Although many claimed to be the first to pull the gag, origin of the remark is generally attributed to the commander of the battalion that fired the mission.
“Men of the battery lost little time in painting a sinking Nazi ship on their gun shield. They claim it is the first field artillery piece in the ETO to sink an ocean-going vessel.”
Tamru’s brother, Frank, was killed in a vehicle accident in Italy last April 27, four days before the Nazis in Italy surrendered to the United Nations.
Fred’s wife, Josephine, lives at the Pine street address with their two children, Joanne, 3, and Frank, 1. He is a nephew of former Assemblyman Frank M. Travaline, Jr.
Photograph caption: Fred Tamru, Jr.