Second World War
Battle of the Atlantic  - Sea Battle: HMCS Assiniboine vs. U-210

On 6 August 1942, the Canadian destroyer HMCS Assiniboine, escorting straggling ships at the rear of convoy SC 94, sighted German submarine U-210 on the horizon. In a pursuit that culminated in a running gun battle, Assiniboine, damaged and set on fire by U-210's guns, rammed and sank the submarine.

Ramming U-210

This photograph shows the climax of the battle, when HMCS Assiniboine rammed U-210 just behind its conning tower.

Assiniboine's machine guns ultimately put the U-Boat's 20mm anti-aircraft guns (upper left) out of action, while one of the destroyer's main guns scored a direct hit on the conning tower, killing the submarine's bridge crew and its commander, Rudolf Lemcke. U-210 then tried to dive, but Assiniboine rammed the submarine, forcing it to the surface again, where the destroyer rammed it a second time, dropped depth-charges, and hit it with gunfire. U-210 sank shortly afterwards.

George Metcalf Archival Collection
CWM 20000224-028_3