An incident at sea: The historic combat between U.S. Navy Blimp K-74 and U-Boat 134

Authors

Anthony Atwood, Florida International UniversityFollow

Document Type

Thesis

Major/Program

Accounting

First Advisor's Name

Darden a. Pyron

First Advisor's Committee Title

Committee Chair

Keywords

U-boats, U-134, Blimps, K-74, World War Two, Naval Air Station Richmond, WWII, Florida

Date of Defense

7-23-2003

Abstract

This thesis studies the historic encounter between United States Navy airship K-74 and Nazi submarine U-134 in World War II. The Battle of the Atlantic is examined through case study of this one U-boat and its voyage. In all things except her fight with the American blimp, the patrol was perfectly typical. Looked at from start to finish, both her reports and the reports of the Allies encountered, many realities of the war can be studied. U-134 sailed to attack shipping between Florida and Cuba. She was challenged by the attack of United States Navy airship K-74 over the Florida Straits. It is the only documented instance of battle between two such combatants in history. That merits attention. Thesis finding disprove historian William Eliot Morison’s contention that the K-74 airship bombs were not dropped and did not damage the U-boat. Study of this U-boat and its antagonist broadens our understanding of the Battle of the Atlantic. It is a contribution to our knowledge of military, naval, aviation, and local history.

Identifier

FI08081502

Recommended Citation

Atwood, Anthony, "An incident at sea: The historic combat between U.S. Navy Blimp K-74 and U-Boat 134" (2003). FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 12.
https://digitalcommons.fiu.edu/etd/12