The Attack on Orleans: When War Reached Cape Cod
On a foggy Sunday morning, July 21, 1918, the tranquil beaches of Orleans, Massachusetts, became an unexpected battleground. Germany’s U-156 submarine, commanded by Kapitänleutnant Richard Feldt, emerged from the depths to launch an attack that would mark a significant, though little-known, moment in American history.
Daily Kennebec Journal. (Augusta, Maine) July 22, 1918,
This incident, known as the Attack on Orleans, remains the only instance of enemy fire striking the U.S. mainland during World War I. Central to the American response was the Chatham Naval Air Station (CNAS), a key coastal defense installation just a few miles south.
The Sun. (New York [N.Y.]) July 22, 1918
A Quiet Voyage Interrupted
The morning began uneventfully for the tugboat Perth Amboy and its tow of four barges as they traveled south along the Cape Cod coast. Owned by the Lehigh Coal & Navigation Company, the Perth Amboy was a sturdy steel vessel built in 1912, accompanied by three steel barges and one wooden barge, the Lansford. The convoy had departed from Portland, Maine, and was bound for New York, carrying granite and empty ballast.
At approximately 10:30 a.m., the peaceful voyage was shattered. The German U-156 surfaced from a fog bank off Nauset Beach and opened fire with its deck gun. Shells struck the Perth Amboy, destroying its pilothouse and injuring the helmsman. Captain J.P. Tapley, rushing to assess the damage, saw the submarine clearly visible on the horizon. The sound of gunfire quickly drew the attention of beachgoers, who watched in shock as explosions erupted offshore.
The Evening Star. (Washington, D.C.) July 22, 1918.
Chaos Unfolds
The U-156 unleashed a barrage of shells on the Perth Amboy and its barges, setting the tugboat ablaze and forcing the crew to abandon ship. Nearby, the Boston seiner Rose narrowly escaped after being targeted by poorly aimed rounds. Meanwhile, the U-156 continued its assault, sinking three of the steel barges and leaving the Lansford riddled with holes. Remarkably, the crew of all vessels managed to reach shore safely, aided by surfboats launched from U.S. Coast Guard Station 40.
As the attack unfolded, several shells missed their targets and struck Nauset Beach and the surrounding area. While no injuries occurred on land, these projectiles became the only enemy-fired munitions to hit the U.S. mainland during World War I, a distinction that endures to this day.
The Ogden Standard. (Ogden City, Utah) July 22, 1918.
Chatham Naval Air Station Responds
Nineteen minutes after the attack began, word reached the Chatham Naval Air Station. Lieutenant (jg) E.E. Williams, the station’s executive officer, ordered all available planes into the air. Unfortunately, most of the station’s aircraft were either out on routine patrols or undergoing repairs. Only three HS-1L flying boats were at the base, and two of them had not been fully tested. Nevertheless, the crews scrambled to prepare these planes for action, arming them with Mark IV bombs and taking off in pursuit of the enemy.
The first plane to arrive on the scene was piloted by Ensign Eric A. Lingard, accompanied by Chief Special Mechanic E.H. Howard. Despite their best efforts, the Mark IV bombs failed to function properly. One bomb, manually released from the plane, landed mere feet from the U-156 but failed to detonate. Subsequent bombing runs by other planes encountered similar issues, with the faulty ordnance proving ineffective against the submarine.
Daily Kennebec Journal. (Augusta, Maine) July 22, 1918,
A Legacy of Courage
Though the U-156 ultimately escaped unscathed, the response from the Chatham Naval Air Station showcased the determination and bravery of its airmen. The faulty Mark IV bombs—a common issue across multiple stations—highlighted the challenges of wartime innovation. New and improved bombs arrived the following day, but for the men of Chatham, the frustration of July 21 lingered.
The U-156 continued its destructive campaign, sinking a fishing boat near Gloucester the following morning before disappearing along the East Coast. Its career ended later that year, likely after striking a mine in the North Sea.
El Paso Herald. (El Paso, Texas) August 26, 1918,
Remembering the Attack on Orleans
The Attack on Orleans stands as a poignant reminder of the global reach of World War I and the vulnerability of even the most remote locations. Today, a commemorative plaque on Nauset Beach marks the site of the shelling, while the story of the Chatham Naval Air Station lives on as part of Cape Cod’s rich history.
As you walk the sands of Orleans or explore the peaceful neighborhoods near Nickerson Neck, take a moment to reflect on this remarkable chapter of local and national history. The bravery of the Perth Amboy crew, the resilience of the Coast Guard, and the daring response from Chatham’s aviators all contributed to a story that continues to inspire over a century later.
On YouTube, I found a video of some scuba diver locating the sunken Lansford barge. You can watch that video HERE.
The Topeka state journal. (Topeka, Kansas) July 26, 1918.