In August 1918, the U-117 was heading toward the East Coast with orders to lay mines and attack shipping off New Jersey. At the same time the Norwegian steamship Bergensfjord was bound for New York, carrying a ticking time bomb that would ravage all of the United States.

The U-117 appeared off New England on Aug. 10 and attacked the fishing fleet, sinking nine vessels with gunfire and explosives. Two days later it was about 40 miles northeast of Barnegat Light. Capt.