When all was said and done, the German U-Boat partially burned a tug that eventually would be salvaged, sank two empty barges, damaged a third empty barge, and sank one barge loaded with granite. News accounts developed a theme comparing the cost of the tug and barges with the cost of ammunition that the Germans fired. The consensus was that during the Battle of Orleans the German submarine had wasted more money in ammunition than their helpless targets were worth.
The official response was one of curious surprise. Why would a German sub waste so much time on insignificant on-military targets?
[…]
And Rear Adm. Spencer Wood provided the most official explanation of the U-Boat’s activities when he called it a ridiculous stunt, designed to impress the German people and part of a campaign to excite the American public – what today we might call terrorism. Not a man to mince words, Admiral Wood had some final thoughts:
Incidentally, if the German sea fighters are of the impression that this kind of four-flush tactics will terrify the American people they have a lot to learn of the sentiment of this country. Such foolish and futile demonstrations have quite the opposite effect for they assure the people rather than terrify them.
Source:
Pletcher, Larry. “U-Boat Attack on Cape Cod.” Massachusetts Disasters: True Stories of Tragedy and Survival. Insiders Guide, 2006. 101-2. Print.
Further Reading:
Locke, I'm a fan but your posts are getting too short IMO. Why did they do it? Why was the U-boat there? Why attack a tug and barges? What happened to her? A little background would make the story so much better. People interested in history actually like details.
Just my opinion.