83 years (and a couple days) ago, on July 30, 1942, German U-Boat U166 torpedoed and sank passenger steamer SS Robert E Lee in the Gulf of Mexico, just south of the Mississippi River Delta. Immediately the Lee's escort, PC-5166, skippered by then LCDR Herbert G. Claudius, pursued the U-boat, attacking it with depth charges. He claimed in his formal report that he sunk the U166. However, Navy brass did not agree, criticizing his technique, giving him a formal reprimand and removing Claudius from sea going duties. An amphibious assault plane also claimed to have spotted a Uboat 30 miles south of Houma, LA
on the same day and attacked with torpedoes. Since U166 was reported missing on that day, the aircraft was credited with the sinking.

In 2001, the wreck of U166 was discovered only 1 mile from the wreck of the SS Robert E Lee.

However, in 2014, a detailed survey of the wreck was conducted, and its stern was found to have been blown off. The destruction was consistent with a depth charge landing on its stern and then exploding.

Turns out Claudius' report in 1942 was correct. Therefore, in 2014 the Secretary of the Navy corrected the error. Captain Herbert G. Claudius was posthumously credited with the sinking, awarded the Legion of Merit with Combat "V" device for heroism. He said "Seventy years later, we now know that [Claudius's] report after the action was absolutely correct," he said. "[Claudius's ship] did sink that U-boat, and it's never too late to set the record straight."

Cheers to Captain Claudius.