In 1942 during World War 2 Nazi U-Boats brazenly prowled just off the East coast on the United States sinking merchant shipping vital to our war effort. But the most spectacular sinking of them all occurred in April 1942 when U-123 commanded by Reinhard Hardegen sank the tanker SS GulfAmerica only a mere 5 miles off the coast of Jacksonville Florida in full view of beachgoers!