Why One Submarine Cook Started Throwing “Scraps” — And Sunk Every U-Boat He Found

On the morning of March 14, 1943, the North Atlantic was a vast expanse of icy blue, but beneath its surface, a deadly game of cat and mouse was unfolding. The crew of HMS Starling, a British river-class frigate, was on high alert as their sonar operator’s face went pale. At 1,200 yards away, multiple underwater contacts were detected. Commander Frederick Walker stepped to the plot table, his heart racing as he marked three distinct signatures on the screen. A wolf pack of German U-boats was hunting, and the stakes couldn’t be higher.

For the past six months, the U-boats had sent over 500 Allied merchant ships to the ocean floor. The Battle of the Atlantic had reached a crisis point, and Walker knew that failure here could mean disaster for the entire Allied effort. Little did he know that the key to turning the tide would come from an unexpected source—a cook aboard a submarine halfway across the Atlantic.

The Calm Before the Storm

The situation was dire. German U-boats, commanded by seasoned officers, had developed tactical innovations that allowed them to strike with deadly efficiency. The Royal Navy had been struggling to counter these tactics, losing ship after ship to the relentless submarine assaults. The frustration was palpable among the escort crews, who watched helplessly as torpedoes slammed into tankers and freighters, killing their comrades and sinking their hopes.

But on that fateful morning, something unusual appeared on the surface plot. Objects in the water at bearing 285 were identified as food scraps—bread and vegetable peelings. The lookouts were confused. Fresh ones. Walker’s hand froze above the chart. No submarine would dump galley waste while being hunted; it was against operational procedure. Every U-boat commander knew that debris meant detection.

Yet, as Walker observed the floating scraps, he realized that the U-boats had stopped their evasive maneuvers. They were holding position just beyond depth charge range, waiting for the British ships to chase phantom echoes while they lined up torpedo solutions. This was a tactical blunder that could be exploited.

The Cook with a Plan

The unexpected variable that would change the course of the battle came from the galley of the USS Barb, an American submarine operating 6,000 miles away in the Pacific. Torpedo Men’s Mate First Class Arman “Swish” Swisher had been assigned galley duty as punishment for gambling. He hated cooking, but he paid attention to patterns. During operations, he noticed something peculiar: every time he dumped food waste overboard through the submarine’s trash disposal unit, enemy escorts would alter course within 20 minutes.

Swisher brought this observation to Captain Eugene Flucky’s attention. Flucky was initially skeptical, but he ordered an experiment. For three days, the Barb conducted mock approaches while Swisher dumped garbage at precise intervals. The results were startling. Floating debris created a trail visible from aircraft at 5,000 feet altitude, and the Japanese escorts would respond to the debris as if it indicated the submarine’s position.

Flucky realized the implications immediately. If garbage could reveal submarine positions, then it could also deceive. On March 19, 1943, Barb encountered a four-ship Japanese convoy. Instead of following standard procedures, Flucky ordered Swisher to dump 40 pounds of food waste overboard, creating a visible trail. The Japanese destroyers, believing they were tracking a submerged submarine, turned toward the debris field, allowing Barb to attack with devastating effect.

The Turning Point

The results were astonishing. Barb sank several ships without taking any damage, and the tactic of using false trails became a revolutionary strategy against U-boats. The British Admiralty took notice, and soon, Commander Walker was implementing similar tactics with his own frigates.

On April 14, 1943, Walker’s HMS Starling encountered a wolf pack of U-boats. He ordered his crew to dump bags of food waste, creating a visible trail that would deceive the enemy. As the U-boats moved to attack, they were caught off guard by the British ships, leading to a decisive victory. In just 74 minutes, three U-boats were destroyed, and the tide of the battle began to shift.

The tactical revelation was profound. Debris not only deceived enemy commanders but also forced them into predictable behaviors that could be exploited. The U-boats, once the hunters, were now the hunted.

The Aftermath

As news of the new tactic spread, the Allies began to turn the tide in the Battle of the Atlantic. The kill ratio reversed, and the U-boats faced increasing losses. The British Navy had finally found a way to counter the threat that had haunted them for years.

However, the story of Arman Swisher, the cook who had sparked this innovation, remained largely unknown. He was an enlisted man, not a tactical officer, and his contribution was often overshadowed by the grand narratives of war. Yet, his keen observation and willingness to experiment had changed naval warfare forever.

In the months that followed, the Allies continued to refine their tactics, incorporating the lessons learned from the use of false trails. Swisher’s innovation became a standard part of anti-submarine warfare doctrine, proving that sometimes the most effective strategies come from the most unexpected sources.

A Lasting Legacy

The legacy of this tactical revolution extended beyond World War II. Modern submarine warfare incorporates deception as a fundamental element, with tactics evolving to keep pace with technological advancements. The principles of false trail tactics remain relevant to this day, proving that the willingness to think outside the box can lead to extraordinary outcomes.

As for Commander Frederick Walker, he continued to lead his forces with distinction, earning respect and recognition for his innovative strategies. The victory at Point Cruz marked a turning point in the war, and the British Navy’s newfound confidence in their ability to combat U-boats would serve them well in the years to come.

The story of Arman Swisher and the impact of his simple act of throwing scraps overboard serves as a powerful reminder of the ingenuity and resourcefulness that can emerge in times of crisis. It highlights the importance of observation, experimentation, and the courage to challenge conventional wisdom.

In the end, it was not just the technology or the firepower that won the war; it was the human spirit—the ability to adapt, to learn, and to overcome. The Battle of the Atlantic may have been a struggle fought on the vast seas, but it was also a testament to the resilience and creativity of those who fought in it.

As we reflect on this remarkable story, let us remember the unsung heroes like Arman Swisher, whose contributions may have gone unnoticed but were crucial in shaping the course of history. Their legacy lives on, reminding us that even in the darkest times, hope and ingenuity can light the way to victory.