freightdawg :

Fair comment but WW11 began on the 1st September 1939, when Germany invaded Poland, 02/09/39 France declared War, and on Sunday 3rd 0f September the UK and most of the Dominions, declared Wr against Germany. But never allow logic to enter military thinking.

By way of deliberate misinformation ship/squadron/division/regiment numbers were not sequential. Believe me, the original 7th Armourd (the Desert Rats) was formed when, if i remember correctly the UK only had 4 Armoured Brigades.

For a history of U505 is here

I suspect you might mean U552 Click 'Ere

The conection bettween the USS Rueben James, and the captured U505 is (I suspect) an urban ledgend.

Ah Well - No Roses grow on a Sailors Grave !

Gareth