Gulflight
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
American 5189-ton tanker, the Gulflight, launched on 8 August 1914, was built for Gulf Refining Company.
Despite American neutrality at the time, the ship was torpedoed by German U-boat, U-30, on 1 May 1915. She beached on the Isles of Scilly, and was later refloated and repaired. Of the 38 crew, there were three fatalities. She was the first American ship to be torpedoed during World War I. The German government apologised for the error, but refused to change their strategy of unrestricted submarine warfare.
The incident, along with the sinking of RMS Lusitania, caused the American government to increase spending on the US Navy.
[edit] See also
History of the United States Navy
[edit] External links
- US History — Gulflight
This article relating to the history of the United States is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
This article related to the history of the UK or its predecessor states is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
