Gulflight

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The American 5,189 ton tanker Gulflight, built for Gulf Refining Company (a predecessor of Gulf Oil), was launched on 8 August 1914.

Despite American neutrality at the time, the ship was torpedoed by the 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 apologized 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

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