U-Boat Attack near Isles of Scilly
On December 6, 1917, while en route from Brest, France, to Queenstown, USS Jacob Jones was torpedoed by the German submarine U-53. ... U-53's torpedo hit Jacob Jones starboard fuel oil tank at 1621 hours. Despite best efforts from the crew, as her stern sank, her depth charges went off. Eight minutes later the order to abandon was made by Commander Bagley. ... Her survivors were rescued by British ships after the German submarine's Commanding Officer reported their location by radio. ... Jacob Jones was the first US Destroyer lost during the First World War.
