The first American vessel sunk after the German government announced a return to unrestricted submarine warfare, the Algonquin, an unarmed merchant vessel, was sunk by the U-62 off the Scilly Islands on March 12, 1917. The U-62 surfaced and fired four shots at the Algonquin, none of which hit. The Captain of the Algonquin ordered his crew to take to lifeboats. The U-62 skipper, U-boat Ace Kapitanleutnant Ernst Hashagen, sent a boarding crew to set bombs on the Algonquin and sank her in that manner. The crew of the Algonquin were unharmed, and after twenty-seven hours of arduous rowing reached Penzance in Cornwall. On the same date, President Wilson ordered the arming of American merchant ships.
Donald R. McClarey
Paul Zummo
Almost Chosen People 