The USS Reuben James, a Gleaves-class destroyer of the United States Navy, was on patrol in the North Atlantic near Iceland when it encountered the German U-boat U-552. On the morning of October 31, 1941, U-552, commanded by Kapitänleutnant Erich Topp, launched a torpedo that struck the Reuben James, resulting in a catastrophic explosion. The ship sank rapidly, taking with it the lives of more than 100 sailors, with only 45 survivors rescued later by nearby vessels.

This attack was particularly significant as it was the first loss of a U.S. Navy ship from enemy actions during World War II. At this point in the conflict, the United States had not yet entered the war but had been providing assistance to Allied forces. The sinking of the USS Reuben James highlighted the increasing peril posed by German U-boats and intensified the urgency in U.S. military and political circles regarding security in the Atlantic.

The incident occurred at a time when American ideals and interests were beginning to shift, making the nation increasingly aware of the repercussions of the ongoing conflict in Europe. The loss of the Reuben James reverberated throughout the naval command, prompting a reevaluation of naval strategies against Axis submarines and bolstering support for direct military engagement.