USS Jacob Jones was a destroyer in the United States Navy, known for its active service during World War I. On December 6, 1917, the ship was torpedoed by the German submarine SM U-53 while escorting a convoy in the Atlantic Ocean. The Jacob Jones had been deployed in the transatlantic merchant convoy operations, which were critical for maintaining supply lines to Europe amid the war. The sinking was a direct result of the intensified submarine warfare strategy employed by Germany, which aimed to cut off supplies to the Allies by targeting shipping routes. At the time of its sinking, the Jacob Jones was under the command of Commander H. M. P. Smith, who led the crew valiantly in their mission despite the lurking dangers posed by enemy submarines.

Following the torpedoing, the destroyer's crew faced chaotic conditions as they attempted to abandon ship and rescue their fellow sailors. Tragically, out of a complement of 108 men, 66 were lost to the sea, marking a significant loss for the U.S. naval force. This attack signified an alarming development in the naval warfare of World War I, showing how vulnerable ships were to submarine attacks, and underscoring the importance of improved naval strategies and technologies to combat this emerging threat. Moreover, the sinking of USS Jacob Jones contributed to a larger discourse on naval tactics, recognized as one of the primary challenges for the Allied naval operations.