The SS Tuscania was a British ocean liner requisitioned by the British Admiralty to transport American troops to the European theater during World War I. On the night of February 5, 1918, while sailing from New York City to Liverpool, the vessel was struck by a torpedo fired from the German U-boat UB-77, approximately 25 miles off the coast of Ireland. The attack was part of Germany's unrestricted submarine warfare campaign, aimed at disrupting the supply lines to Britain and harming the Allied war effort. The sinking of the Tuscania was a brutal reminder of the increasing dangers in transatlantic shipping, as American involvement in the war was intensifying.

As the Tuscania sank, chaos ensued on board. Troops were thrown into a panic while crew members worked to launch lifeboats. Many soldiers managed to escape, but approximately 210 lives were lost in the incident. The British Navy conducted a rescue operation, managing to save around 1,400 personnel from the water, showcasing both the risks of war and the efforts to mitigate the tragedy through swift action. This sinking drew widespread attention in both the United States and Britain, as it illustrated the perilous nature of troop transport during the war.

The loss of the Tuscania had significant repercussions. It raised public awareness in America regarding the stakes of the war, and further galvanized support for U.S. involvement in World War I. The incident also prompted stronger naval defenses and a reevaluation of the safety measures surrounding troop transports. Ultimately, the sinking of the Tuscania represented not just a tragic loss of life, but also underscored the pivotal role of the U-boat threat in the greater maritime conflict of the war.