En route from Barry to Alexandria the SS Trowbridge was torpedoed by SMS U-38 southwest of Sicily on Feb. 14, 1917. The ship did not sink, but one man was killed in the attack. Exactly nine months later on Nov. 14, 1917 during another voyage to Alexandria, Trowbridge found herself in the sights of SMS U-63, this time no lives were lost, but the ship was.