U-9 commanded by Captain Otto Weddigen sinks three British crusiers in an hour. The obsolete ships, HMS Aboukir, Cressy and Hogue, manned mainly by reservists, lost together with 1450 men and there was a public outcry at the losses. This incident eroded confidence in the British government and damaged the reputation of the Royal Navy at a time when many countries were still considering which side in the war they might support. The submarine, German: Unterseeboot or U-boot, was not considered a viable weapon of war, but this action was a wakeup call to the Allies that it could inflict costly losses on naval and merchant ships. During ghe course of the war the U boat menace increased considerably and the allies had to evolve different tactics to deal with this threat.