American merchant ships needed to be armed according to the Dutch newspaper Het Vaderland dated 20 February 1942

An item reported that the chief of the navy staff admiral Harold Stark (1)ordered that the American merchant ships were to be armed as soon as possible. All ships which were now in a harbour were to spent all free time to prepare the fitting out with guns.

Note

1. Harold Rainsford Stark (12 November 1880 Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania-20 August 1972 Washington) was between 1 August 1939 and 26 March 1942 Chief of Naval Operations and was then appointed as Commander of the US Naval Forces in Europe.