Were the Deaths of the U-85 Sailors an American War Crime?

As I continued with my research on the U-85 sailors and USS Roper, there is the possibility that all this might be an American war crime. Perhaps these Germans died unnecessarily.

Wikipedia said in its article on the USS Roper that one German thinks it was exactly that and, after reading the action report of the USS Roper which I found in the U-boat net, does raise some questions.

You Be The Judge. --GreGen