SS Rio Tercero

SS Rio Tercero was an Argentinian Cargo ship that the German submarine U-202 torpedoed on 22 June 1942 in the Atlantic Ocean 120 nautical miles (220 km) east of New York City while she was travelling from New York City to Buenos Aires, Argentina while carrying 3500 tons of general cargo including coal and mail.[1]

History
Name:
  • Eboe (1912-1939)
  • Fortunstella (1939-1941)
  • Rio Tercero (1941-1942)
Owner: Argentine Government (Flota Mercante del Estado)
Port of registry: Buenos Aires, Argentina
Builder: Palmer's Shipbuilding & Iron Co. Ltd.
Yard number: 821
Launched: 25 September 1912
Completed: December 1912
Maiden voyage: December 1912
Out of service: 22 June 1942
Identification:
  • LOII
  • IMO/Off. no.: 135174
Fate: Torpedoed and sunk
General characteristics
Type: Cargo ship
Tonnage: 4,866 GRT
Length: 123.5 metres (405 ft 2 in)
Beam: 16.5 metres (54 ft 2 in)
Depth: 7.2 metres (23 ft 7 in)
Installed power: 1 x 3 cyl. triple expansion engine
Propulsion: Screw propeller
Sail plan: New York City, New York, United States - Buenos Aires, Argentina
Speed: 11 knots
Crew: 42
Notes: Captain Luis Pedro Scalese

Construction

Rio Tercero was built at the Palmers Shipbuilding & Iron Co. Ltd. shipyard in Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom in December 1912. Where she was launched and completed that same year. The ship was 123.5 metres (405 ft 2 in) long, had a beam of 16.5 metres (54 ft 2 in) and had a depth of 7.2 metres (23 ft 7 in). She was assessed at 4,866 GRT and had 1 x 3 cyl. triple expansion engine driving a screw propeller. The ship could reach a maximum speed of 11 knots and could generate 566 n.h.p.[2]

Sinking

Rio Tercero was travelling from New York City, New York, United States to Buenos Aires, Argentina carrying 3500 tons of general cargo including coal and mail. When at 12.34 pm on 22 June 1942, she was hit by one of three torpedoes from the German submarine U-202 120 nautical miles (220 km) east of New York City and sank slowly in the Atlantic claiming the lives of five of her 43 crewmembers.[1] The torpedo hit the starboard side, and resulted in a secondary explosion of one of the boilers.[3] However Argentina was neutral during the war which meant that Rio Tercero shouldn't have been attacked or sunk by U-202 or any submarine for that matter. The commander of U-202 Kapitänleutnant Hans-Heinz Linder later reported that Rio Tercero had not displayed any neutrality markings and was only recognized as an Argentinian vessel after the attack due to the questioning of the survivors.[1] Rio Tercero sent an SOS before sinking; U-202 was subsequently attacked by US aircraft and was forced to dive away. The survivors were rescued by submarine chaser USS SC-503.[3]

Wreck

The wreck of Rio Tercero lies at (39°15′N 72°32′W).[2]

References
  1. "Rio Tercero". uboat.net. 1995. Retrieved 15 June 2020.
  2. "SS Rio Tercero [+1942]". wrecksite.eu. 21 June 2008. Retrieved 15 June 2020.
  3. Hickam, Homer H. (1989). Torpedo Junction: U-boat war off America's east coast, 1942. pp. 295–96. ISBN 0-440-21027-5.
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