Rio Blanco
Photo Courtesy of Library of Contemporary History, Stuttgart
| Name | Rio Blanco | ||
| Type: | Steam merchant | ||
| Tonnage | 4.086 tons | ||
| Completed | 1922 - Blyth Shipbuilding & Dry Docks Co Ltd, Blyth | ||
| Owner | William Petersen & Co Ltd, London | ||
| Homeport | London | ||
| Date of attack | 1 Apr, 1942 | Nationality:  British | |
| Fate | Sunk by U-160 (Georg Lassen) | ||
| Position | 35.16N, 74.18W - Grid CA 8776 - See location on a map - | ||
| Complement | 40 (19 dead and 21 survivors). | ||
| Convoy | |||
| Route | St.Thomas, Virgin Islands (16 Mar) - Hampton Roads - UK | ||
| Cargo | 6440 tons of iron ore | ||
| History | | ||
| Notes on loss | At 16.22 hours on 1 Apr, 1942, the unescorted Rio Blanco (Master Aiden Blackett) was torpedoed and sunk by U-160 about 60 miles east of Cape Hatteras. 18 crew members and one gunner were lost. The master, nine crew members and two gunners were picked up by HMS Hertfordshire (FY 176) (Cdr J.A. Shater) and landed at Norfolk, Virginia. Nine crew members were picked up by HMCS Niagara (I 57) (Lt T.J. Bellas) and landed at Halifax. | ||
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