Arica
British Steam merchant
Arica under her former name Zenon. Photo from City of Vancouver Archives, CVA 447-2869
| Name | Arica | ||
| Type: | Steam merchant | ||
| Tonnage | 5,431 tons | ||
| Completed | 1921 - Sunderland Shipbuilding Co Ltd, Sunderland | ||
| Owner | T. & J. Harrison, Liverpool | ||
| Homeport | London | ||
| Date of attack | 6 Nov 1942 | Nationality:  British | |
| Fate | Sunk by U-160 (Georg Lassen) | ||
| Position | 10° 58'N, 60° 52'W - Grid ED 9952 | ||
| Complement | 67 (12 dead and 55 survivors). | ||
| Convoy | TRIN-24 | ||
| Route | London - Trinidad (6 Nov) - Demerara | ||
| Cargo | 7000 tons of general cargo and mail | ||
| History | Completed in August 1921 as French Zenon for Cie de Navigation d’Orbigny, La Rochelle. 1934 renamed Arica for Compagnie Générale Transatlantique, Paris. On 1 Jun 1941, the Vichy French Arica was captured by HNMS Van Kinsbergen (U 93) (Cdr J.L.K. Hoeke, RNN). She had left a French harbor in the Caribbean for Dakar on 30 May under escort by the Vichy French armed merchant cruiser Barfleur, which left her the next day after the ships reached the open Atlantic. The French crew tried to scuttle their ship to prevent capture, but without success. On 4 June, she was turned over to the British Authorities in Port of Spain, Trinidad and later transferred to the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT). | ||
| Notes on event | At 19.15 hours on 6 Nov 1942, U-160 fired two torpedoes at convoy TRIN-24 eight miles north of Galera Point, Trinidad and heard explosions after 1 minute 54 seconds and 7 minutes. Lassen claimed two ships sunk with 13,000 grt. The first torpedo struck the Arica, which broke in two and sank. The second torpedo probably detonated at the end of its run. Eleven crew members and one gunner from the Arica (Master Beaconsfield Worthington) were lost. The master, 47 crew members and seven gunners were picked up by HMS Lady Elsa (FY 124) (T/Lt S.G. Phillips, DSC, RNVR) and landed at Port of Spain, Trinidad. | ||
| On board | We have details of 24 people who were on board. | ||
If you can help us with any additional information on this vessel then please contact us.