Ships hit by U-boats


Rosario

American Steam merchant



Photo courtesy of SSHSA Collection, University of Baltimore Library

NameRosario
Type:Steam merchant
Tonnage4,659 tons
Completed1920 - Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corp, Wilmington DE 
OwnerA.H. Bull & Co Inc, New York 
HomeportNew York 
Date of attack21 Feb 1943Nationality:      American
 
FateSunk by U-664 (Adolf Graef)
Position50° 30'N, 24° 38'W - Grid BE 1171
Complement63 (33 dead and 30 survivors).
ConvoyONS-167
RouteAvonmouth - New York 
CargoSand and slag ballast 
History Completed in December 1920 as Natirar for US Shipping Board (USSB). 1932 renamed Rosario for A.H. Bull & Co Inc, New York. 
Notes on event

At 21.35 hours on 21 Feb 1943, U-664 fired torpedoes at convoy ONS-167 about 550 miles west of Fastnet, Ireland and reported three hits on a steamer and one on a tanker. The ships hit were Rosario in station #11 and H.H. Rogers in station #13.

The Rosario (Master Gustav J.A. Larsen) was hit by two torpedoes on the starboard side. The first hit at the #2 hold and the second at the #5 hold. The explosions blew off both hatch covers and threw sand and slag into the air. The engines were stopped immediately because the ship developed a 35° list and eventually listed to 45°. The eight officers, 36 crewmen and 19 armed guards (the ship was armed with one 5in, five 20mm and two .30cal guns) began to abandon ship in great confusion because the heavy list prevented the launching of boats and rafts. The ship capsized and sank within three minutes. The survivors had to jump overboard and swam to one raft and two floats that floated free. Several men swimming in the water were picked up after about one hour by a lifeboat from H.H. Rogers. One officer, 13 crewmen and 16 armed guards were picked up three hours after the sinking by the British rescue ship Rathlin and landed at Halifax on 6 March.

 
On boardWe have details of 33 people who were on board


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