- BRAZILIAN SHIPS LOST

8)ARARAQUARA U-507

Built: 1927

Tonnage: 2,974/4,872 tons

Cargo: General cargo

Sunk 16 AUG 42 by U-507 on position 11º 53"S 37º 22"W

138 Dead

11 Survivors

The second disaster on Brazilian coastline occurred on 15 Aug with steamer Araraquara, from Brazilian Loide Nacional. With 4,872 tons of registry, the ship departed from Salvador, Bahia, at 11:00 am that same day, under master Lauro de Freitas. The first port of call would be Recife some 30 hour trip. However 10 hours after departure, almost at the same site where merchant Baependy was sunk, she was struck by two torpedoes.

One impact hit between # 1 and # 3 holds, and the engine room. The second, the fatal, sent her to bottom in 5 minutes. In total darkness the salvage task became an ordeal, given the ship’s listing badly due to a rough sea. One lifeboat was lowered despite the strong winds.  81 crewmen and 68 passengers were on board. Only 11 survived.

FOLLOWING PAGES ON THE SAME ARTICLE

7)ARARA U-507

9)BAGE U-185

10)BAEPENDY U-507

11)BARBACENA U-155