Rio Azul
British Steam merchant
Photo courtesy of Stuart Smith
| Name | Rio Azul | ||
| Type: | Steam merchant | ||
| Tonnage | 4,088 tons | ||
| Completed | 1921 - Blyth Shipbuilding & Dry Docks Co Ltd, Blyth | ||
| Owner | Thompson Steamshipping Co Ltd, London | ||
| Homeport | London | ||
| Date of attack | 29 Jun 1941 | Nationality:  British | |
| Fate | Sunk by U-123 (Reinhard Hardegen) | ||
| Position | 29° 00'N, 25° 00'W - Grid DG 8316 | ||
| Complement | 42 (33 dead and 9 survivors). | ||
| Convoy | SL-78 | ||
| Route | Pepel - Freetown (18 Jun) - Middlesbrough | ||
| Cargo | 6700 tons of iron ore | ||
| History | Completed in July 1921 | ||
| Notes on event | At 19.36 hours on 29 June 1941 the Rio Azul (Master Thomas Vickers Sutherland) in convoy SL-78 was hit near the bridge by one stern torpedo from U-123 about 200 miles southeast of the Azores. Hardegen assumed that the ship was a Q-ship but this was not the case. She broke in two and sank in a short time. The master, 31 crew members and one gunner were lost. Six crew members and three gunners were picked up from rafts by HMS Esperance Bay (F 67) (Capt G.S. Holden, RN) on 14 July and landed at Scapa Flow, Orkneys. | ||
| On board | We have details of 34 people who were on board. | ||
If you can help us with any additional information on this vessel then please contact us.