Ships hit by U-boats


Vital de Oliveira

Brazilian Troop transport



NameVital de Oliveira
Type:Troop transport
Tonnage1,737 tons
Completed1910 - Ailsa Shipbuilding Co Ltd, Troon 
OwnerBrazilian Navy 
HomeportRio de Janeiro 
Date of attack20 Jul 1944Nationality:      Brazilian
 
FateSunk by U-861 (Jürgen Oesten)
Position22° 29'S, 41° 09'W - Grid GB 2154
Complement275 (100 dead and 175 survivors).
Convoy
RouteSalvador - Vitória - Rio de Janeiro 
CargoTroops and wood 
History Built as steam merchant Itaúba for Cia Nacional de Navegação Costeira, Rio de Janeiro. In 1911 the ship was requisitioned by the Brazilian Navy and used as troop transport to Paraguay. She was then returned to the owner, but on 13 Oct 1932, requisitioned again as auxiliary and on 2 December renamed Vital de Oliveira
Notes on event

At 04.54 hours on 20 July 1944, U-861 torpedoed the Vital de Oliveria (Capitão-de-Fragata João Batista de Medeiros Guimarães Roxo) which sank within 6 minutes about 25 miles south of São Tomé lighthouse. Her sole escort Javarí (CS 51) was missed by a torpedo and initially searched for the attacker but then rescued the commander and other survivors together with the Brazilian fishing vessel Guanabara.

 
On boardWe have details of 1 people who were on board


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