Rio Blanco
British Steam merchant
Photo Courtesy of Library of Contemporary History, Stuttgart
| Name | Rio Blanco | ||
| Type: | Steam merchant | ||
| Tonnage | 4,086 tons | ||
| Completed | 1922 - Blyth Shipbuilding & Dry Docks Co Ltd, Blyth | ||
| Owner | Thompson Steamshipping Co Ltd, London | ||
| Homeport | London | ||
| Date of attack | 1 Apr 1942 | Nationality:  British | |
| Fate | Sunk by U-160 (Georg Lassen) | ||
| Position | 35° 16'N, 74° 18'W - Grid CA 8776 | ||
| Complement | 40 (19 dead and 21 survivors). | ||
| Convoy | |||
| Route | St. Thomas, Virgin Islands (16 Mar) - Hampton Roads - UK | ||
| Cargo | 6440 tons of iron ore | ||
| History | Completed in February 1922 | ||
| Notes on event | At 16.22 hours on 1 April 1942 the unescorted Rio Blanco (Master Aiden Blackett) was hit amidships by one torpedo from U-160 and sank about 60 miles east of Cape Hatteras. Nine crew members were lost in the sinking and nine other crew members and one gunner died of exposure in the lifeboats. The master, seven crew members and one gunner were picked up by HMS Hertfordshire (FY 176) (Cdr J.A. Shater, RN) on 15 April and landed at Norfolk, Virginia. Eleven crew members and one gunner were picked up by HMCS Niagara (I 57) (LtCdr R.F. Harris, RCNR) on 14 April and landed at Halifax two days later. | ||
| On board | We have details of 33 people who were on board. | ||
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