Araraquara
Brazilian Motor passenger ship
Photo courtesy of Nelson Carrera
| Name | Araraquara | ||
| Type: | Motor passenger ship | ||
| Tonnage | 4,872 tons | ||
| Completed | 1927 - Cantiere Federale per Construzione Navale Triestino, Monfalcone | ||
| Owner | Lloyd Nacional SA, Rio de Janeiro | ||
| Homeport | Rio de Janeiro | ||
| Date of attack | 16 Aug 1942 | Nationality:  Brazilian | |
| Fate | Sunk by U-507 (Harro Schacht) | ||
| Position | 12° 00'S, 37° 19'W - Grid FJ 8495 | ||
| Complement | 142 (131 dead and 11 survivors). | ||
| Convoy | |||
| Route | Rio de Janeiro (11 Aug) - Salvador, Bahia (15 Aug) - Recife - Pernambuco | ||
| Cargo | General cargo | ||
| History | Completed in October 1927 | ||
| Notes on event | At 02.03 hours on 16 Aug 1942 the unescorted and neutral Araraquara (Master Lauro Augusto Teixeira de Freitas) was hit between holds #1 and #3 and in the engine room by two torpedoes from U-507 and sank with a heavy list in 5 minutes about 20 miles from the mouth of the Real river. Only one lifeboat could be launched due to the list, the darkness and rough seas. Eleven survivors managed to reach the coast. 66 crew members and 65 passengers were lost. The sinking of five Brazilian ships by U-507 with over 500 casualties within two days, led to the Brazilian declaration of war against Germany on 22 Aug 1942. | ||
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