SS Presidente Trujillo

SS Presidente Trujillo was a Dominican Cargo ship that was torpedoed by the German submarine U-156 in the Caribbean Sea off Fort-de-France, Martinique on 21 May 1942 while she was travelling from Fort-de-France, Martinique to San Juan, Puerto Rico carrying a cargo of beer, machinery and forage.[1]

History
Dominican Republic
Name
  • German Empire Gouvereur Jaeschke (1900-1917)
  • United States Watauga (1917-1920)
  • Cuba Guantanamo (1920-1933)
  • Dominican Republic Presidente Trujillo (1933-1942)
OwnerNaviera Dominicana
Port of registryDominican Republic Trujillo
BuilderHowaldtswerke A. G.
Yard number373
Launched12 October 1900
CompletedDecember 1900
Identification HIFS
FateTorpedoed and sunk 21 May 1942
General characteristics
TypeCargo ship
Tonnage1,738 GRT
Length73.3 metres (240 ft 6 in)
Beam11 metres (36 ft 1 in)
Depth6.4 metres (21 ft 0 in)
Installed powerTriple expansion steam engine
Speed11 knots
Crew39

Construction

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Presidente Trujillo was built at the Howaldtswerke A. G. shipyard in Kiel, Germany in December 1900, where she was launched and completed that same year. The ship was 73.3 metres (240 ft 6 in) long, had a beam of 11 metres (36 ft 1 in) and had a depth of 6.4 metres (21 ft 0 in). She was assessed at 1,738 GRT and had a triple expansion steam engine. The ship could generate 204 n.h.p. with a speed of 11 knots. She was also armed with a 75mm deck gun and three AA machine guns.[1]

Sinking

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Presidente Trujillo was travelling unescorted from Fort-de-France, Martinique to San Juan, Puerto Rico while carrying a general cargo of beer, machinery and forage when on 21 May 1942 at 18.29 pm, she was hit aft by a G7e torpedo from the German submarine U-156 in the Caribbean Sea off Fort-de-France, Martinique. The ship sank in four minutes and claimed the lives of 24 crewmen. The 15 survivors were rescued soon after.[2]

Wreck

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The wreck of Presidente Trujillo lies at (14°38′N 61°11′W / 14.633°N 61.183°W / 14.633; -61.183).[2]

References

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  1. ^ a b "SS Presidente Trujillo (+1942)". wrecksite.eu. 22 May 2008. Retrieved 1 July 2020.
  2. ^ a b "Presidente Trujillo". uboat.net. 1995. Retrieved 1 July 2020.