 NRP Augusto de Castilho, stern view
| |
| History | |
|---|---|
 Portugal | |
| Name | Augusto de Castilho |
| Builder | Cochrane & Sons Shipbuilders, Selby |
| Launched | 1909 |
| Fate | Sunk 1918 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Naval trawler |
| Displacement | 801 tonnes (788 long tons) |
| Length | 48.76 m (160.0 ft) |
| Installed power | 704 shp (525 kW) |
| Propulsion | Steam |
| Speed | 9 knots (17 km/h; 10 mph) |
| Complement | 42 |
| Armament | 1 × 65mm Hotchkiss 1 × 47mm Hotchkiss |
The NRP Augusto de Castilho was a warship in service of the Portuguese Navy during World War I. It was sunk in combat while escorting the steamer São Miguel[1], originating the last Portuguese casualties of that conflict.
Civilian Service
editOriginally a steam powered fishing vessel named Elite. Ordered by the Portuguese government to serve as patrol during the war.[2]
Naval Service
edit- On March 23, 1918, commanded by Lieutenant Augustus de Almeida Teixeira, while convoying the transport ship "Loanda", opened fire about 500 meters above an enemy submarine that plunged promptly.[3]
- On August 21, 1918, commanded by Lieutenant Fernando de Oliveira Pinto, attacked with artillery fire a large German submarine that disappeared quickly.
- On october 13 escort mission to the passenger ship "San Miguel", commanded by First Lieutenant Carvalho Araújo. The two Portuguese ships were sighted by the German submarine U-139, commanded by Lothar von Arnauld de la Perière, who tried to attack the steamer, which only failed because the "NRP Augusto de Castilho" placed itself between the steamer and the attacker. In the ensuing battle that lasted for more than two hours, the commander and six other elements of the 42-man garrison were killed. The Portuguese patrol was armed with two Hotchkiss gun pieces, a 65 mm caliber at the bow and a 47 mm caliber at stern, while the U-139 submarine had two 150 mm artillery pieces and six torpedo tubes.[4][5]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Guðmundur. "Ships hit during WWI, Augusto De Castilho".
- ^ Saturnino Monteiro, page 141.
- ^ "O paquete 'Loanda' e o 'Augusto de Castilho'". A Capital. Lisboa. April 4, 1918.
- ^ "Combate do "Augusto de Castilho"". Retrieved August 8, 2018.
{{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|1=(help) - ^ James H. Guill, "the only battle of note that occurred near the Azores during this period took place 14 October 1918 between the German U-139 and Portugal's ships São Miguel and Augusto Castilho.", page 507.