| History | |
|---|---|
 United Kingdom | |
| Name | El Argentino |
| Namesake | Spanish for "The Argentinian" |
| Owner |
|
| Operator | Furness, Houlder Argentine Lines |
| Port of registry | London |
| Builder | Fairfield Sb & Eng Co,Govan |
| Yard number | 629 |
| Launched | 11 January 1928 |
| Completed | April 1928 |
| Identification |
|
| Fate | Sunk by aerial bombing, 26 July 1943 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | refrigerated cargo ship |
| Tonnage | 9,501 GRT, 6,023 NRT |
| Length | 431.3 ft (131.5 m) |
| Beam | 64.5 ft (19.7 m) |
| Draught | 29 ft 9 in (9.07 m) |
| Depth | 35.4 ft (10.8 m) |
| Decks | 3 |
| Installed power | 1,708NHP, 6,400bhp |
| Propulsion | |
| Speed | 15 knots (28 km/h) |
| Capacity | 557,500 cubic feet (15,787 m3) refrigerated cargo |
| Crew | 98 in WW2, includingDEMS gunners |
| Sensors & processing systems | wirelessdirection finding |
| Armament |
|
| Notes |
|
MVEl Argentino was arefrigerated cargomotor ship that was built inScotland in 1920 and sunk by a German aircraft in theAtlantic Ocean in 1943.
Furness, Houlder Argentine Lines operated her throughout her career. This was ajoint venture betweenFurness, Withy andHoulder Line to carry chilled and frozen meat and other produce fromSouth America to theUnited Kingdom.
This was the company's second ship to be calledEl Argentino. The first was asteamship that was launched in 1907 and sunk by a Germanmine in 1916.[1]
In 1925 theFairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Company launched the refrigerated cargo shipUpwey Grange at itsGovan shipyard for Houlder Line.[2] Fairfield went on to build twosister ships:Dunster Grange in 1927 for Houlder Line[3] andEl Argentino in 1928 for Furness, Houlder Argentine Lines.[4][5]
El Argentino was 431.3 ft (131.5 m) long, her beam was 64.5 ft (19.7 m) and her depth was 35.4 ft (10.8 m). Hertonnages were 9,501 GRT and 6,023 NRT.[6] Her holds were refrigerated, with capacity for 557,500 cubic feet (15,787 m3) of perishable cargo.[7]
El Argentino had twoscrews. Each was driven by aSulzer-type six-cylinder single-actingtwo-stroke diesel engine, built under licence by Fairfield. Between them the two engines were rated at 1,708NHP[6] or 6,400bhp.[4]
El Argentino's UKofficial number was 160405. Hercode letters were LBNS[6] until they were superseded in 1934 by thecall sign GNQD. Also in 1934 her ownership was transferred to Furness, Withy, but Furness, Houlder Argentine Lines remained her managers.[8]
In theSecond World WarEl Argentino was adefensively equipped merchant ship. By 1943 her armament comprised one 4-inch or 4.7-inch gun, one 12-pounder gun and ten machine guns.[9]
In July 1943El Argentino left theFirth of Clyde inballast, bound forMontevideo andBuenos Aires. She joinedConvoy OS 52 / KMS 21, which left Liverpool on 19 July which was bound forFreetown inSierra Leone.[9]
On 26 July a GermanFocke-Wulf Fw 200 Condor aircraft bombedEl Argentino in the North Atlantic about 230 nautical miles (430 km) northwest ofLisbon, sinking the ship and killing four members of her crew. 94 crew members and six passengers survived.[10]
