SS Minas (1891)

SS Minas was an Italian troopship which was sunk on 15 February 1917 off Cape Matapan. 870 people were killed.

SS Minas was a passenger ship built in 1891 by Gio. Ansaldo & C. in Genoa, Italy, and operated by Angelo Parodi.[1]

The ship was 110.90 metres (363 ft 10 in) long and 12.22 metres (40 ft 1 in) wide and had a top speed of 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph). It could carry 60 passengers in first class and 900 in third class. Until it was requisitioned in World War I, it travelled mainly between Genoa and South America.[2]

On 15 February 1917, the ship was sailing from Taranto to Salonika, when it was attacked near Cape Matapan by German submarine U-39 under command of Walter Forstmann.[1] On board were Italian, Serb and French soldiers on their way to the Salonika Front. The ship was also carrying weapons and ammunition, which exploded when two torpedoes hit the ship. This caused the ship to sink very fast. 870 people were killed, of which 11 crew and 315 Italian soldiers.[3] One of them was Vittorio Locchi, a young Florentine poet, who had written The Feast of Santa Gorizia in 1916. It was also rumored that the ship carried 25 boxes of gold bullion.[4]

References

  1. 1 2 Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit during WWI: Minas". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 3 October 2015.
  2. ↑ "Minas" (in Italian). Agenzia Bozzo. Retrieved 3 October 2015.
  3. ↑ Silvia, Musi (9 April 2012). "Affondamenti Navi Grande Guerra" (in Italian). Pietri Grande Guerra.
  4. ↑ Causo, Lucio (7 February 2012). "Il fante della 'Sagra di Gorizia'" (in Italian). Cultura Salentina.

Coordinates: 36°25′N 18°24′E / 36.417°N 18.400°E / 36.417; 18.400

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