SS Potrero del Llano was an oil tanker built in 1912. She sailed for a number of companies, and survived service in the First World War, only to be torpedoed and sunk by a GermanU-boat during the Second World War while sailing under the Mexican flag off the coast of Florida. Her sinking contributed to Mexico's decision to enter the war on the side of the Allies.
Potrero del Llano was originally built by Palmers Shipbuilding and Iron Company, Hebburn-on-Tyne as the F.A. Tamplin, for service with T.W. Tamplin & Co., of London. She was sold in 1921 to the Belgian company SA d'Armement, d'Industrie & de Commerce, of Antwerp, and was renamed Arminco, and was sold again in 1930 to the Italian company Società Italiana Transporti Petroliferi (SITP), of Genoa, and was renamed Lucifero.[1] She was interned while docked at Tampico, in Mexico on 10 June 1940 and was seized on 8 December 1941 by the Mexican government and renamed Potrero del Llano after a town in Veracruz.[1] She was operated by Petróleos Mexicanos (Pemex), and was homeported in Tampico.[1]
Potrero del Llano was sailing unescorted from Tampico to New York City in May 1942, carrying 6,132 tons of petroleum. She was sighted by the German submarine U-564, under Reinhard Suhren at 07:17 hours on 14 May 1942, while east of the coast of Florida.[1] Suhren noticed an illuminated flag painted on the side of the ship but misidentified it as the Italian flag. Since only ships of the Mexican Navy were permitted to display the Mexican flag with the eagle in the centre, the flag shown by the Potrero del Llano resembled the Italian one, and having decided that the tanker's position and course meant that she could not be Italian, Suhren decided to sink her.[1]U-564 duly torpedoed the Potrero del Llano, which sank with the loss of 13 of her crew. Twenty-two survivors were picked up by USS PC-536 and taken to Miami.[1] One of the survivors, José Reyes Sosa, survived another attack on SS Las Choapas, a tanker sunk by U-129 on 27 June 1942, and the fourth Mexican tanker sunk by German submarines.
On 20 May 1942 a second tanker, Faja de Oro, was attacked and sunk, this time by U-106. This established a sound casus belli for the Mexican government to declare war on the Axis powers on 22 May 1942.
Notes
^ abcdefHelgason, Guðmundur. "Potrero del Llano (steam tanker)". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 1 February 2010.
References
Helgason, Guðmundur. "Potrero del Llano (steam tanker)". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 1 February 2010.
potrero, llano, tanker, built, 1912, sailed, number, companies, survived, service, first, world, only, torpedoed, sunk, german, boat, during, second, world, while, sailing, under, mexican, flag, coast, florida, sinking, contributed, mexico, decision, enter, si. SS Potrero del Llano was an oil tanker built in 1912 She sailed for a number of companies and survived service in the First World War only to be torpedoed and sunk by a German U boat during the Second World War while sailing under the Mexican flag off the coast of Florida Her sinking contributed to Mexico s decision to enter the war on the side of the Allies HistoryNameF A Tamplin 1912 1921 Arminco 1921 1930 Lucifero 1930 1941 Potrero del Llano 1941 1942 OwnerT W Tamplin amp Co London 1912 1921 SA d Armement d Industrie amp de Commerce Antwerp 1912 1930 Societa Italiana Transporti Petroliferi SITP Genoa 1930 1941 Petroleos Mexicanos Pemex Tampico 1941 1942 Port of registryTampico 1941 1942 BuilderPalmers Shipbuilding and Iron Company Hebburn on TyneLaunched6 November 1912CompletedDecember 1912FateTorpedoed and sunk on 14 May 1942General characteristicsTypeSteam tankerTonnage4 000 GRTPotrero del Llano was originally built by Palmers Shipbuilding and Iron Company Hebburn on Tyne as the F A Tamplin for service with T W Tamplin amp Co of London She was sold in 1921 to the Belgian company SA d Armement d Industrie amp de Commerce of Antwerp and was renamed Arminco and was sold again in 1930 to the Italian company Societa Italiana Transporti Petroliferi SITP of Genoa and was renamed Lucifero 1 She was interned while docked at Tampico in Mexico on 10 June 1940 and was seized on 8 December 1941 by the Mexican government and renamed Potrero del Llano after a town in Veracruz 1 She was operated by Petroleos Mexicanos Pemex and was homeported in Tampico 1 Potrero del Llano was sailing unescorted from Tampico to New York City in May 1942 carrying 6 132 tons of petroleum She was sighted by the German submarine U 564 under Reinhard Suhren at 07 17 hours on 14 May 1942 while east of the coast of Florida 1 Suhren noticed an illuminated flag painted on the side of the ship but misidentified it as the Italian flag Since only ships of the Mexican Navy were permitted to display the Mexican flag with the eagle in the centre the flag shown by the Potrero del Llano resembled the Italian one and having decided that the tanker s position and course meant that she could not be Italian Suhren decided to sink her 1 U 564 duly torpedoed the Potrero del Llano which sank with the loss of 13 of her crew Twenty two survivors were picked up by USS PC 536 and taken to Miami 1 One of the survivors Jose Reyes Sosa survived another attack on SS Las Choapas a tanker sunk by U 129 on 27 June 1942 and the fourth Mexican tanker sunk by German submarines On 20 May 1942 a second tanker Faja de Oro was attacked and sunk this time by U 106 This established a sound casus belli for the Mexican government to declare war on the Axis powers on 22 May 1942 Notes Edit a b c d e f Helgason Gudmundur Potrero del Llano steam tanker German U boats of WWII uboat net Retrieved 1 February 2010 References EditHelgason Gudmundur Potrero del Llano steam tanker German U boats of WWII uboat net Retrieved 1 February 2010 Coordinates 25 35 N 80 06 W 25 583 N 80 100 W 25 583 80 100 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title SS Potrero del Llano amp oldid 1090976499, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
