SS Umbria

SS Umbria (formerly SS Bahia Blanca) was maritime transport build in 1912 in Hamburg, Germany which plied the routes between Europe and Argentina. In 1918 the ship was acquired by the Argentinean Government and transported various goods (notably coal and agriculture products) across the Atlantic until 1934. In 1935 she was purchased by the Italian Government and renamed to Umbria. On 3 June 1940 she arrived at Port Said, Egypt controlled by British. She was secretly carrying 6000 tons of bombs, 600 cases of detonators, 100 tons of various weapons, over 2000 tons of cement and three Fiat 1100 cars. Although expected to enter the war, Italy was still technically neutral, so on June 6th she was allowed to continue her way. On June 9th British warships HMS Grimsby and HMS Leander forced Umbria to anchor at Wingate reef near Port Sudan, Sudan on the pretext for searching for contraband. Shortly after that Umbria's captain, Muiesan Lorenzo, heard on the radio that Italy had joined the war with Nazi Germany. He asked the British guards for permission to do a muster drill and with the help of the crew scuttled the ship. SS Umbria lies on her port side at maximum depth of 38 metres (125 ft). She's often visited by scuba divers and considered one of the best wrecks in the world.[1][2][3][4][5]

  • Stern view of the wreck
  • Electric panel in the engine room
  • Bombs cargo in the wreck
  • Remains of ammunition cargo
  • Fiat 1100 cars

Not to be confused with RMS Umbria or Italian cruiser Umbria.
as Argentinean SS Bahia Blanca
History
Germany
Name: SS Bahia Blanca
Namesake: Bahía Blanca
Launched: 30 December 1911
In service: 1912 - 1918
History
Argentina
Name: SS Bahia Blanca
In service: 1918 - 1935
History
Italy
Name: SS Umbria
Namesake: Umbria
In service: 1935 - 1940
Fate: Scuttled, 9 June 1940
General characteristics
Type: maritime transport
Tonnage: 10076 grt
Length: 154.9 m (508 ft)
Beam: 18.1 m (59 ft)
Draught: 10.9 m (36 ft)
Installed power: two 3-cylinder triple expansion steam engines, dual shaft, 848 nominal horsepower total
Propulsion: 2 screws
Speed: 13 knots (24 km/h)

References
  1. wrecksite.eu - Umbria passenger ship 1912-1940
  2. Umbria | La Compagnia del Mar Rosso
  3. Egypt Red Sea Shipwrecks - The Umbria
  4. Umbria wreck diving, one of the best wrecks ever
  5. Transporte A.R.A. "BAHIA BLANCA"
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