SS ''Portugal'' (russian: госпитальное судно "Португаль") was a
steamship
A steamship, often referred to as a steamer, is a type of steam-powered vessel, typically ocean-faring and seaworthy, that is propelled by one or more steam engines that typically move (turn) propellers or paddlewheels. The first steamships ...
originally built by a French shipping company, but requisitioned for use as a
Russian hospital ship during the
First World War
World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...
. On she was sunk by a torpedo from the
German
German(s) may refer to:
* Germany (of or related to)
**Germania (historical use)
* Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language
** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law
**Ger ...
U-boat
U-boats were naval submarines operated by Germany, particularly in the First and Second World Wars. Although at times they were efficient fleet weapons against enemy naval warships, they were most effectively used in an economic warfare role ...
.
History
She was originally built in 1886 for the Brazil and River Plate Line of the
Messageries Maritimes Company. She was chartered or purchased by the Russians for use as a hospital ship in the
Black Sea
The Black Sea is a marginal mediterranean sea of the Atlantic Ocean lying between Europe and Asia, east of the Balkans, south of the East European Plain, west of the Caucasus, and north of Anatolia. It is bounded by Bulgaria, Georgia, Roma ...
. The ship, serviced to take up wounded soldiers along the sea shore Ardeshen, Rize Port, Fakhtia, Tiribon and Of, the ship could have the chance to make only five voyages, beginning on 27 February 1916.
Sinking
, 1916, ''Portugal'' was towing a string of small flat-bottomed boats to ferry wounded from the shore to the ship. Off
Rizeh, on the Turkish coast of the
Black Sea
The Black Sea is a marginal mediterranean sea of the Atlantic Ocean lying between Europe and Asia, east of the Balkans, south of the East European Plain, west of the Caucasus, and north of Anatolia. It is bounded by Bulgaria, Georgia, Roma ...
, she had stopped as one of the small boats was sinking and repairs were being made. The ship was not carrying wounded at the time, but had a staff of
Red Cross
The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement is a Humanitarianism, humanitarian movement with approximately 97 million Volunteering, volunteers, members and staff worldwide. It was founded to protect human life and health, to ensure re ...
physicians and nurses on board, as well as her usual crew.
[ - Call number: SRLF_UCLA:LAGE-3563453]
The ship's crew saw a
periscope
A periscope is an instrument for observation over, around or through an object, obstacle or condition that prevents direct line-of-sight observation from an observer's current position.
In its simplest form, it consists of an outer case with ...
approaching the vessel but as the ship was a hospital ship and protected by the
Hague conventions no evasive actions were taken. Without warning the submarine fired a
torpedo
A modern torpedo is an underwater ranged weapon launched above or below the water surface, self-propelled towards a target, and with an explosive warhead designed to detonate either on contact with or in proximity to the target. Historically, su ...
which missed. The U-boat, ''U-33'', came around again fired a torpedo from a distance of , which hit near the engine room, breaking the ship into two pieces.
''Vperiod''
On , another Russian hospital ship, named ''Vperiod'' (Вперёд; also transcribed, French-style, as ''Vperiode'') was sunk between Rizeh and
Batum, allegedly by German
U-boat
U-boats were naval submarines operated by Germany, particularly in the First and Second World Wars. Although at times they were efficient fleet weapons against enemy naval warships, they were most effectively used in an economic warfare role ...
. The boat was not carrying wounded, as she was on her trip ''to'' the frontline. Seven people died, the rest were saved.
The Russian government claimed that Turkish forces sank ''Portugal'',
and ''Vperiod''.
The Turkish government replied that both ships were sunk by mines.
See also
*
List of hospital ships sunk in World War I
During the First World War, many hospital ships were attacked, sometimes deliberately and sometimes as a result of mistaken identity.
They were sunk by either torpedo, mine or surface attack. They were easy targets, since they carried hundreds of ...
*
List of Russian Fleet hospital ships
This article is a list of Russian Fleet hospital ships inactive, active, and historical. The purpose of a hospital ship is to provide a floating medical treatment facility, historically redundant warships were used in this role, though in modern ...
References
External links
Le paquebot PORTUGAL des Messageries Maritimes
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Portugal
World War I shipwrecks in the Black Sea
Maritime incidents in 1916
Hospital ships in World War I
1886 ships
Ships built in France
Ships sunk by German submarines in World War I
World War I naval ships of Russia
Hospital ships of the Soviet Union and Russia
World War I crimes by Imperial Germany
Attacks on hospitals during World War I