SHIPS HIT GREECE 18 - GREEK SHIPS LOST
7)ARGO (SUB AMMIRAGLIO CAGNI)
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Photo: http://www.greekshippingmiracle.org/en/history/1940.html
Built: 1920
Tonnage: 1,995 / 3,100 tons
Cargo: Woollens and general cargo.
Route: Buenos Aires - Table Bay - Durban
Sunk 29 NOV 42 by Italian submarine Ammiraglio Cagni on pos. 34º 53’S 17º 54’E some 45 miles off Cape Point South Africa.
18 Dead
18 Survivors.
At 1503 hours, a smoke was sighted on the horizon steering 030°. Cagni proceeded to intercept at 15 knots. She could not catch up for an attack in daylight hours so C.C. Liannazza opted for an attack after dark. At 1915 hours, the attack began but was thwarted by a sudden change of course of the vessel. She was now steering 070°. At 2025 hours, a pair of torpedoes (450mm, 40 knots) were fired from bow tubes at a distance of 2,500 metres. They missed, apparently due to an irregular course.
At 2125 hours, another pair of torpedoes (450mm) were fired from bow tubes. They both hit and the vessel sank. Eighteen were killed [twelve crew members and all six passengers], seven survivors (including Captain Synodinos) were rescued in the afternoon of 30th November after being spotted by RAF aircrafts, by HMS Rotherham and another eleven by HMAS Norman. HMAS Norman later transferred the survivors she had picked up to HMS Rotherham which landed them at Simonstown in the evening.
