Serpa Pinto incident: Difference between revisions

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	\| commander1 = Unknown		\| commander1 = Unknown
	\| commander2 = Unknown		\| commander2 = Unknown
	\| units1 = {{flagicon\|Portugal}} ]		\| units1 = {{flagicon\|Portugal}} ]
	\| units2 = {{flagicon\|Nazi Germany\|naval}} ]		\| units2 = {{flagicon\|Nazi Germany\|naval}} {{GS\|U-541\|\|2}}
	\| strength1 = 1 ship<br>150 crew		\| strength1 = 1 ship<br>150 crew
	\| strength2 = 1 submarine		\| strength2 = 1 submarine
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	\| casualties2 = None		\| casualties2 = None
	}}		}}
	The '''''Serpa Pinto'' incident''' was a ] maritime incident that occurred on 26 May 1944 in the ] when the ] stopped and searched the Portuguese ocean liner ]. After detaining the ship's crew and passengers for around nine hours, the ship was allowed to continue its course. However, there were three deaths and the two Americans were captured and detained by the Germans.		The '''''Serpa Pinto'' incident''' was a ] maritime incident that occurred on 26 May 1944 in the ] when the {{GS\|U-541}} stopped and searched the Portuguese ocean liner ]. After detaining the ship's crew and passengers for around nine hours, the ship was allowed to continue its course. However, there were three deaths and the two Americans were captured and detained by the Germans.

	==Background==		==Background==
Line 32:		Line 32:

	==Incident==		==Incident==
	On 26 May 1944, the ] was intercepted in the Atlantic by the German submarine ] The U-boat crew ordered all passengers and crew to abandon the ship and board lifeboats for nine hours while the Germans searched the vessel.{{sfn\|Jackson\|2021\|p=167}} Although the ''Serpa Pinto'' was not carrying war materials, the ordeal led to the capture of two young Americans and the deaths of three passengers, the ] died by falling from a rope ladder into the sea, one of the cooks was killed by the ], and a 16-month-old daughter of a Polish refugee couple was killed when one of the lifeboats was being lowered and one of the boat's falls broke, tipping all of its occupants into the sea.<ref name=NYT-1944-0601>{{cite news \|title=U-boat Halts Refugee Ship, Takes Off Two Americans \|url-access=subscription \|newspaper=The New York Times \|date=1 June 1944 \|pages=1, 7 \|access-date=5 March 2024 \|via=Times Machine \|url= https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1944/06/01/86725110.html?pageNumber=1}}</ref><ref name=NYT>{{cite news \|title=Nine Hours of Terror Spent in Lifeboat Recalled by a Woman Survivor Here \|url-access=subscription \|newspaper=The New York Times \|date=3 June 1944 \|page=15 \|access-date=5 March 2024 \|via=Times Machine \|url= https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1944/06/03/85157225.html?pageNumber=15}}</ref> After the search, the ship was allowed to proceed.		On 26 May 1944, the ''Serpa Pinto'' was intercepted in the Atlantic by the German submarine {{GS\|U-541\|\|2}}. The U-boat crew ordered all passengers and crew to abandon the ship and board ] for nine hours while the Germans searched the vessel.{{sfn\|Jackson\|2021\|p=167}} Although the ''Serpa Pinto'' was not carrying war materials, the ordeal led to the capture of two young Americans and the deaths of three passengers, the ] died by falling from a rope ladder into the sea, one of the cooks was killed by the ], and a 16-month-old daughter of a Polish refugee couple was killed when one of the lifeboats was being lowered and one of the boat's falls broke, tipping all of its occupants into the sea.<ref name=NYT-1944-0601>{{cite news \|title=U-boat Halts Refugee Ship, Takes Off Two Americans \|url-access=subscription \|newspaper=The New York Times \|date=1 June 1944 \|pages=1, 7 \|access-date=5 March 2024 \|via=Times Machine \|url= https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1944/06/01/86725110.html?pageNumber=1}}</ref><ref name=NYT>{{cite news \|title=Nine Hours of Terror Spent in Lifeboat Recalled by a Woman Survivor Here \|url-access=subscription \|newspaper=The New York Times \|date=3 June 1944 \|page=15 \|access-date=5 March 2024 \|via=Times Machine \|url= https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1944/06/03/85157225.html?pageNumber=15}}</ref> After the search, the ship was allowed to proceed.

	==Aftermath==		==Aftermath==
	The incident caused alarm within the ], prompting the ] to consider prohibiting American citizens from using Portuguese vessels. In the end, only government officials were barred, while civilians were merely warned of the risks. The British government, concerned about the impact on evacuee repatriations, ensured that planned operations continued without restrictions.{{sfn\|Jackson\|2021\|p=167–168}}		The incident caused alarm within the United States, prompting the US ] to consider prohibiting American citizens from using Portuguese vessels. In the end, only government officials were barred, while civilians were merely warned of the risks. The British government, concerned about the impact on evacuee repatriations, ensured that planned operations continued without restrictions.{{sfn\|Jackson\|2021\|p=167–168}}

	==References==		==References==

Latest revision as of 14:29, 8 January 2025

1944 maritime incident

Serpa Pinto incident

Part of Battle of the Atlantic and World War II

Serpa Pinto during the Second World War

Date	26 May 1944 (~9 hours)
Location	Atlantic Ocean
Result	Ship searched Passengers and crew temporarily evacuated Ship allowed to continue its journey

Belligerents

Germany

Commanders and leaders

Unknown

Units involved

Serpa Pinto

U-541

Strength

1 ship
150 crew

1 submarine

Casualties and losses

Portugal:
3 dead
United States:
2 captured

None

The Serpa Pinto incident was a World War II maritime incident that occurred on 26 May 1944 in the Atlantic Ocean when the German submarine U-541 stopped and searched the Portuguese ocean liner Serpa Pinto. After detaining the ship's crew and passengers for around nine hours, the ship was allowed to continue its course. However, there were three deaths and the two Americans were captured and detained by the Germans.

Background

On 16 May 1944, NT Serpa Pinto, with 150 repatriates on board, left Lisbon for Philadelphia. She called at Porto on 18 May, and Ponta Delgada in the Azores on 21 May.

Incident

On 26 May 1944, the Serpa Pinto was intercepted in the Atlantic by the German submarine U-541. The U-boat crew ordered all passengers and crew to abandon the ship and board lifeboats for nine hours while the Germans searched the vessel. Although the Serpa Pinto was not carrying war materials, the ordeal led to the capture of two young Americans and the deaths of three passengers, the ship's doctor died by falling from a rope ladder into the sea, one of the cooks was killed by the block and tackle, and a 16-month-old daughter of a Polish refugee couple was killed when one of the lifeboats was being lowered and one of the boat's falls broke, tipping all of its occupants into the sea. After the search, the ship was allowed to proceed.

Aftermath

The incident caused alarm within the United States, prompting the US State Department to consider prohibiting American citizens from using Portuguese vessels. In the end, only government officials were barred, while civilians were merely warned of the risks. The British government, concerned about the impact on evacuee repatriations, ensured that planned operations continued without restrictions.

References

^ Jackson 2021, p. 167.
^ "U-boat Halts Refugee Ship, Takes Off Two Americans". The New York Times. 1 June 1944. pp. 1, 7. Retrieved 5 March 2024 – via Times Machine.
^ "Nine Hours of Terror Spent in Lifeboat Recalled by a Woman Survivor Here". The New York Times. 3 June 1944. p. 15. Retrieved 5 March 2024 – via Times Machine.
Jackson 2021, p. 167–168.

Jackson, Carlton (November 22, 2021). Who Will Take Our Children?: The Story of the Evacuation in Britain 1939-1945. Vol. 46. Routledge. ISBN 1032080701.

v t e Shipwrecks and maritime incidents in 1944
Shipwrecks	Unknown date: Illinoian, Ouessant, Strasbourg II, U-743
Other incidents	26 May: Serpa Pinto incident Unknown date: V 607 Düsseldorf
1943 1945 1944 by month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

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