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SS Castillo de Olite facts for kids

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SS-Olite.jpg
Official photo of Castillo de Olite
Quick facts for kids
History
Name
  • 1921: Zaandijk
  • 1930: Zwaterwater
  • 1935: Postyshev
  • 1938: Akedemik Pavlov
  • 1938: Castillo de Olite
Namesake
  • 1921: Zaandijk
  • 1935: Pavel Postyshev
  • 1938: Palace of Olite
Owner
  • 1921: NV Solleveld, Van der Meer & TH van Hattum's SM
  • 1930: NV Scheepvaart- & Steenkolen Maatschappij
  • 1935: USSR
Operator
Port of registry
  • 1921: Netherlands Rotterdam
  • 1935: Soviet Union Odesa
  • 1938: Spain
Builder De Rotterdamsche Droogdok Maatschappij NV, Rotterdam
Yard number 69
Laid down 2 April 1920
Launched 20 November 1920
Completed 19 February 1921
Identification
  • 1921: code letters QCVR
  • ICS Quebec.svgICS Charlie.svgICS Victor.svgICS Romeo.svg
  • 1930: code letters QTDL
  • ICS Quebec.svgICS Tango.svgICS Delta.svgICS Lima.svg
Fate Sunk by gunfire, 7 March 1939
General characteristics
Type cargo ship
Tonnage 3,545 GRT, 2,150 NRT
Length 110.1 m (361.3 ft)
Beam 15.2 m (49.8 ft)
Draught 6.60 m (21 ft 8 in)
Depth 6.7 m (22.0 ft)
Installed power 342 NHP
Propulsion triple-expansion engine
Speed 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph)
Armament


Castillo de Olite was a cargo steamship that was launched in 1920 in the Netherlands as Zaandijk. She passed through a series of Dutch and Soviet owners, and at different times was renamed Zwartewater, Postyshev and Akademik Pavlov. In 1938 the Spanish Nationalist Navy captured her and renamed her Castillo de Olite. In the last days of the Spanish Civil War she was sunk with great loss of life while serving as a troop ship.

Building

De Rotterdamsche Droogdok Maatschappij NV built the ship in Rotterdam, launching her on 20 November 1920 and completing her in 19 February 1921. Her registered length was 110.1 m (361.3 ft), her beam was 15.2 m (49.8 ft) and her depth was 6.7 m (22.0 ft). Her tonnages were 3,545 GRT and 2,150 NRT. She had a single screw, driven by a three-cylinder triple-expansion steam engine that was rated at 342 NHP.

Career

Zaandijk's first owner was NV Solleveld, Van der Meer & TH van Hattum's Stoomvaart Maatschappij, who registered her in Rotterdam. Her code letters were QCVR. She traded to Java and Sumatra.

In 1930 NV Stoomvaart Maatschappij "Nederlandsche Lloyd" acquired Zaandijk and renamed her Zwartewater. She remained registered in Rotterdam, but her code letters were changed to QTDL.

In 1935 the USSR bought her, renamed her Postishev after the Ukrainian Communist Pavel Postyshev, and registered her in Odesa. In 1938 she was renamed Akedemik Pavlov.

On 31 May 1938 the Nationalist auxiliary cruiser Vicente Puchol captured Akademik Pavlov in the Strait of Gibraltar, when the latter was carrying a cargo of coal. She was incorporated in the Nationalist Spanish Navy as the Castillo de Olite, and armed with a 120 mm Vickers gun and a 57 mm Nordenfeldt gun.

Sinking

Restos del pecio del Castillo de Olite (20221102 123332)
The remains of rifles recovered from the wreck in 2004, displayed at the Historical Military Museum of Cartagena

In the last days of the Spanish Civil War, Cartagena was one of the last Republican strongholds, and harboured most of the remaining Republican Navy. When the anti-communist Cartagena Uprising broke out, the Nationalists sent reinforcementsto try to capture Cartagena and the Republican fleet.

With less than 48 hours preparation, the Nationalists sent from Castellón and Málaga a convoy of 16 ships, carrying more than 20,000 troops. The convoy comprised the Júpiter-class minelayers Júpiter, Marte and Vulcano, the auxiliary cruisers Lázaro, Jaime I, Domine and J.J. Sister and the transports Castillo de Olite, San Sebastián, Castillo Peñafiel, Gibraltar, Monforte, Mombeltrán, Huertas, Montealegre and Simancas.

The Republican fleet had left Cartagena for Oran, in Algeria, but the Republican Brigade 206 had retaken the port and its coastal defense batteries, thus preventing the Nationalist landing. The Nationalist ships retreated, except for Castillo de Olite, which had not received the order to withdraw, because her radio was out of order. While approaching the docks, one 152mm shell from a coastal battery hit her. She sank shortly afterwards, broken in two.

Of the 2,112 men aboard, 1,476 were killed, 342 were wounded and 294 were captured, after being rescued by local fishermen and the lighthouse keeper, Santiago Saavedra, and his wife, Carmen Hevia.
This is the one of the greatest loss of life from the sinking of a single ship in Spanish maritime history.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Castillo de Olite (1938) para niños

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