Warsailors Forums

From 1929 tug RIO TURIA ex-CAPTAIN A LETZER ex-HS 33 (built 1917 Ardrossan) was owned by Puertos y Pantanos SA, Bilbao.
During the Spanish Civil War she was taken up by the Republican Coastguard as RIO TURIA (GCV 32).
Reportedly sunk at some point (in 1938?) at Cartagena - later raised, repaired and transferred to the Comisión Administrativa de Puertos, at Bilbao (ON 2915, c/s EGJU)
RIO TURIA does not appear inthe list of Republican vessels sunk by the Condor Legion

Does anyone know about her sinking - particularly date and cause?

One of five ships found sunk in Cartagena harbour at its occupation by Nationalist forces at the end of the Civil War. Later raised. The others were JOVEN PURA, POETA AROLAS, JULIO CASCIARO, VICENTE FERRER.

Hi David,

Tug Rio Turia was sunk after being hit by a bomb on 1 March 1939 at Cartagena during a bombing raid taken by 5 Italian S.79 bombers.

Regards

Thanks DD and Jordi.
Do you know when she was taken up by the Republican Coastguard as GCV 32?

Hi David,

No, sorry. Just that it was taken by the Republicans at the beginning of the war, so it would be on September 1936.

Regards

Sorry, I wanted to say July 1936 not September.

Thanks again, Jordi