In 1940 and 1941, the Moore McCormack Lines took delivery of four Rio Class C3 class passanger-cargo ships from the Sun Shipbuilding Co.. They were the RIO HUDSON, the RIO PARANA, the RIO DE LA PLATA and the RIO DE JANEIRO. In May 1942, these ships were requisitioned by the U.S. Government and convereted to small aircraft carriers, known as "baby flat tops", like the USS CHARGER (above). Three of these vessels were give to the Royal British Navy and one retained by the U.S. Navy.
The RIO PARANA, renamed HMS BITER, had an unfortunate service life. She was torpedoed by one of her own planes, but managed to stay afloat, and later damaged by fire while in port. The RIO DE JANEIRO, had the most tragic history. Renamed HMS DASHER, she sank after an exposion during aircraft refueling on March 27, 1943, with the loss of 379 out of 528 crewmen. At that time, the caused of the explosion was covered up and surpressed.
Now, after 67 years, the truth of the DASHER tragedy has been revealed. Author and historian, John Steele and his wife Noreen, have written the book "The American Connection to the Sinking of HMS DASHER", which examins the cause of the carrier's loss. This loss is one of Britian's worse single war time disaster, where the Germans were not involved in the sinking of the ship. Needlessly, 379 navy personnel either drowned or were burned to death when the carrier exploded off Arran, Scotland. There were 149 survivors who were never told what caused the disaster.
Author, John Steele reveals that the design faults of ther U.S. built vessel's conversion into an aircraft carrier caused aviation fuel spills. A careless crewman leaning on the ships railing while smoking set off a spark that sent the ship up in a flaming explosion.
At least 26 of the DASHER's dead, who were unidentifiable, were unceremoniously buried in two unmarked graves at the Androssan cemetery in Scotland.
The secrecy at the time was an insult to those who died, while the British and Americans argued who was responsible for the disaster, when the entire affair was surpressed from the public.
Story from the Old Salt Blog. Courtesy of Crackers Nautical News
Montani semper liberi ! Happy modeling to all and every one of you.
Crackers 