History
Dominican Republic
Name	Gouvereur Jaeschke (1900-1917) Watauga (1917-1920) Guantanamo (1920-1933) Presidente Trujillo (1933-1942)
Owner	Naviera Dominicana
Port of registry	Trujillo
Builder	Howaldtswerke A. G.
Yard number	373
Launched	12 October 1900
Completed	December 1900
Identification	HIFS
Fate	Torpedoed and sunk 21 May 1942
General characteristics
Type	Cargo ship
Tonnage	1,738 GRT
Length	73.3 metres (240 ft 6 in)
Beam	11 metres (36 ft 1 in)
Depth	6.4 metres (21 ft 0 in)
Installed power	Triple expansion steam engine
Speed	11 knots
Crew	39

SS Presidente Trujillo was a Dominican Cargo ship that was torpedoed by the German submarine U-156 in the Caribbean Sea off Fort-de-France, Martinique on 21 May 1942 while she was travelling from Fort-de-France, Martinique to San Juan, Puerto Rico carrying a cargo of beer, machinery and forage.^[1]

Construction

Presidente Trujillo was built at the Howaldtswerke A. G. shipyard in Kiel, Germany in December 1900, where she was launched and completed that same year. The ship was 73.3 metres (240 ft 6 in) long, had a beam of 11 metres (36 ft 1 in) and had a depth of 6.4 metres (21 ft 0 in). She was assessed at 1,738 GRT and had a triple expansion steam engine. The ship could generate 204 n.h.p. with a speed of 11 knots. She was also armed with a 75mm deck gun and three AA machine guns.^[1]

Sinking

Presidente Trujillo was travelling unescorted from Fort-de-France, Martinique to San Juan, Puerto Rico while carrying a general cargo of beer, machinery and forage when on 21 May 1942 at 18.29 pm, she was hit aft by a G7e torpedo from the German submarine U-156 in the Caribbean Sea off Fort-de-France, Martinique. The ship sank in four minutes and claimed the lives of 24 crewmen. The 15 survivors were rescued soon after.^[2]

Wreck

The wreck of Presidente Trujillo lies at (14°38′N 61°11′W / 14.633°N 61.183°W / 14.633; -61.183).^[2]

References