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Sierra Aranzazu

IMO N?: 6409832 Type of ship: General Cargo Call Sign: EEDH Flag: Spain Port of Register: Santander Ship?s Owners: Compa??a Trasatl?ntica Cargo handling: Derricks 8 x 3 tons SWL DWT: 2.984 GRT: 1.597 NRT: 1.092 LOA: 82,50 Mts. Lpp: 75,01 Mts. B: 12,13 Mts. D: 7,05 Mts. Ship?s Yard: Basse-Sambre-Corcho, S.A. (CORBASA) Hull N?: 84 Date of Delivery: 1964 Main Engine Manufacturer: Werkspoor Ship?s service speed: 14,00 Knots Engine power: 1.850 HP EL CRIMINAL ATAQUE / THE CRIMINAL ATTACK Toda la tripulaci?n hab?a acabado de cenar cuando el sol ya empezaba a ocultarse. / All the crew had finished dinner when the Sun was already beginning to hide. Hac?a buen tiempo, con calor, y la visibilidad era de unas siete millas. A las 19:50 - todas las horas mencionadas en el presente texto son locales - el SIERRA AR?NZAZU, que navegaba a una velocidad de 12 nudos, se encontraba a unas 15 millas al Sudoeste de Hogsty Reef (isla Gran Inagua, en el archipi?lago de las Bahamas), a 60 millas al Norte del punto m?s oriental de la Isla de Cuba y a 80 millas de Guant?namo, en situaci?n 21? 28?N y 74? 00?W, mientras el primer oficial, en el puente, y el segundo oficial, en la m?quina, terminaban sus respectivas guardias. De pronto se oy? un ruido de motores por la popa que parec?a pertenecer a una lancha que se acercaba sin luces. A unos 15 metros de la popa encendi? un potente reflector que ilumin? el nombre del mercante espa?ol y su puerto de matr?cula. Pocos minutos antes de que el reloj se?alase las ocho de la noche la embarcaci?n desconocida dio una pasada por la popa y desapareci? entre la oscuridad que se cern?a sobre la mar. It was good weather, heat, and the visibility was about seven miles. At 19:50 - all times mentioned in this text are local - the ARANZAZU SIERRA, sailing at a speed of 12 knots, was about 15 miles to the southwest of Hogsty Reef (Island Great Inagua, in the archipelago of the Bahamas), 60 miles to the North of the island of Cuba's easternmost point and 80 miles from Guantanamo situation 21 ? 28'N and 74 ? 00'W, while the first officer on the bridge, and the second officer, in the machine, ended their respective watch. Suddenly an engines noise was heard by stern that seemed to belong to a motorboat approached without lights. About 15 metres from the stern fired a powerful reflector that lit up the name of the Spanish merchant and its port of registry. Few minutes before the clock showed eight in the evening the unknown boat gave a pass astern and disappeared between the darkness that hung over the sea. A las ocho de la noche se produc?a el relevo de la guardia. En el puente se iba a encargar el capit?n de las pr?ximas cuatro horas y de la m?quina se ocupar?an el tercer maquinista y un engrasador. Mientras el primer oficial anotaba en el Cuaderno de Bit?cora los acaecimientos de su guardia, el capit?n entr? en el puente por el aler?n de estribor, como era su costumbre. En el cuarto de derrota cambiaron impresiones y fue en ese momento cuando el capit?n se enter? del extra?o comportamiento de la lancha desconocida unos minutos antes. El oficial de radio tambi?n entr? en el puente para informar a los oficiales del movimiento de los huracanes activos. Unos minutos m?s tarde aparecieron dos lanchas, una por cada aleta, que no fue posible identificar plenamente por la oscuridad que reinaba. At eight in the evening the relay of the guard was producing. On the bridge was going to be the captain of the next four hours and machine occupy the third engineer and an Oiler. While the first officer noted in the logbook the occurrences of his guard, Captain entered the bridge starboard spoiler, as it was his custom. In the quarter of defeat changed impressions and it was at this moment when the captain learned of the strange behavior of the unknown boat a few minutes before. The radio officer also came into the bridge to inform officials of the movement of active hurricanes. A few minutes later appeared two boats, one for each side, which was not possible to fully identified by the darkness that ruled. Capit?n y primer oficial salieron al aler?n, atentos a las evoluciones de sus ?visitantes? cuando, de repente y sin previo aviso, la que se encontraba a unos veinte metros por la aleta de estribor comenz? a disparar r?fagas de ametralladora de los calibres 30 (? 7,62 mm) y 50 (? 12,70 mm), y con ca?ones de los calibres 20 y 40 mm, iniciando las dos una pasada hacia la proa de forma casi simult?nea. Captain and first officer went to the wing, attentive to the evolution of "visitors" when, suddenly and without warning, which was about twenty meters by starboard fin began to shoot bursts of 30 caliber machine gun (or 7.62 mm) and 50 (or 12.70 mm), and 20 caliber cannons and 40 mm initiating the two one last towards the bow almost simultaneously. La sorpresa fue total y ambos se tiraron inmediatamente al suelo para cubrirse. El blanco de los disparos era toda la superestructura y el puente. Varias balas alcanzaron al capit?n en el muslo izquierdo, en el pecho y en el vientre. Una r?faga que impact? en la chimenea ocasion? un incendio en el tanque de diario de gasoil que alimentaba de combustible al motor principal, cuyo l?quido inflamado cay? sobre el cuadro el?ctrico en la sala de m?quinas. The surprise was total and both immediately threw to the ground for cover. The target of the shooting was all the superstructure and bridge. Several bullets reached the captain on the left thigh, chest and belly. A blast that struck the chimney caused a fire in the tank from diary of diesel oil which fed fuel to the main engine, whose swollen liquid fell on the switchboard in the engine room. Todos los tripulantes, completamente sorprendidos al o?r los disparos, intentaron protegerse, acudiendo a lugares protegidos o tir?ndose al suelo. A pesar de las continuas r?fagas de las dos lanchas, y una vez repuestos de la primera impresi?n, cada cual se puso en marcha para ayudar a otros compa?eros que se encontraban en situaci?n comprometida. El oficial de radio y algunos marineros prestaron ayuda al capit?n, que permanec?a herido en el suelo. Enseguida el fuego de la chimenea alcanz? grandes proporciones y los maquinistas, que inicialmente pensaron que pod?a tratarse de disparos de aviso para detener el buque, bajaron a la sala de m?quinas a parar el motor principal, lo que provoc? que se apagaran las luces (por la dinamo de cola). Al abandonar la sala de m?quinas, el primer maquinista recibi? un tiro en la pierna pero sin afectar al hueso. La primera pasada completa hab?a durado alrededor de cuatro minutos y el efecto era devastador. El telegrafista decidi? regresar a la cabina de radio, situada en la misma cubierta del puente, para emitir un mensaje de socorro pero, entre el incendio y la antena destrozada, no fue posible la transmisi?n. All the crew, completely surprised when they heard the shooting, tried to protect themselves, flocking to protected places or by jumping to the ground. Despite the continuous blasts of the two boats, and once spare parts of the first printing, each of which was set up to help other colleagues who were in compromising situation. Radio officer and some sailors lent support to the captain, who remained injured on the ground. Immediately the fire reached large proportions and machinists, who initially thought that it might be warning shots to stop the ship, fell to the engine room to stop the main engine, which caused that the lights turn off (by the dynamo of tail). On leaving the engine room, first Machinist received a shot in the leg but without affecting the bone. The first full pass had lasted about four minutes, and the effect was devastating. The Telegrapher decided to return to the cockpit's radio, located on the same deck of the bridge, to deliver a message of distress, but between the fire and the antenna destroyed, the transmission was not possible. Al poco tiempo comenz? una nueva pasada, que durar?a otros tres largos minutos. El primer maquinista, que hab?a subido al botiqu?n situado al lado de la derrota, recibi? un nuevo disparo en el vientre y otro en la cara. En el puente estaban los dos oficiales de puente preparando una lista de necesidades cuando impact? una bala sobre uno de los brazos del segundo oficial, desgarr?ndoselo hasta dejar el hueso al descubierto. En el SIERRA AR?NZAZU se hab?an encendido de nuevo las luces gracias al grupo de emergencia, aunque los incendios progresaban peligrosamente y pod?an producirse explosiones. No quedaba m?s remedio que abandonar el buque. El capit?n intentaba arrastrarse hasta su camarote para recoger la documentaci?n del barco cuando a trav?s de un portillo fue herido de nuevo, en esta ocasi?n en el pecho. A pesar de estar gravemente herido no se rend?a y pidi? desde el suelo enviar urgentemente un mensaje de socorro, a la vez que ordenaba el abandono del buque. Al poco tiempo las luces se apagaron definitivamente. Soon began a new pass, which would last for three long minutes. The first engineer, who had climbed to the Cabinet next to the defeat, received a new shot in the belly and the other in the face. On the bridge were the two bridge officers preparing a list of needs when it hit a bullet on one of the arms of the second officer, crunching is it leaving the bone exposed. On the SIERRA AR?NZAZU lights had been switched on again the lights through the emergency group, although the fires were progressing dangerously and could occur explosions. There was no choice but to abandon the ship. The captain was trying to crawl to his cabin to pick up the documentation of the boat when through a gap was wounded again, this time in the chest. Despite being badly wounded not surrendered and requested from the ground urgently send a distress message, while he ordered the abandonment of the ship. Shortly after the lights went out definitely. EL SALVAMENTO DE LA TRIPULACI?N / SALVAGE OF THE CREW El primer oficial orden? arriar los botes. Terminada la segunda pasada los hombres aprovecharon para dirigirse al bote de babor (el n?mero dos), el m?s accesible en esos terribles momentos, ya que el barco era pasto de las llamas y lo ?nico que pod?a hacerse era intentar salvar la vida. Algunos tripulantes ilesos consiguieron ayudar a los heridos hasta la cubierta, mientras otros destrincaban el bote y hac?an saltar las anillas para que cayera directamente a la mar. Eran pr?cticamente las 20:10 horas cuando todos embarcaban en el bote salvavidas. En silencio pero con rapidez, primero acomodaron a los heridos y despu?s lo abordaron el resto. El bote se separ? poco a poco del humeante SIERRA AR?NZAZU. Los atacantes les iluminaron con los reflectores aunque no dispararon, e iniciaron una tercera pasada ametrallando de nuevo toda la superestructura, que ard?a como una antorcha. El ataque dur? cerca de diez minutos. A base de remos (no ten?a motor) pusieron rumbo Norte, guiados por la Polar, para alejarse del barco por el peligro de explosi?n. El recuento de heridos era dram?tico: hab?a tres muy graves y otros seis con heridas de menor importancia. The first officer ordered to lower the boats. Completed the second pass men used to go to the portside boat (number two), the more accessible in those terrible moments, since the ship was burned and the only thing that could be done was to try to save the life. Some crewmen unharmed managed to help the wounded to cover, while others were unlashing the boat and doing jump rings to fall directly into the sea. They were practically 20:10 hours when all embarked on the lifeboat. Silently, but rapidly, the wounded were first accommodated and then boarded it the rest. The boat slowly separated from the smoky SIERRA ARANZAZU. The attackers illuminated them with reflectors although not fired, and began a third pass again strafing all the superstructure, which was burning like a torch. The attack lasted about ten minutes. -Based rowing (the boat had no engine) were heading north, guided by the Polar, to move away from the boat by the danger of explosion. The wounded count was dramatic: there were three very serious and six others with minor wounds. Del tim?n se hizo cargo el primer oficial. Los hombres que se encontraban en mejores condiciones remaban con fuerza, mientras algunos atend?an a los heridos y otros achicaban el agua que entraba en el bote por varios orificios de bala. Sin poder hacer nada, el capit?n agonizaba en la proa, aunque no hab?a perdido el conocimiento. El viento era muy flojo del Oeste y el bote se desplazaba entre uno y dos nudos con rumbo Norte, de acuerdo con la intenci?n del primer oficial, que hab?a decidido ir hacia las Bahamas. A las nueve de la noche, tras una corta agon?a, el capit?n muri?. Su cuerpo fue tapado con una camisa, cuando a lo lejos todav?a se distingu?a en la oscuridad al SIERRA AR?NZAZU ardiendo. En esos dram?ticos momentos, rezar o cantar la ?Salve Marinera? era algo que se hac?a con la mayor esperanza y emoci?n. The rudder first officer took over. The men who were better able to rowing with force, while some attending to the wounded and others bailing the water entering the boat by several bullet holes. Unable to do anything, the captain was dying on the bow, although it had not lost the knowledge. The wind was very loose in the West and the boat moved between one and two knots heading north, according to the intention of the first officer, who had decided to go to the Bahamas. At nine o'clock in the evening, after a short agony, the captain died. His body was covered with a shirt, when the distance was still distinguished in darkness at the burning SIERRA ARANZAZU. In these dramatic moments, pray or sing "Salve Marinera" was something that was done with the greatest hope and excitement. Por la amura de babor apareci? un faro. Sin embargo, ?ste no era el destino del bote salvavidas. Al segundo oficial hubo que hacerle un torniquete en el brazo herido porque segu?a perdiendo bastante sangre. A pesar de llevar varias cajas de galletas y dos barriles de agua, nadie pod?a tomar nada porque en las gargantas se hab?a instalado una especie de nudo. A las once y media de la noche notaron aproximarse una lancha que se acerc?, par? y volvi? a alejarse. On the portside bow got a lighthouse. However, this was not the fate of lifeboat. The second officer had to make a tourniquet on the injured arm because it was still losing enough blood. Despite carrying several boxes of cookies and two barrels of water, nobody could take anything because in the gorges has had installed a kind of knot. At half past eleven in the evening they noticed approaching a boat which approached, stopped and turned to walk away. A los pocos minutos ocurri? lo mismo, sin poder determinar si era la misma lancha u otra diferente, o incluso si se trataba de las dos que hab?an atacado horas antes al mercante espa?ol. A medianoche todos segu?an trabajando disciplinadamente como un solo hombre, incluyendo a los heridos menos graves. Todos colaboraban sin una queja, con una entereza admirable. A few minutes same thing happened, without determining whether it was the same boat or another different, or even if it was the two who had been attacked hours earlier the Spanish merchant. At midnight everyone still working discipline as a single man, including the less seriously injured. All collaborating without a complaint, with an admirable fortitude. A las tres de la madrugada, el agregado se dio cuenta de que el tercer maquinista hab?a muerto. Una bala explosiva que impact? en el est?mago le hab?a destrozado todo el pecho. Por los orificios de las balas entraba agua en el bote, as? que con el cart?n de las cajas de galletas fabricaron cu?as para taponarlos. En la oscuridad de la noche y todav?a con el resplandor que provocaba el incendio del SIERRA AR?NZAZU, los ocupantes del bote distinguieron las luces de un barco que daba vueltas alrededor del mercante espa?ol y despu?s se alejaba. Este barco era el obo holand?s P.G. THULIN, de 18.718 TRB, en viaje de Chile a Baltimore (EE. UU.), con escala en Cura?ao, y que transportaba un cargamento de mineral de hierro. Al mando se encontraba el capit?n Groendijk, que inmediatamente comunic? por radio con el U.S. Coast Guard que acababan de ver un barco no identificado ardiendo. At three o'clock in the morning, the attach? realized that the third machinist had died. An explosive bullet that affected the stomach had destroyed the whole breast. Water was entering through the orifices of the bullets to the boat, so with the carton of the boxes of cookies they made wedges to stop up them. In the darkness of the night and still glow that caused the fire of the SIERRA ARANZAZU, the occupants of the boat observed the lights of a ship that turned around the Spanish merchant and then moved away. This boat was the Dutch OBO P.G. THULIN, 18.718 GRT, in voyage from Chile to Baltimore (USA), with a call at the port of Curacao, and she was carrying a cargo of iron ore. In command was Captain Groendijk, who immediately communicated by radio with the U.S. Coast Guard who had just seen an unidentified ship burning. Al amanecer, y gracias al mensaje del P.G. THULIN, comenzaron las labores de b?squeda y salvamento de los n?ufragos. A las siete de la ma?ana, cuando la luz de d?a era total, aunque en el cielo hab?a algunas nubes, los n?ufragos descubrieron un barco con rumbo Sudoeste y surgi? la duda de seguirlo o cambiar de rumbo hacia el faro. Antes de encontrar la soluci?n apareci? en el cielo un avi?n del U.S. Coast Guard con base en Guant?namo que, tras localizarlos, comenz? a volar en c?rculo sobre ellos a la vez que lanzaba bengalas de humo en las proximidades del bote. El buque con rumbo Sudoeste no era otro que el obo holand?s que, desde el descubrimiento del SIERRA AR?NZAZU ardiendo, los estaba buscando insistentemente. El P.G. THULIN modific? su rumbo para acercarse al bote salvavidas que segu?a se?alando el avi?n con sus continuos vuelos circulares. El salvamento era inminente y los hombres dejaron de remar esperando ansiosos la llegada de los salvadores, ya que el segundo oficial estaba muy d?bil, aunque la herida no perd?a sangre, y necesitaba atenci?n m?dica urgente. At dawn, and thanks to the message of the P.G. THULIN, began work in search and rescue of the shipwrecked. At seven in the morning, when the light of day was full, although there were some clouds in the sky, the castaways discovered a boat heading southwest and emerged doubt follow him or change course towards the lighthouse. Before finding the solution appeared in the sky a plane from the U.S. Coast Guard based at Guantanamo who, after locating them, began to fly in a circle on them while he threw flares of smoke in the vicinity of the boat. The ship heading southwest was none other than the Dutch obo which, since the discovery of the SIERRA ARANZAZU burning, was looking for it repeatedly. The P.G. THULIN modified her course to approach the boat life that was still pointing the plane with its continuous circular flights. The rescue was imminent and the men stopped rowing waiting anxiously the arrival of rescuers, the second officer was very weak, although the wound not lost blood, and needed urgent medical attention. La llegada del P.G. THULIN se produjo a las diez de la ma?ana. Se acerc? con cuidado hasta el costado del bote y lanzaron una escala de gato. Toda la tripulaci?n del buque holand?s (algunos eran espa?oles y otros, sudamericanos, tambi?n hablaban espa?ol) colabor? para ayudar, primero a los heridos y despu?s a los ilesos, operaciones que fueron realizadas en una media hora. Tambi?n izaron el bote salvavidas con los cuerpos de los dos fallecidos y los heridos graves con el puntal de los pertrechos del costado de babor. Los heridos fueron ingresados en la enfermer?a, los cad?veres fueron depositados en una c?mara frigor?fica, y proporcionaron ropas secas y alimentos a los ilesos. The arrival of the P.G. THULIN occurred at ten in the morning. Approached with care up to the side of the boat and threw a Jacob?s scale. The entire crew of the Dutch ship (some were Spaniards and others, South American, also spoke Spanish) collaborated to help, first wounded and then to the unharmed, operations that were carried out in half an hour. They also hoisted the lifeboat with the bodies of the two who died and the seriously injured with the accoutrements of the port side strut. The injured were admitted to the infirmary, corpses were deposited in a cold chamber, and provided dry clothes and food to the unharmed. Despu?s de preguntarles por lo sucedido, la indignaci?n en la tripulaci?n del barco salvador era generalizada al enterarse de las verdaderas causas, ya que pensaban que la raz?n del incendio del SIERRA AR?NZAZU era una explosi?n accidental. Por entonces, las autoridades cubanas se hab?an enterado del ataque en aguas internacionales al buque espa?ol y movilizaron a sus fuerzas navales destacadas en la zona. After asking them for what happened, indignation in the saving ship crew was widespread to learn the true causes, since they thought that the reason for the fire of the SIERRA ARANZAZU was an accidental explosion. By then, the Cuban authorities had learned of the attack in international waters to the Spanish vessel and mobilized naval forces in the area. En el puente del obo holand?s, el capit?n Groendijk se planteaba qu? hacer, en presencia del primer oficial del barco atacado. En ese preciso momento se enteraron de que el segundo oficial hab?a fallecido. Al final, viendo la gravedad de algunos heridos decidi? ir al puerto m?s pr?ximo, que era Matthew Town, en la Isla Gran Inagua, en lugar de continuar viaje a Baltimore, su primera intenci?n. Al poco tiempo de modificar el rumbo camino del puerto caribe?o aparecieron tres peque?as lanchas r?pidas cubanas. Tras izar la se?al ?K? (Pare su buque inmediatamente), el oficial que se encontraba al mando de ellas trep? por la escala hasta cubierta y subi? hasta el puente. El comandante de la lancha explic? al capit?n holand?s que ten?a la misi?n del Gobierno cubano de recoger a los n?ufragos y transportarlos a territorio cubano. Sin embargo, el capit?n Groendijk rechaz? la propuesta y le comunic? que los n?ufragos seguir?an en su barco hasta el puerto que ten?an previsto: Matthew Town. In the Dutch obo bridge, Captain Groendijk posed is what to do in the presence of the first officer of the attacked ship. At that very moment they learned that the second officer had died. In the end, seeing the seriousness of some injured he decided to go to the nearest port, which was Matthew Town, Inagua Island, rather than continue trip to Baltimore, his first intention. Soon alter the course path of the Caribbean port appeared three small Cuban speedboats. After hoisting the signal "K" (stop your vessel immediately), the officer who was in charge of them went up to deck and went up to the bridge. The commander of the speedboat explained to the Dutch sea captain that had the mission of the Cuban Government to collect the shipwrecked and to transport them to Cuban territory. However, the captain Groendijk rejected the proposal and informed him that the shipwrecked would remain in his boat to the port that had planned: Matthew Town. El comandante cubano volvi? a su barco y todos continuaron su camino. A las cinco de la tarde, el P.G. THULIN hac?a entrada en la rada de Matthew Town. The cuban commander returner to her speed boat and all of them continued their way. At five o?clock evening the P.G. THULIN entered to Matthew Town road. Una lancha del puerto se hizo cargo de los hombres del SIERRA AR?NZAZU y de su bote salvavidas, y los condujo hasta el muelle. El buque holand?s, terminada su gran labor, continu? viaje, habiendo prestado una atenci?n exquisita a los sufridos n?ufragos, sabiendo que a la llegada a EE. UU. le esperaba dar cuenta del rescate. Los heridos y los cad?veres fueron trasladados a un hospital; los primeros para atenderles de las heridas y los segundos para hacerles un reconocimiento. A port boat took men of the SIERRA ARANZAZU and his lifeboat, and led them to the pier. The dutch ship, at the end of his great work, continued the trip, having provided an attention exquisite to the suffered shipwrecked, knowing that upon arrival to US. expected to give account of the rescue. The injured men and the corpses were moved to a hospital; the first ones to attend them of the wounds and the second ones to do a recognition to them. Poco fue el tiempo que pasaron en Matthew Town porque enseguida lleg? un avi?n de la U.S. Navy para transportar a los heridos y los tres cad?veres hasta la base norteamericana de Guant?namo. A las ocho de la noche parti? el avi?n con el oficial de radio encargado del grupo. Little was the time spent at Matthew Town because then became an aircraft of the U.S. Navy to transport the wounded and three dead bodies to the U.S. base Guantanamo Bay. At eight in the evening he left the plane with the officer's radio group in charge. Los supervivientes fueron alojados en un hotel donde pasaron la noche. En todo momento fueron tratados con gran amabilidad. El primer oficial fue citado en la Commissioner Office para responder a varias preguntas en relaci?n con lo sucedido. La entrevista fue realizada en ingl?s con int?rprete. Al mediod?a del martes 15, otro avi?n de la U.S. Navy traslad? a los nueve supervivientes hasta el aeropuerto de San Juan de Puerto Rico, donde los recibi? el C?nsul de Espa?a, Pedro Manuel de Aristegui, y un buen n?mero de periodistas y c?maras de televisi?n. El ataque al SIERRA AR?NZAZU iba a tener repercusi?n mundial. Survivors were accomodated in the hotel where they spent the night. At all times they were treated with great kindness. The first officer was quoted in the Commissioner Office to answer several questions in relation to what happened. The interview was conducted in English with interpreter. At noon on Tuesday 15, other aircraft of the U.S. Navy moved to the nine survivors to the airport of San Juan de Puerto Rico, where the Consul of Spain, Pedro Manuel de Aristegui, received them and a number of journalists and television cameras. The attack on the SIERRA ARANZAZU would have global impact. EL SALVAMENTO DEL BUQUE / THE SALVAGE OF THE SHIP Pero, ?qu? hab?a sucedido con el barco espa?ol? El tiempo hab?a empeorado y el lunes 14 de septiembre ya se notaba el cambio. Las tres lanchas cubanas encontraron el carguero en llamas y comunicaron su situaci?n: latitud 21? 40?N y longitud 74? 08?W. El remolcador cubano 10 DE OCTUBRE, de 186 TRB, al mando del capit?n Armando Laguna Lomas, parti? a mediod?a de Santiago de Cuba hacia la situaci?n indicada, para apagar el incendio y proceder a su remolque, siempre y cuando fuera posible. El remolcador cubano estuvo navegando a la m?xima velocidad que le permit?a el estado de la mar con rumbo Este hasta el Paso de los Vientos, momento en que puso proa al Noreste. Al amanecer del martes 15 de septiembre avistaron por fin al SIERRA AR?NZAZU, que segu?a ardiendo y expulsando una intensa columna de humo. En las proximidades se encontraba el USCGS RELIANCE (WMEC-615), un cutter del U.S. Coast Guard, que realiz? maniobras para obstaculizar la aproximaci?n del remolcador cubano, al tiempo que un avi?n del U.S. Coast Guard efectuaba vuelos en c?rculo por encima de ellos. Al tomar contacto con el barco espa?ol desde el remolcador pusieron en funcionamiento los ca?ones de agua. Algunos hombres lo abordaron con mangueras para intentar apagar los incendios que consum?an la carga de las bodegas y el interior de la superestructura. But what had happened with the Spanish ship? The weather had worsened and on Monday, September 14 already noticed the change. The three Cuban boats found the freighter in flames and reported her location: latitude 21 ? 40'N and longitude 74 ? 08'W. The Cuban tugboat 10 DE OCTUBRE, of 186 GRT, under the command of Captain Armando Laguna Lomas, departed at noon from Santiago de Cuba to the indicated situation, to extinguish the fire and proceed to tow the ship, only if possible. The Cuban tug was sailing to the maximum speed that allowed the state of the sea and heading east to El Paso de los Vientos, at which time he bow to the Northeast. At dawn on Tuesday september 15 finally sighted the SIERRA AR?NZAZU, which was still burning and expelling a intense column of smoke. Nearby was the USCGS RELIANCE (WMEC-615), a cutter of the U.S. Coast Guard, which carried out manoeuvres to obstruct the approach of the Cuban tug, at the time a plane from the U.S. Coast Guard carried out flights in circles above them. Upon contacting the Spanish ship the tug put into operation the water cannons. Some men boarded her with hoses to try to put out fires that consumed the load of the holds and the inside of the superstructure. Controlados los incendios, el remolcador 10 DE OCTUBRE lo hizo firme por su costado de estribor para remolcarlo hacia la costa a la vez que segu?a combatiendo el fuego. Con la tierra a la vista, el remolque falt? y los hombres tuvieron que realizar una peligrosa maniobra para retomarlo. Controlled the fires the tug 10 DE OCTUBRE made fast her to the starboard side to tow her towards the coast at the same time that was fighting the fire. With land in sight, the towage was missed and the men had to carry out a dangerous manoeuvre to recover it. A la comitiva se incorpor? otro remolcador cubano, el peque?o MACAB?. El oleaje imped?a la marcha normal y todav?a se produjo otra interrupci?n al romperse de nuevo uno de los cables de remolque. El destino era la protegida Bah?a de Nipe, en la provincia de Holgu?n. Despu?s de un duro viaje, el SIERRA AR?NZAZU, con una escora a babor entre 10 y 15 grados y todav?a humeante por sus varios incendios activos, qued? fondeado a las diez de la ma?ana del d?a 16. Por fin estaba en aguas tranquilas, en un punto situado a dos millas del cargadero de az?car de Preston, a seis del puerto de Antilla y a una de la costa, en un fondo de lecho fangoso. Another Cuban tug, the small BONEFISH joined to the convoy. The waves prevented the normal navigation and still another interruption occurred when a towage wire was broken again. The destination was the protected Bay of Nipe, at the Holgu?n province. After a hard voyage, the SIERRA ARANZAZU, with a list to starboard between 10 and 15 degrees and still smoking through the various active fires, was anchored at ten of the morning of the 16th. Finally she was in calm waters, at a point situated two miles from the Preston sugar loading pier, at six of the port Antilla and one on the coast, on muddy seabed. La ?batalla? hab?a durado 72 horas. The battle had lasted 72 hours. El d?a 15 de septiembre, el ataque al SIERRA AR?NZAZU hab?a dado ya la vuelta al mundo. Titulares como ?Cobarde y criminal ataque al ?Sierra Ar?nzazu? en aguas del Caribe?, ?Brutal ataque al Sierra Ar?nzazu? o ?Lanchas torpederas anticastristas ca?onearon al ?Sierra Ar?nzazu?, inadmisible pirater?a?, aparec?an en diferentes publicaciones espa?olas. Al mismo tiempo que el embajador de Espa?a en EE. UU., marqu?s de Merry del Val, solicitaba urgentemente una entrevista con Dean Rusk, Secretario de Estado norteamericano, exiliados cubanos asum?an la autor?a del ataque. Por otra parte, las autoridades cubanas acusaban al gobierno de los EE. UU. de ser responsable del ataque al buque espa?ol. En Madrid, el Ministro de Asuntos exteriores, Fernando Mar?a Castiella, mand? llamar al embajador norteamericano para hacerle entrega de la nota de protesta del Gobierno espa?ol. La indignaci?n en Espa?a era generalizada sobre un suceso con serias implicaciones pol?ticas y diplom?ticas. The day15th of September, the attack on the SIERRA AR?NZAZU had already given the round the world. Headlines such as "cowardly and criminal attack on the "Sierra Aranzazu" in the waters of the Caribbean", "Brutal attack on the Sierra Aranzazu" or "Torpedo Speedboats anti-castro fired cannons to the "Sierra Aranzazu", inadmissible piracy", appeared in different Spanish publications. At the same time that the Ambassador of Spain in USA, Marquis of Merry del Val's, urgently requested an interview with Dean Rusk, U.S. Secretary of State, Cuban exiles assumed responsibility for the attack. On the other hand, the Cuban authorities accused the U.S. Government of being responsible for the attack on the Spanish ship. In Madrid, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Fernando Mar?a Castiella, sent to call us Ambassador to deliver the note of protest by the Spanish Government. Indignation in Spain was widespread about an incident with serious political and diplomatic implications. Al poco tiempo de la llegada a la Bah?a de Nipe comenzaron los trabajos de salvamento que duraron diecis?is d?as, con un horario ininterrumpido de siete de la ma?ana a nueve de la noche. La primera tarea consisti? en sofocar completamente los incendios del mercante, gracias al gran trabajo de los hombres que lucharon duramente contra el humo y el calor. Tal fue la dificultad que en el grupo, al mando del jefe de salvamento Jacinto Malvar, varios hombres resultaron heridos por quemaduras leves o asfixia. El SIERRA AR?NZAZU presentaba un aspecto lamentable, escorado a babor, hundido y apoyado sobre el fondo a causa de la gran cantidad de agua que hab?a en su interior (establecida por los t?cnicos en unas 3.000 toneladas). Despu?s de un riguroso recuento, en el casco y la superestructura se llegaron a contabilizar cerca de 800 orificios de bala, algunos de hasta quince cent?metros de di?metro. En el reconocimiento se recuperaron restos de balas de los calibres 30, 50 y tambi?n de 40 mm. Shortly after arrival in the Bay of Nipe began the salvage work which lasted sixteen days, with an uninterrupted schedule from seven in the morning to nine in the evening. The first task consisted of completely quell the fire of the merchant, thanks to the great work of the men who fought hard against the smoke and heat. Such was the difficulty in the group, under the command of the Chief of rescue Jacinto Malvar, several men were wounded by minor burns or suffocation. The SIERRA ARANZAZU presented a terrible condition, listed to portside, sunk and supported on the bottom because of the large quantity of water that was inside (established by technicians in around 3,000 tonnes). After a rigorous count, in the hull and the superstructure are became counted about 800 bullet holes, some up to 15 centimeters in diameter. In recognition of the recovered remains of bullet calibers 30, 50 and 40 mm. Gracias a la gabarra-gr?a flotante BOHEMIA, con capacidad para 30 toneladas, que lleg? desde La Habana remolcada por el CRISTINO NARANJO, se pudieron abrir las escotillas de las bodegas con el fin de achicar el agua y sacar los restos de la carga, tanto la aprovechable (m?s bien escasa, en torno del 20 por ciento del total) como la que se encontraba completamente perdida. Fue posible salvar parte de las mu?ecas, de los tejidos, del co?ac y algunos ajos, y todo el material agr?cola. El mi?rcoles d?a 30 de septiembre, a las cuatro y media de la tarde, quedaron completados los trabajos de salvamento y el SIERRA AR?NZAZU abandon? remolcado su ?varadero? en Punta Cigarro para fondear en otro lugar que permitiese finalizar las tareas de descarga y limpieza. Otros veinte d?as m?s fueron necesarios para realizar las reparaciones provisionales para dejarlo en orden de marcha. Consistieron en el taponamiento de la multitud de boquetes por todo el casco y en la reparaci?n del motor principal. Una vez listo fue trasladado al muelle de Antilla en espera de un destino. Pas? all? unos pocos d?as. Thanks to the floating crane BOHEMIA, with a loading capacity of 30 tons, arriving from La Havana towed by the tug CRISTINO NARANJO, the hatch covers could be opened up with the purpose to pump out the water and remove the remains of the cargo, both the usable (rather scarce in lathe of 20 per cent of the total) as that was completely lost. It was possible to salve part of the dollies, the clthes, cognac and some garlics, and all the agricultural material. The Wednesday 30th of September, at the afternoon four and a half hours, the salvage works were completed and the SIERRA ARANZAZU left under towage her ?dry dock? at Punta Cigarro to anchor in another place which allowed to finish the unloading and cleaning works. Another twenty additional days were necessary to carry out the provisory repairs to allow her in seaworthy condition. This consisted in covering the large quantity of holes throughout the hull and the repairs on the main engine. Once ready was moved to the Antilla pier waiting for her destination. She remained there a few days. En las operaciones de salvamento del mercante espa?ol participaron los ingenieros navales Enrique Tortosa y Juan Jos? Gr?valos, enviados desde Espa?a por el Comisariado Espa?ol Mar?timo y Mar?tima del Norte (Sener), respectivamente. In the salvage operations of the spanish merchant ship participated the naval engineers Enrique Tortosa and Juan Jos? Gr?valos, sent from Spain by the Spanish Salvage Association (Comisariado Espa?ol Mar?timo and Mar?tima del Norte (Sener) mrespectively. TODOS VUELVEN A CASA / ALL RETURN HOME A las ocho de la noche del martes 15 llegaron en avi?n a San Juan de Puerto Rico los heridos y el telegrafista, reuni?ndose en la ciudad caribe?a todos los supervivientes. La estancia en Guant?namo hab?a sido muy buena, con un trato y una atenci?n muy correctos en todo momento. Un almirante de la Base los salud? a su llegada y, a pesar de su extra?eza, no les preguntaron por los detalles del ataque. Los heridos m?s delicados fueron internados en el hospital Auxilio Mutuo de Santures. El mi?rcoles 16 llegaron los restos mortales de los tres tripulantes fallecidos mientras el primer oficial realizaba los tr?mites oficiales, entre los que se encontraba la ?protesta de mar? ante el C?nsul de Espa?a. El jueves 17 salieron para la Pen?nsula trece de los tripulantes despu?s de recibir un pasaporte colectivo. Otros tres heridos ? Jos? Luis Barrenechea, Ram?n Riveiro y Ram?n Ugarte - todav?a se recuperaban en un hospital de heridas menos graves. Tambi?n se qued? con ellos el agregado Guillermo Manj?n. At eight in the evening of Tuesday 15 arrived by plane at San Juan, Puerto Rico the wounded and the telegrapher, meet in the Caribbean city all the survivors. The stay in Guantanamo had been very good, with a treatment and a very correct at all times. An admiral of the base greeted them upon arrival and, in spite of its strangeness, not asked about the details of the attack. The most delicate wounded were interned in the Auxilio Mutuo de Santures Hospital. Wednesday 16 arrived the mortal remains of the three deceased crew members while the first officer performed the official procedures, among which was the "sea protest" before the Consul of Spain. On Thursday, 17 departed for the Peninsula thirteen of the crew members after receiving a collective passport. Three others were wounded - Jose Luis Barrenechea, Ramon Riveiro and Ramon Ugarte - still recovering at a hospital less seriously injured. Also stayed with them the attache Guillermo Manj?n. El recibimiento del primer grupo de tripulantes del SIERRA AR?NZAZU fue el mismo jueves 17, a las nueve menos cuarto de la ma?ana, en el Aeropuerto de Barajas. Familiares, amigos, compa?eros y numerosas autoridades, presididas por el Subsecretario de la Marina Mercante Leopoldo Boado, se dieron cita para recibir a los primeros 13 hombres. Cuatro de ellos, que presentaban heridas de pron?stico reservado por metralla, fueron trasladados a la madrile?a Cl?nica R?ber. El viernes 18 por la noche partieron para Espa?a los tres heridos y el agregado. En el mismo avi?n iban los cad?veres de los tres tripulantes muertos. The reception of the first group of the SIERRA ARANZAZU crew was the same Thursday 17 at quart to nine hours in the morning, at Barajas airport. Family members, friends and numerous authorities, chaired by the Undersecretary of the Merchant Navy Leopoldo Boado, gathered to receive the first 13 men. Four of them, presenting prognosis reserved by shrapnel, wounds were transferred to Madrid's Ruber clinic. 18th Friday evening departed for Spain the three wounded and the aggregate. On the same plane were the bodies of the three dead crew. Su llegada fue a mediod?a del s?bado 19 y de nuevo estaban esperando en Barajas familiares, amigos, compa?eros y autoridades, con el Ministro de Comercio Alberto Ullastres a la cabeza. Los f?retros, cubiertos con la bandera espa?ola, fueron transportados desde el avi?n a hombros por oficiales de la Marina Mercante y de la Marina de Guerra hasta una dependencia del aeropuerto, donde el vicario de la Jurisdicci?n Central de Marina rez? un responso. A continuaci?n fueron introducidos en sendos coches f?nebres para su traslado hasta sus lugares de origen con el fin de recibir cristiana sepultura. Coincidiendo con la llegada de los ?ltimos tripulantes y los f?retros, se celebr? el s?bado por la tarde una manifestaci?n de unas mil personas ante la Embajada de los Estados Unidos en Madrid. Los manifestantes corearon gritos como: ?Asesinos? o ?Cuba s?, yanquis no?. La polic?a, con unos 150 efectivos, no lleg? a intervenir y al cabo de una hora se disolvieron pac?ficamente. D?as m?s tarde, en la Iglesia de San Jer?nimo El Real se celebr? un funeral por las v?ctimas mortales del SIERRA AR?NZAZU con asistencia de numerosas autoridades, compa?eros de Mar?tima del Norte y personas relacionadas con el negocio mar?timo. Their arrival was at noon on Saturday 19 and again they were waiting at Barajas family, friends and authorities, with the Minister of Comercio Alberto Ullastres head. Coffins, covered with the Spanish flag, were transported from aircraft to shoulder by officers of the merchant marine and the Navy until a hall of the airport, where the Vicar of the Central jurisdiction of the Navy prayed a funeral prayer. They were then introduced in separate hearses for transfer to their places of origin in order to receive Christian burial. Coinciding with the arrival of the last crew and coffins, held the Saturday afternoon a demonstration of a few thousand people outside the Embassy of the United States in Madrid. The demonstrators chanted cries as: "Killers" or "Cuba yes, Yankees no". The police, with approximately 150 men, did not go so far as to intervene and after one hour they dissolved pacifically. Days later, in the Church of San Jer?nimo Real a funeral was celebrated by the victims of the SIERRA AR?NZAZU with assistance of numerous authorities, partners of Mar?tima del Norte and persons related to the marine business. A continuaci?n se recogen algunos datos de los tres fallecidos. / Below are some data from the three deceased El capit?n Pedro Ibargurengoitia Garc?a descend?a de una familia de marinos mercantes. Su padre, tambi?n capit?n, hab?a fallecido en la mar en 1940. Naci? el 21 de abril de 1922 en G?rliz (Vizcaya). Estaba casado con Mar?a Basarrate y ten?a dos hijos de corta edad. Desde su entrada a la naviera, solo seis meses antes, se encontraba al mando del SIERRA AR?NZAZU. Trabajaba en Mar?tima del Norte desde el a?o 1958 (anteriormente trabaj? en la naviera Ybarra) y viv?a en Algorta. The captain Pedro Ibargurengoitia Garc?a was descended from a family of merchant marine. His father, also captain, had died at sea in 1940. He was born on April 21, 1922 in Gorliz (Vizcaya). He was married to Mar?a Basarrate and had two young children. Since his entrance to the shipping company, just six months earlier, was under the command of the SIERRA ARANZAZU. He worked in the North Sea since 1958 (formerly worked in the shipping company Ybarra) and lived in Algorta. El segundo oficial, Francisco Javier Cabello Fern?ndez, naci? el 8 de junio de 1934 y estaba soltero. Su familia era originaria de Valladolid y era el cuarto de seis hermanos, tres varones y tres hembras. Viv?a en Vigo y en la naviera llevaba desde el mes de agosto de 1964. The second officer, Francisco Javier Cabello Fern?ndez, was born on 8 June 1934 and was single. His family was originally from Valladolid and was the fourth of six siblings, three males and three females. He lived in Vigo and he was in the shipping line from the month of August 1964. El tercer maquinista, Jos? Vaquero Iglesias, hab?a nacido el 21 de junio de 1941 en Villablino (Le?n). Era el segundo de seis hermanos y estaba soltero. Viv?a en su localidad natal. The third engineer, Jos? Vaquero Iglesias, was born on June 21, 1941 in Villablino (Leon). He was the second of six brothers and was single. He lived in his home town. Es digno de destacar que el Gobierno cubano renunci? al cobro de los gastos por salvamento y remolque del SIERRA AR?NZAZU, adem?s de indemnizar a sus tripulantes. It is worth emphasizing that the Cuban Government resigned from the cashing of the expenses for rescue and tow of the SIERRA AR?NZAZU, in addition to indemnifying the crew members.

Username	surveychile
Shipowner	Compania Trasatlantica
Ship manager
IMO Number
Type of ship	General Cargo
Year of build and builder	1964 Basse-Sambre-Corcho, S.A. (CORBASA)
Date
Place
Added on	05/05/2016
Dimension	1200 x 862
viewed	1359