Siris
Ship Number
571
Vessel Type
B Type Cargo Ship
Built
Greenock Yard
Slip Number
2
Launch Date
June 26, 1919
Delivered
September 25, 1919
Owner
Royal Mail Steam Packet Co
Weight
5242 grt
BP Length
400 feet
Breadth
52 feet
No. of Screws
Single
Speed (approx)
11.5 knots
Propulsion
T3cyl (27, 44, 73 x 48in), 517nhp by H&W
Official No.
143433
Registered
London
Fate
Torpedoed
 Siris

Sailed from Oban on 2nd July  1942 to join Convoy OS.33. At noon on 11th July 1942, they were ordered to disperse from the convoy and make their own way independently to their destination port of Rio de Janeiro. That night, at 2200, they saw an explosion about 5 miles away (SS Cortona) and immediately turned away and went full speed ahead until midnight when they resumed their course at 10 knots. At 0225 on July 12, 1942, she was struck by a torpedo from U-201 on her starboard side and immediately the vessel took on a list of 35°. Only two port lifeboats were undamaged and the crew took to these. Later, some crew from the U-boat boarded the abandoned vessel but all confidential books, papers and codes had already been sunk in a weighted box. The U-boat then moved away from the vessel for about 200 yards and fired 50 rounds into Siris causing her to sink.
 
The complete crew which included 5 naval and 2 army gunners, numbering 55 in total, survived the sinking.