MINESWEEPER 'AUGUSTO DE CASTILHO'
Date: 1960
Painting: Elisa Felismino
Material: Oil on canvas
Dimension: 2510 mm, Height: 3240 mm
Inventory No.: MM.05284
In the First World War, Portugal requisitioned eleven fishing trawlers to serve the Portuguese Navy. The Steamer Elite, reclassified and renamed as minesweeper 'Augusto de Castilho', was one of these ships.
In the early hours of 14 October 1916, while escorting the liner 'San Miguel', in transit from Madeira to the Azores, she was surprised by the German submarine U-139, which opened fire immediately. The minesweeper was placed between the liner and the submarine and, despite the enormous disadvantage in firepower, managed to prolong the combat, allowing the 'San Miguel' to escape and arrive safely at its destination. The 'Augusto de Castilho' lost the fight and was sunk.
Her Commander, 1st Lieutenant Carvalho Araújo, along with six other members of the garrison, perished as a result of the fight.