Torpedoed en route to Jamaica
The Castilla, was torpedoed by the German U-167 at 2110 CWT on June 6, 1942 while en route from Mobile to Kingston, Jamaica with a cargo of flour. One torpedo struck on the port side just forward of #3 hatch. An uncontrollable fire broke out 5' to 6' below the water line in #3 hatch. The ship settled by the head at once with a list to port and then settled by the stern and sank with the bow straight up. She sank so quickly there was no time to launch the lifeboats, only time to release 4 rafts. On board was a complement of 59 men consisting of 50 crew members, 7 U.S. Naval Armed Guard, and two passengers. A total of 22 crew and 2 Navy gunners were lost. Twenty-three of those lost went down with the ship. One man died in a lifeboat and was buried at sea. The 35 survivors were picked up by the USCG NIKE (WPC112).
