Serpa Pinto incident

The Serpa Pinto incident occurred on 26 May 1944 in the Atlantic Ocean when the German submarine U-541 intercepted the Portuguese ocean liner Serpa Pinto. The submarine detained the ship's crew and passengers for approximately nine hours before allowing it to continue its journey. During this time, three deaths occurred: the ship's doctor fell from a rope ladder into the sea, a cook was killed by the block and tackle, and a 16-month-old child died when a lifeboat tipped over during lowering. Additionally, two Americans on board were captured and detained by the Germans.

The incident began on 16 May 1944 when the Serpa Pinto departed Lisbon with 150 repatriates bound for Philadelphia. It stopped at Porto on 18 May and Ponta Delgada in the Azores on 21 May before being intercepted by U-541.

The aftermath of the incident caused concern in the United States, prompting the US State Department to consider restricting American citizens from traveling on Portuguese vessels. Ultimately, only government officials were banned, while civilians received a warning about the risks. The British government ensured that repatriation operations continued without interruption despite the incident.