MS Orazio

MS Orazio was a British passenger liner built by Vickers-Armstrongs at Barrow-in-Furness, England, and launched in 1928. She was owned and operated by the Orient Steam Navigation Company, more commonly known as the Orient Line. Orazio primarily served on the UK-Australia route, carrying passengers, mail, and cargo between Britain and Australia via the Suez Canal.

The ship was requisitioned for war service during World War II and converted into a troopship. As a troop transport, Orazio played a vital role in conveying personnel to various theaters of war.

Tragically, on July 19, 1940, while sailing in a convoy, Orazio was torpedoed by the Italian submarine Enrico Tazzoli off the west coast of Ireland. The ship caught fire and ultimately sank. The disaster resulted in a significant loss of life, with hundreds of passengers and crew members perishing. The sinking of the Orazio represents one of the most significant losses of life on a single British ship due to enemy action in waters around the British Isles during the Second World War.