17-09-1934
Pilar. Heavy casualties among a convoy made of three freighters and a tugboat with two barques in tow were caused by an attack yesterday. On the convoys way up the river Paraguay all had passed the city of Pilar on the 15th and were sailing for Asuncion when unidentified forces on the Paraguayan bank opened fire with mortars and machine guns. The escorting vessels, the Argentinean gun boat Patria [Note 1] and RSAN motor launches R19 and R20 [Note 2], were first targeted and hit within the first few minutes. More than 30 meters long and made of wood the two R-class vessels of the 2nd R-Boat Flotilla provided large targets which could easily fall victim to high explosive shells fired at them. R20 being closer to the enemy was soon surrounded by dirty water fountains and then struck by two mortar shells in rapid succession. The first projectile hit starboard at the aft edge of her upper deck exploding on impact, immediately killing 3 of R20´s crew and starting a fire. The second shell caused even more havoc as it struck at the vessels bridge killing all crew members in the area including her skipper Lieutenant Morris. A second fire was started and soon spread. The surprise fire of two or three MG nests also concentrated on the stricken motor launch increasing the death toll as bullets cut down the gun crew of her 2cm gun. Ablaze amidships and aft, with half her crew killed and out of control R20 was closing on the enemy. Four more high explosive shells hit before the boat finally run aground. None of her crew could escape the deadly cross fire held up by enemy gunners.
Meanwhile R19 had accelerated and circled aft around the convoy from its portside. Her 2cm gun opened fire as soon as fire arcs allowed aiming on the enemy which could be made out only due to muzzle flashes from their machine guns. Two 7,62mm standard army MGs added their fire power, manned by some soldiers that had come aboard just prior to R19 departure to meet with the convoy. Not capable of silencing the enemy´s well protected posts the vessel too was soon under merciless fire when some enemy gunners shifted target from her sistership. MG fire struck down her unprotected crew and mortar fire cut away her antennas and riggings. After 12 minutes she was a drifting wreck, engulfed in flames.
Leading the convoy the Argentinean vessel needed a few minutes to turn around when the firing began. Nevertheless, her gun crews were quick to response and opened fire under local control as soon as enemy positions could be identified. Joining R19 her skipper placed her between the enemy and the fleeing convoy with some success. Most convoy vessels could open range while a still unknown enemy concentrated on those targets in front of him. As a result Patria was hit too but not before two enemy positions could be silenced in return by her heavy armament. Remaining under control despite being hit time and again the old but solid build Argentinean patrol boat then tried to rescue R19s crew but enemy fire had cut them down except four men who had sprung over board. Patria then turned away from enemy fire struggling to get out of range and trying to close on the convoy again. One freighter who had been hit early could not be saved and was left behind burning. Most of her crew had escaped when an other freighter passed nearby.
Several hours later on their way to the city of Formosa the aging pumps on the convoys last escort broke down due to sustained stress. Incoming water now worsened the situation by every minute and so her captain decided to bring her as close as possible to the Argentinean held bank and beach her. This way she might be saved for later repairs. A core crew would remain on board making sure no Paraguayan could capture and salvage her while several men with some light guns transferred to the remaining two freighters and the tug boat. The convoy would be capable to keep up some kind of minimum defence and continue its way up the river.
[Note 1] Patria (1893), 251.4x30.66x11.25ft, 1,070tons, 2x120mm, 4x6-pdr, 2x3-pdr, speed 20.5kn (only capable of around 11kn due to lack of overhaul), range 3200nm at 10kn
[Note 2] R19 & R20 (1929), 33,20x5,00x1,75m, 94tons, 1x20mm, speed ~21kn, range 2000nm at10kn