The Two-Kilo Bomb That Sank the SS Patria-Who Paid?

The Two-Kilo Bomb That Sank the SS Patria-Who Paid?

Fear that a small action could spiral into mass death: an 11,885-ton liner sank in 16 minutes after a two-kilogram explosive intended to immobilize her instead flooded the ship, killing over 200 people - so who authorized a device that would later be called a “rescue bomb”?

In this episode, we lay out the sequence of events aboard the Patria and the decisions that led to catastrophe, from the intercepted ships to the two explosive attempts, and ask whether the operation that aimed to save lives was fatally miscalculated.

Person: Munya Mardor Date: November 25, 1940 Location: Haifa harbor Event: Sinking of SS Patria Ship tonnage: 11,885

- The Patria’s certified civilian capacity was 805 people, including crew. - By the morning of November 25, the Patria carried roughly 1,900 people - more than 1,000 over capacity. - The ship’s lifeboat capacity matched its certified capacity: 805 places. - The first bomb, placed November 22, weighed approximately 2 kilograms and failed to detonate at 21:00. - A second, larger explosive was smuggled aboard November 24 against the inner hull, and the Patria sank in 16 minutes with over 200 people trapped in the holds.

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