San Filippe - Moledet
"Moledet" sailed from Metaponto port in southern Italy on March 23rd 1947, with 1,563 immigrants on board.
The name "Moledet" expressed the longing for Aliyah to Israel, and also commemorated the ship "Patria" (the Latin equivalent for "Moledet"), whose hundreds of immigrants drowned on November 1940 in Haifa port; the tragedy was caused by a Hagana sabotage mission that was intended to save those immigrants from deportation. The ship was prepared for its journey to Israel in Sweden and in Marseille port in France. The ship had previously transported cargo through the Norwegian Fiords. The ship commander was Palyam member Fabi Gever, and the 'Gidoni' was Menachem Ben-Ami. Additional escorts were Palyam members Zvi Kazhenelson, Alex Shecht, Gad Heilbrun and Aharon Shechtman and Shraga. Palyam members Yisrael Rotem and Avraham Riklis helped the immigrants board the ship.
"Moledet" sailed from Metaponto port in southern Italy on March 23rd 1947, with 1,563 immigrants on board. As soon as the ship departed, it became evident that it was veering off to one side because of the stormy weather and the large number of passengers. The veering angle kept increasing throughout the voyage. On March 29th, a British reconnaissance aircraft spotted the ship. The following day, about 30 miles from Israel, the ship began sending S.O.S calls, while water was penetrating it after a severe engine failure, and under danger of sinking. British destroyers arrived in the area, and a technical crew went on board to handle the failure. After checking up, it turned out that half of the passengers had to evacuate immediately, and were transferred to the British destroyers that took them to Haifa port. The remaining immigrants were left on board "Moledet," which was towed to Haifa port on March 31st. The immigrants were loaded onto the "Empire Rival" and "Ocean Vigor" deportation ships after showing passive resistance, and most of them arrived at the "Winter Camps" in Cyprus. Fabi Gever joined the immigrants on their journey to Cyprus. The remaining escorts hid on board "Moledet" and were later rescued, except for the 'Gidoni,' who jumped into the sea and was captured by the British.
It is worthy of noting that in this case (as well as in a few others), by saving lives in danger at sea, the British behaved in their best gentleman-like tradition as a nation of seamen.
"Moledet" sailed from Metaponto port in southern Italy on March 23rd 1947, with 1,563 immigrants on board. As soon as the ship departed, it became evident that it was veering off to one side because of the stormy weather and the large number of passengers. The veering angle kept increasing throughout the voyage. On March 29th, a British reconnaissance aircraft spotted the ship. The following day, about 30 miles from Israel, the ship began sending S.O.S calls, while water was penetrating it after a severe engine failure, and under danger of sinking. British destroyers arrived in the area, and a technical crew went on board to handle the failure. After checking up, it turned out that half of the passengers had to evacuate immediately, and were transferred to the British destroyers that took them to Haifa port. The remaining immigrants were left on board "Moledet," which was towed to Haifa port on March 31st. The immigrants were loaded onto the "Empire Rival" and "Ocean Vigor" deportation ships after showing passive resistance, and most of them arrived at the "Winter Camps" in Cyprus. Fabi Gever joined the immigrants on their journey to Cyprus. The remaining escorts hid on board "Moledet" and were later rescued, except for the 'Gidoni,' who jumped into the sea and was captured by the British.
It is worthy of noting that in this case (as well as in a few others), by saving lives in danger at sea, the British behaved in their best gentleman-like tradition as a nation of seamen.