The merchant "Alferrarede" encountered, possibly on 14^th August 1941, the 33 crew members of the Yugoslav merchant "Sud", that had been sunk the same day by the joint action of an Italian and a German submarine. The shipwrecked were left in Horta, Azores, three days later.

The Sociedade Geral, owner of the “Alferrarede”, later received a thank you letter from the Yugoslav Legation in Lisbon.

The "Alferrarede" had already carried out another rescue operation in July of 1940 when it found 31 survivors of the Dutch steamer "Lucrecia".

The sinking of the "Sud"

The "Sud" was part of the HG-70 convoy when a group of Axis submarines detected its passage. The "U-126" was preparing to attack the ship, baut also the Italian "Marconi" was near firing a torpedo that missed the target. Afterwards the italians would shoot more than 20 rounds into it, but were unable to sink it.

The 33 crew were able to leave the ship while the "Sud" continued floating.

The "U-126" would latter find the battered ship and made more 33 cannon shots, but only with a torpedo they were able to sink the freighter.