On the 8 December 1941, the 8000t Italian ship Jason (also known as the Jantzen) left Benghazi for Italy with 2100 Prisoners of War from the North African campaign. On the 9 December the Jason was struck by a torpedo from the British submarine Porpoise - around 500 prisoners were killed including 45 New Zealanders NEW ZEALAND DISASTERS AND TRAGEDIES - THE SINKING OF THE POW SHIP "JASON" - 1941
