The SS Minas was an Italian troopship which was sunk on 15 February 1917 off Cape Matapan. 870 people were killed.

The SS Minas was a passengership built in 1891 by Gio. Ansaldo & C. in Genoa and operated by Angelo Parodi ^[1]. The ship was 110,90 m long and 12,22 m wide and had a speed of 12 knots. It could carry 60 passengers in first class and 900 in third class. Until it was requisitioned in World War I, it travelled mainly between Genoa and South America^[2].

On 15 february 1917, the ship was sailing from Taranto to Salonika, when it was attacked near Cape Matapan by German submarine U39 under command of Walter Forstmann. ^[3]. On board were Italian, Serb and French soldiers on their way to the Salonika Front. The ship was also carrying weapons and ammunition, which exploded when 2 torpedoes hit the ship. This caused the ship to sink very fast. 870 people were killed, of which 11 crew and 315 Italian soldiers ^[4].
One of them was Victor Locchi, a young Florentine poet, who had written The Feast of Santa Gorizia in 1916.
It was also rumored that the ship carried 25 boxes with gold bullion.^[5]