SS Santa Rita was a refrigerated cargo ship built for the United States Maritime Commission by Federal Shipbuilding of Kearny, New Jersey in 1941.

Operated by the Grace Line, Santa Rita en route from Cape Town to Charleston, South Carolina, when she was attacked by U-172 on 9 July 1942.

Steaming on a non-evasive course at 16 knots (30 km/h) 700 nautical miles (1,300 km) northeast of Puerto Rico, a single torpedo from U-172 hit the ship in the near the engine room.

The U-boat got off four quick shots with her deck gun that struck Santa Rita's superstructure, but did not finish the ship off.

After taking Stephenson prisoner aboard the submarine, crewmen from U-172 boarded the still-floating Santa Rita and searched the ship for two hours, finally emerging with some scavenged food.