I doubt any of these old cargo boats exist. They were from the WWII era. A lot survived to be used in the Mediterranean, but I imagine they are all gone by now. Could you imagine trying to handle something like that on the high seas, with the Pilot house in the back!! I have sailed 10 meter sailing boats, which are piloted from the rear cockpit, but since you are completely exposed, and the decks are so low, it's a different experience, than from what I have sailed.
My sailboat experience came on a Pearson 10 Meter (33' feet x 12'6" Beam, with a 6'foot 9"inch solid lead fin keel) she could be was quite a handful, as not having a full keel, you always were making sure she was on course, of course, this ship really could sail closed hauled into the wind, more than many others I have sailed. The telltales always tell you what the sail is doing.. This boat hand a 50 foot mast, 150 Genoa , with roller furling, and a fully battened mainsail (Marconi rigged), 3/8th Mainstays, with chainplates anchored to the keel, a true full displacement blue water boat. It slept 6 people, quite crudely, but comfortable. We had a huge Blooper sail for it too, for downwind runs.
The pics below show the Hull line and the last one is how she looked on the water (not the exact boat, same model). 5 years of great sailing sometimes thrilling, fun.
People used to ask me if flying was safer than sailing. I always felt that things happened fast in planes, you got into trouble quick, but could get out quick. With ships like these, you could be beyond hope before you realized it, and there were things in the water that could eat you when you finally sunk. Nothing in the air to eat you, and you always had a chance to make a powerless safe landing.. Not so with these boats, if they got full of water, they sunk, and not very slowly either. I had close calls in both, got air and sea sick, though when sick in the air, you have to swallow whatever comes up, gross, but true, the alternative is even worse.
