RMS Connaught (1897)

RMS "Connaught" was a steam ship built in 1897 and operated by the City of Dublin Steam Packet Company for Royal Mail as well as passenger service. "Connaught" was the second ship of this name operated by the line. She was torpedoed and sunk by a U-boat on 3 March 1917.

History

In 1859, the City of Dublin Steam Packet Company ordered four steamers for Royal Mail service, named for four provinces of Ireland, the RMS|Connaught, RMS|Leinster, RMS|Munster and RMS|Ulster; these four were commonly referred to as "The Provinces".

In 1897, the line was awarded an additional 21 years for their contract with the Post Office, and so they ordered four replacement ships from Cammell Laird of Birkenhead, which were to carry the same names as the former ships.

As one of these, "Connaught" was a twin-screw vessel powered by an eight-cylinder steam engine, capable of 24 knots. She grossed at 2646 tons and had a length of 115m (377 ft.).

With World War I in progress, "Connaught" was commandeered in 1915 by the British War Office and pressed into service as a troop carrier. Having transported troops the previous evening, on 3 March 1917 "Connaught" was returning to Southampton from Le Havre. At about 1.45 p.m. submarine U-48 fired a torpedo which exploded aft on the starboard side. The ship's wirless was disabled, so an S.O.S. could not be sent. A quarter of an hour later a second torpedo struck amidships on the port side. Three crewmen having been killed, the rest of the crew took to the lifeboats. The "Connaught" sank within four minutes of the second torpedo striking. The sinking occurred in the English Channel about 47 km (29 miles) south of the Light Vessel "Owers".

Those lost in the sinking were:
* Able Seaman Henry Charles Jasper (39), born St Helier, Jersey, Channel Islands
* Able Seaman John Moran (33), born Kingstown (now Dún Laoghaire), Ireland
* Able Seaman William Charles Parkhurst (46), born Swansea, Wales.

References

* [http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/lines/cityofdublin.html Ships List]
*Appendices 6 & 7 in "Torpedoed! The R.M.S. Leinster Disaster" by Philip Lecane, Periscope Publishing Ltd, Cornwall 2005.
* "U-Boat Alley" by Roy Stokes, published by Compuwreck, ISBN 0-9549186-0-6
* [http://www.anglesey.info/City_of_Dublin_Steam_Packet_Company.htm Anglesey-Môn Info Web]
* [http://www.roll-of-honour.com/Jersey/MerchantMarine.html Info on one sailor killed in the sinking]