RMS Connaught (1897)
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RMS Connaught was a steam ship built in 1897 and operated by the City of Dublin Steam Packet Company in Royal Mail as well as passenger service. Connaught was the second ship of this name operated by the line. She was torpedoed by a U-boat and sunk enroute from Le Havre to Southampton in 1917.
[edit] 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 377 feet (115m).
With World War I in progress, Connaught was commandeered in 1915 by the British War Office and pressed into service as a troop carrier. On March 3, 1917, Connaught was torpedoed in the English channel about 29 miles south of the Light Vessel Owers and sunk, however there were only three persons killed in the incident.
