The U-boat campaign failed to win the war for Germany; indeed, by bringing the United States into the war, the U-boats have brought defeat to Germany’s door. Yet the U-boat campaign continues, with the submarines attacking Allied shipping wherever they can. The adoption of convoys has made attacks on trans-Atlantic shipping difficult, so now the U-boats are more frequently targeting ships plying coastal routes between British ports or crossing between Britain and Ireland; ships making these short journeys tend not to travel in convoys, leaving them more vulnerable to submarine attack.
The RMS Leinstertravels backwards and forwards between Holyhead in Wales and Kingstown, just south of Dublin. As well as passengers, she carries post for the Royal Mail, a lucrative contract for her owners. But today, shortly after leaving Kingstown, the Leinster is spotted by the German submarine UB-123. Three torpedoes are fired. The first misses but the second and third hit, the last causing a huge explosion.
The ship sinks quickly in heavy seas. There are survivors but 565 of the people onboard lose their lives. Many of these are military personnel but the dead also include civilian passengers and postal workers who were sorting the mail.
An post issued a stamp on 10 October 2018 , to mark the centenary of the sinking of the RMS Leinster by the German U boats.
Thanks Fabio for this cover !
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