The RMS Leinster - Sunk 10th October 1918

 

Location

  • Lat/lon: 053.18.810N 005.47.510W (GPS)
    Description:     12 miles from shore, Dublin Bay

 Construction

  • Type:R.M.S. T.S.S. Steel of Britain.
    Built:     1897
    Shipyard: Cammel Laird, Birkenhead.
    Hull material: Steel
    Armament: 1x12pdr plus 2 signalling guns

Dimensions

  • Tonnage: 2646 tons
    Length:     378 ft.
    Beam: 75 ft.
    Draft: 40 ft.

 History

  • Sunk: 10th October, 1918
    Cause:     Torpedoed by UB 123
    Found:
    Cargo:     Mail, Military Stores (On occasion), Military and Civilian passangers.

 Depth

  • Top: 27 m
    Deck:     30 m
    Seabed: 33 m

 Best dived

  • 1 Hr. before high or low water

Position

  • Lying: N-S
    Condition:     Intact

Access restrictions

  • Access: Public (With owners permission)

References

Remarks:

  • One of a quartet ( The Provinces ) of identical mailboats built for the City Of Dublin Steam Packet Co. in 1897 at a cost £95,000 each. The Connaught was torpedoed in the English Channel after it was requisitioned in 1916. The Leinster was sunk by UB 123 (Robert Ramm ) on Oct.10, 1918. Three torpedoes were fired, two of which struck and sunk the vessel in eight mins. Over 500 people were lost most of whom were soldiers. A present day comparison would be to allow a plane load of soldiers to fly with civilians to the Gulf War. Due to strict censorship at the time the issue was never thoroughly aired. The hull is intact but virtually little superstructure lie in 30ms on a sandy bottom. This is one of the better wreck dives in Dublin Bay. Many items have been recovered by divers including rumours of gold. This wreck is owned by Desmond Brannigan ( Marine Research) Dublin and has been the subject of courtroom action. Diving is restricted to slack water, ie. 1 hou r before high or low water.