Laconia

The successor of the Laconia of 1911, Cunard’s second Laconia was launched on 9 April 1921 at the Swan Hunter and Wigham Richardson yard in England.

The ship sailed on her maiden voyage in May 1922 from Southampton to New York; and a year later, she became well known for undertaking the first Cunard World Cruise. This world voyage lasted 130 days and visited over 20 ports.

In September 1934, Laconia collided with a US freighter, Pan Royal, off the coast of the USA. Both ships were extensively damaged; however, Laconia returned to New York and, after repairs, resumed cruising in 1935.

Laconia was requisitioned for use in World War II during September 1939 and was converted into an Armed Merchant Cruiser. She had several 152.4 millimetre [six inch] guns fitted to her deck, as well as 76.2 millimetre [three inch] high-angle guns.

Laconia was torpedoed on 12 September 1942 while off the coast of Ascension Island. At the time, she was carrying over 1,800 Italian P.O.W.s, alongside British and Polish military personnel and civilians.

The U-boat that torpedoed Laconia, U-156, surfaced to offer assistance to survivors. However, the subsequent attack on U-156 and other assisting German submarines by an Allied aircraft led to the ‘Laconia Order’; which ended U-boat assistance towards survivors of ships they sank.

Image sourced with permission from: Simplon Post Cards