MV Munster (1937)

For the 1947 ship, see MV Munster (1947).

Munster mined approaching Liverpool
History
Name	MV Munster (1937-40)
Namesake	Munster
Owner	British and Irish Steam Packet Company
Port of registry	Liverpool
Route	Liverpool-Dublin (1938-1940)
Builder	Harland and Wolff
Yard number	996
Launched	3 November 1937
Completed	22 February 1938
Identification	Official No.166226
Fate	Sank in 1940
General characteristics
Tonnage	4,302 GRT
Length	345 ft (105.2 m)
Beam	50 ft (15.2 m)
Draught	4.13 m (13.5 ft)
Installed power	2 x Single Acting (S.A.) Diesel 1347 n.h.p.
Propulsion	Twin screws
Speed	17 knots (31 km/h; 20 mph)
Notes	[1]

MV Munster was a passenger ferry operated by the British and Irish Steam Packet Company from 1938 to 1940. She was sunk by a mine during WWII.

History

MV Munster was a passenger ship built by Harland and Wolff for the British and Irish Steam Packet Company in 1937.[2] She and her sister MV Leinster took up their intended service between Liverpool and Dublin in 1938. Their original buff hulls were later changed to dark green.[2] Although they were the largest vessels in the Coast Lines fleet, they did not have capacity for cattle on the Dublin route. Two cattle carriers were added to the fleet: Kilkenny (1,320 tons from the Liffey Dockyard), and Dundalk (630 tons from Ardrossan, Scotland).[3][4]

Whilst on the Belfast to Liverpool run on 7 February 1940, Munster triggered a magnetic mine near the Liverpool Bar at 6 am, laid by German submarine U-30. Munster sank; all 250 aboard were rescued, although one died later.[1]

Service

• Liverpool - Dublin (1937–40)

References

1. "Munster". The Yard/Harland & Wolff. Retrieved 19 August 2018.
2. "1938 Munster (3) (British and Irish)". Ian Boyle/Simplon Postcards. Retrieved 19 August 2018.
3. "B&I Line". Irish Ferries Enthusiasts. Retrieved 19 August 2018.
4. Ian Collard (2015). Coast Lines: Fleet List and History. Amberley Publishing Limited. ISBN 978-1445646756. Retrieved 19 August 2018.