Below is the timeline of maritime events during the
Emergency,[note 1][1] (as
World War II was known in
Ireland). This period was referred to as The Long Watch by Irish Mariners. This list is of events which affected the Irish Mercantile Marine,[note 2] other ships carrying Irish exports or imports, and events near the Irish coast.
Timeline
In this list, the nationality of non-Irish ships is given, the phrase "British-flagged" is used for ships which transferred from the Irish registry.
Inver tankers fleet transferred to British
register.[4] There were plans to build an oil refinery in Dublin Port. In the event, this refinery was not built. Nonetheless seven
oil tankers were built in Germany for Inver Tankers Ltd. Each 500 feet (150 m) long and capable of carrying 500 tons were on the Irish register.[5] "In a manner reminiscent of
Chamberlin’s handover of the
ports to
de Valera, two days after the outbreak of war, de Valera himself transferred the tankers to the British registry without getting any promise of fuel supply in return.[6][7] Earlier, Britain had asked Ireland to requisition the tankers.[8][9] The entire fleet was lost.
ST Rudyard Kipling was stopped and sunk 40 miles West of
Clare Island, County Mayo by
U-27. U-27 took the crew of 13 aboard and put them in lifeboats 5 miles from land[11]
4 October 1939 (1939-October-04)
U-35 lands survivors from Diamantes (Greek) at Ballymore,
Dingle[12]
15 December 1939 (1939-December-15)
U-48 stopped the neutral Greek freighter Germaine inward from Albany New York (USA had not yet joined the war) to Cork with a cargo of maize. U-48 sank her falsely claiming that she was en route to England[13]
1940
17 January 1940 (1940-January-17)
Enid (Captain Wibe) of neutral
Norway sailing from
Steinkjer to Dublin, 10 miles north of
Shetland, went to assist
SS Polzella (British) which had been torpedoed by
U-25, U-25 then shelled and sank Enid.[14]Enid's crew survived. Polzella's crew were lost.
22 January 1940 (1940-January-22)
Songa (Captain Lie) of neutral
Norway sailing from neutral
New York City to neutral
Rotterdam, with a cargo of Empty barrels, sponges, motor tyres, copper, beans, coffee, cotton and tin. Torpedoed and sunk by
U-25 as she was to sail through the English channel and might divert to an English port. The crew were in two lifeboats 200 miles from Ireland. One was rescued by the trawler Loddon and Landed in Kinsale. The other was guided to safety by the
lighthouse keepers on
Rock Island who accommodated them in their own cottages. All 24 crew survived.
2 February 1940 (1940-February-02)
Munster (Capt. R. Paisley)
mined and sunk while entering
Liverpool. One death.[15]
9 February 1940 (1940-February-09)
Abwehr II agent Ernst Weber-Drohl landed at
Killala Bay,
County Sligo aboard U-37. He was equipped with a 'UFA' transmitter, a large amount of cash, and instructions for
Seamus (Jim) O'Donovan, the chief IRA contact for Abwehr I/II.[16]
3 March 1940 (1940-March-03)
Cato (Capt. Richard Martin), British, from Dublin to Bristol, struck a mine laid by U-29 2.5 miles west of
Nash Point. Thirteen died, 2 survived.[17]
9 March 1940 (1940-March-09)
Trawler
Leukos sunk by gunfire from
U-38, NW of
Tory Island. Eleven died. (She may have moved between the surfacing
U-boat and
English trawlers, in the hope that the
tricolour would protect her while the English escaped)[18]
11 March 1940 (1940-March-11)
City of Bremen rescues crew of Amor (Dutch) in the
North Sea. Thirty-three saved.[19]
Violando N Goulandris of then-neutral
Greece sailing from Santa Fe to Waterford with a cargo of wheat was torpedoed by
U-48 off
Cape Finisterre. Six died. Twenty-two survived.[21] An explanation was sought from Germany.[22]
12 June 1940 (1940-June-12)
U-38 landed a German spy, Karl Simon, in
Dingle. He was promptly arrested and interned for the duration.[23][24]
Moyalla rescues survivors from Athellaird (British) off
Cape Clear Island. Twenty saved.
12 July 1940 (1940-July-12)
Ia of Greece, inward Rosario to Cork with a cargo of wheat, torpedoed and sunk by
U-99. Three died. Twenty-seven survived.[29]
14 July 1940 (1940-July-14)
Thetis A of Greece, inward Rosario to Limerick with a cargo of grain, torpedoed and sunk by
U-52. Nine died. Twenty survived. An explanation was sought from Germany.[22]
Naftilos of Greece, inward San Nicholas to Dublin with a cargo of grain, torpedoed and sunk by U-34. One death Twenty-seven survived.[31] An explanation was sought from Germany.[22]
20 July 1940 (1940-July-20)
City of Waterford (Capt. T. Freehill) shelled by submarine in North Atlantic - escaped[15]
30 July 1940 (1940-July-30)
Kyleclare rescues survivors from Clan Menzies (British) 150 miles west of
Loop Head, torpedoed and sunk by U-99. Six died. Eighty-eight survivors brought to
Enniscrone.[32] The British government expressed thanks and appreciation.[33]
1 August 1940 (1940-August-01)
Collier SS Kerry Head (Capt. C Drummond) Inbound Swansea to Limerick. Bombed off
Kinsale, survived this attack (but, see 22 October). Responsibility was admitted by German Government and compensation paid.[18][34]
MV Lock Ryan (Capt. J. Nolan). Inbound Falmouth to Arklow. Bombed off
Land's End. Survived.[35]
20 August 1940 (1940-August-20)
German Bomber attacked SS Macville causing damage and apparently at least one casualty.[36] The attack also damaged the lighthouse on
Blackrock Island off the coast of Mayo. Lighthouse keepers unhurt.[37]
24 August 1940 (1940-August-24)
City of Waterford (Capt. T. Freehill) bombed in Irish Sea. Survived.[15]
26 August 1940 (1940-August-26)
Campile town was bombed, probably to stop Irish exports to Britain. Three killed.[38]
27 August 1940 (1940-August-27)
Lanahrone rescues survivors from Goathland (British) off
County Kerry coast. Eighteen saved.[33]
Trawler SS Kosmos machine-gunned by Luftwaffe north of Scotland.[15][18]
8 October 1940 (1940-October-08)
Delphin (Greece) Inward Montreal to Cork with maize and wheat, torpedoed and sunk by U-103. All survived.[40]
17 October 1940 (1940-October-17)
MV Edenvale (Capt. N. Gillespie) Limerick to Dublin. Three miles off Helvic Head, Waterford. Attacked by Luftwaffe off the coast of Waterford.[41]
22 October 1940 (1940-October-22)
Kerry Head (Capt. C. Drummond). Bombed again, all 12 hands lost, in full view of watchers on
Cape Clear Island.[15]
31 October 1940 (1940-October-31)
SS Hillfern (British) Inbound
Sunderland to Cork with a cargo of coal sunk by Luftwaffe NE of
Kinnaird Head.[42]
11 November 1940 (1940-November-11)
Ardmore (Capt. T. Ford) struck a mine and sank, off the
Saltee Islands. Twenty-four died.[15]
11 November 1940 (1940-November-11)
Survivors of the Norwegian DT Davanger which had been sunk by U-48 on 11 October with the loss of 17 lives were seen off the Mayo coast. Locals went out to assist them. Two hours later they landed at Broadhaven. All were admitted to Belmullet hospital.[43]
Isolda (Capt. A. Bestic) a lightship tender, was sunk by Luftwaffe bombers, within sight of
Carnsore Point. Six killed. Seven wounded.[18]
20 December 1940 (1940-December-20)
Cambria (British-flagged), a passenger ferry had just left
Dún Laoghaire for
Holyhead was attacked by Luftwaffe which had bombed
Sandycove railway station injuring three.[45]Hibernia (British-flagged) was berthing in Dún Laoghaire, a bomber swooped down, lights were extinguished and the bomber flew away.[46]
20 December 1940 (1940-December-20)
SS Lanahrone. At anchor in Liverpool docks. Damaged by falling masonry during an air-raid.[18]
20 December 1940 (1940-December-20)
21 December 1940 (1940-December-21)
MV Innisfallen (Capt. George Firth) - while leaving
Liverpool with 157 passengers and 63 crew. She survived an air raid on the 20th, but on departing on the following afternoon, she hit a
mine off
Wirral shore near
New Brighton and sank. Four died.[47]
Nailsea Lass (British) was sunk by U-48. The second officer E.J. Knight and 18 crew members landed at Ballyoughtraugh, County Kerry and the third officer and nine crew members near
Berehaven, County Cork.[48]
SS Glencree (Capt. Douglas McLean) Barry to Dublin. Strafed by Luftwaffe six miles northwest of Helwick Lighthouse,
Rhossili.[18]
21 March 1941 (1941-March-21)
Irish Shipping was formed as a company 51% owned by the state.
22 March 1941 (1941-March-22)
CollierSaint Fintan (Capt. N. Hendry)
Drogheda to Cardiff attacked by two Luftwaffe bombers, off the coast of
Pembrokeshire and sunk with all hands. Nine dead.[18]
26 March 1941 (1941-March-26)
Edenvale (Capt. T. Tyrrell) bombed and strafed by four Luftwaffe planes at the entrance to the Bristol Channel.[15]
27 March 1941 (1941-March-27)
SS The Lady Belle (Capt. T. Donohue) Outward
Dungarvan to Cardiff. Bombed and machine-gunned by Luftwaffe in Irish Sea.[18]
2 April 1941 (1941-April-02)
MV Edenvale (Capt. T. Tyrrell) Inward Cardiff to
Rosslare. Bombed and strafed (again) by Luftwaffe in Bristol Channel.[18]
SS Glenageary (Capt R. Simpson) Inward Barry to Dublin, bombed and machine-gunned by Luftwaffe off Welsh coast.[18]
19 May 1941 (1941-May-19)
SS City of Waterford (Capt. W. Gibbons) Outward Dublin to Cardiff, bombed and machine-gunned by Luftwaffe off Welsh coast. One wounded[15]
30 May 1941 (1941-May-30)
SS Kyleclare (Capt. T. Hanrahan) Outward from
Limerick to Liverpool, bombed off Waterford coast.[18]
13 June 1941 (1941-June-13)
FerrySaint Patrick (Capt. Jim Faraday), British flagged. Outward Rosslare for Fishguard, 12 miles from
Strumble Head Lighthouse, bombed by Luftwaffe. Thirty died.
22 August 1941 (1941-August-22)
SS Clonlara (Capt. Joseph Reynolds) Cardiff to Lisbon, in
convoy OG71 ("Nightmare Convoy") rescued 13 from the
Scottish ship Alva, but was later
torpedoed and sunk by
U-564 off the coast of
Spain. Thirteen survivors and 11 dead.[18]
SS City of Waterford (Capt T. Alpin) in convoy OG-74, collided with the
DutchtugThames and sank in the North Atlantic, the crew were rescued by HMS Deptford and transferred to the Walmer Castle. Two days later Walmer Castle was bombed, killing five of the survivors from City of Waterford.[15]
7 October 1941 (1941-October-07)
MV Kerlogue Inward Swansea to Wexford, struck a mine in Cardigan Bay.[18]
16 October 1941 (1941-October-16)
MV Edenvale Outward Cork to Lisbon, off the Cork coast, aerial attack, presumed Luftwaffe.[18]
25 October 1941 (1941-October-25)
SS Glenageary (Capt. N. Kelly) Inward Barry to Dublin, aerial attack[18]
Monmouth Coast (Capt. Albert Henry Standen) (British) Sligo to Liverpool, 80 miles from Sligo, torpedoed and sunk by U-1305. Sixteen died. One survived.[59]
2 May 1945 (1945-May-02)
Motor Trawler FS Naomh Garbhan; off the Wexford Coast, struck a mine and sank. Three died.[18]
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^"M/S Knute Nelson". Norwegian Homefleet WW II. warsailors.com. Retrieved 26 August 2009.
^"Dáil Éireann - Volume 77". Sinking of Ships. Parliamentary Debates -. 27 September 1939. Archived from
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^"Dáil Éireann - Volume 77". Sinking of Ships. Parliamentary Debates -. 27 September 1939. Archived from
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^"Dáil Éireann - Volume 77". Sinking of Ships. Parliamentary Debates -. 27 September 1939. Archived from
the original on 2 November 2012. Retrieved 21 August 2009. No casualties
^Kindell, Don; Gordon Smith.
"Naval Events". British and Other Navies in World War 2 Day-by-Day. Retrieved 7 September 2009. On the 11th, Dutch steamer Amor (2325grt) was sunk in 51‑24N, 02‑09E, eight miles NW of Fairy Bank Buoy; the entire crew was rescued by Irish steamer City of Bremen (903grt).
^"Dáil Éireann - Volume 81". Bombing of Motor Vessel. Parliamentary Debates -. 5 February 1941. Archived from
the original on 7 June 2011. Retrieved 21 August 2009.
^Helgason, Guðmundur.
"Nailsea Lass". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 28 April 2010.
^Helgason, Guðmundur.
"Wawaloam". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 24 August 2009.
^John Derrick, John Derrick.
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^Helgason, Guðmundur.
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