On September 12, 1942, one of the saddest and most regrettable incidents of World War II took place following the sinking of the British ocean liner the RMS Laconia by torpedoes from a German U-boat.
Digging Deeper
The Laconia was the second British liner to bear that name, the first, in an ominous preview of history repeating itself, was sunk by a U-boat during World War I. Fitted with 8 x 6 inch guns and 2 x 3 inch guns, the passenger liner was as heavily armed as a light cruiser and thus a legitimate target for U-boats. On September 12, 1942, the Laconia was sailing in the middle of the Atlantic 130 miles from Ascension Island. She was carrying close to 2,800 people which included a crew of over 400. Among the passengers were 80 civilians, nearly 400 British soldiers and Polish guards and approximately 1,800 Italian prisoners of war.
