LAURENTIC ( 2nd )   / HMS LAURENTIC

LAURENTIC WAS BUILT IN 1927 BY HARLAND AND WOLFF IN BELFAST. SHE  COLLIDED WITH THE VESSEL 'LURIGETHEN' WHILST IN THE BELLE ISLE STRAIT IN 1932 AND AGAIN IN 1935 WAS IN COLLISION WITH THE BLUE STAR VESSEL 'NAPIER STAR' WHILE IN THE IRISH SEA,WITH THE LOSS OF SIX LIVES. IN 1934 SHE BECAME PART OF CUNARD-WHITE STAR LINE. AFTER A PERIOD OF BEING LAID UP SHE WAS COMMISSIONED AS AN ARMED MERCHANT CRUISER IN 1939 AFTER UNDER GOING A REFIT FOR THIS PURPOSE. THE FOLLOWING YEAR IN 1940 WHILST PERFORMING THIS ROLE SHE WAS TORPEDOED BY THE GERMAN SUBMARINE U.99 IN THE NORTH WESTERN APPROACHES,49 MEN LOST THEIR LIVES. IN THE FOLLOWING YEAR THE U.99 WAS SCUTTLED BY THE CAPTAIN  ( OTTO KRETSCHMER -   'SILENT OTTO', WHO WAS CREDITED WITH SINKING MORE TONNAGE OF ALLIED SHIPPING THAN ANY OTHER U.BOAT COMMANDER ) SOUTH-EAST OF ICELAND AFTER BEING DEPTH CHARGED BY 'HMS WALKER' THREE MEN LOST THEIR LIVES,BUT FORTY SURVIVED.THE U.99 HAD SANK 39 SHIPS IN HER CAREER.