MV Ulster Prince (1929) explained

MV Ulster Prince was a passenger ferry operated across the Irish Sea between 1929 and 1940. She became a total loss in Greece while a troop ship during WWII.

History

Ulster Prince was the last of three 3700ton motorships built by Harland and Wolff for the Belfast Steamship Co. between 1929 and 1930.^[1] She and her sisters, and, were pioneer diesel-propelled cross-channel passenger ships. The trio provided a reliable and regular overnight service between Liverpool and Belfast,^[2] which was marketed as the Ulster Imperial Line.^[3] Their original grey hulls were later changed to black.^[1]

Ulster Prince was used as a troop ship during WWII, and became H. M. T. Ulster Prince.^[4] In 1940, she landed troops in Iceland for the occupation of Iceland.^{[5] [6]} In April 1941, during the evacuation of Greece, she ran aground off Nafplio, Greece. The following day, she was bombed and became a total loss.^[1]

After the war, she was replaced on the Liverpool - Belfast service by the British and Irish ferry (renamed Ulster Prince (2)).^[7]

Service

• Liverpool - Belfast (1930 - 1940)
• wartime troop ship (1940–41)

Notes and References

1. Web site: Harland and Wolff Standard Motorships - The Belfast SS Pioneers. Ian Boyle/Simplon Postcards. 18 August 2018.
2. Book: Coast Lines: Fleet List and History. Ian Collard. Amberley Publishing Limited. 2015. 978-1445646756. 19 August 2018.
3. Web site: Belfast Steamship Co.. Maritime Timetable Images. 19 August 2018.
4. Book: Australia in the War of 1939-1945 . Australian War Memorial . Allan Walker . 1956 . Canberra . 265 .
5. Book: Ebb and Flow: Evacuations and Landings by Merchant Ships in WW2 . Roy V Martin . 2010 . 100 .
6. Book: World War II Sea War . Donald A. Bertke . 2011 . 9781937470005 . 324 .
7. Web site: 1937 Leinster (3) (British and Irish)/Ulster Prince (2) (Belfast SS). Ian Boyle/Simplon Postcards. 19 August 2018.