The sinking of the Carpathia

[Tyler J Frederick]

Of all the sinkings of Ocean Liners, why did the Carpathia have to sink, so close to war's end? From what I heard, Carpathia was over 500 miles from Ireland. So she was out of the war zone. Can anybody tell me why the Germans sink this fame Liner so far from Ireland? Thank you.
Tyler J Frederick

[Timothy Trower]

Because to them, in a time of unrestricted warfare, she was an enemy ship, and therefore a prime target.

[Tyler J Frederick]

I know she was a enemy to Germany. But I thought the un restricted submarine warfare only went as far west as Ireland? What happen? Why did the Germans torpedoed Carpathia so far from Ireland as 500 miles?
Tyler J. Frederick

[Michael H Standart]

Why did the Germans torpedoed Carpathia so far from Ireland as 500 miles?

Because one of their submarines happened to be close enough to get a good firing solution and take the shot. In war, that sort of thing just happens.

[Simon Mills]

Tyler,

By virtue of the fact that Germany was operating an unrestricted submarine campaign, the waters around the UK extending as far south as Cape Finisterre (north west Spain) and four hundred miles west of Ireland (later extended again in November 1917) were declared to be dangerous for all traffic. At first this included hospital ships, but Germany later agreed not to attack these vessels provided that they were not east of the line between Land's End and Ushant, while in the North Sea they could not come south of the line from Flamborough Head to Terschelling. In other words, they were safe in the Atlantic but if they entered the English Channel then they would be regarded as legitimate targets.

Carpathia was not a hospital ship so she had no such protection. She was a British flagged vessel within a declared war zone, and as such she was regarded to all intents and purposes as a legitimate target.

S.M.

[Jeremy Aufderheide]

In other words "All's fair in love and war" and "them's the breaks".

[Tyler J Frederick]

Domo arigato gozaimasu for the answer. I had no idea that the war zone was extended & practically cover half of the Atlantic. It's sad that Carpathia, & Ivernia sank, but then again, were two of the other sisters scrap right after the war? It that happen, then I glad Carpathia is preserve at the bottom. Thank you.
Tyler Joshua Frederick