 She was torpedoed and sunk by German submarine on 3 March 1917.In 1859, the City of Dublin Steam Packet Company ordered four steamers for Royal Mail service, named for four provinces of Ireland, RMS "Connaught", , and ; these four were commonly referred to as "The Provinces".In 1897, the line was awarded an additional 21 years for their contract with the Post Office, and so they ordered four replacement ships from Laird's of Birkenhead, which were to carry the same names as the former ships.