Watercolor of Royal Navy motor launch ML148, by LHS, 1918. The motor launch was a small vessel designed for harbor defense and anti-submarine work. The Elco company built 580 between 1915 and 1918 in three series of different lengths: 1 to 50 (75 ft.), 51 to 550 (86 ft.), and 551 to 580 (80 ft.). The original armament of a 13 pound cannon was later replaced by three depth charges. Signed: L.H.S. 18
Signed: L.H.S. 18On the launch bow: ML148
"The British armed boarding steamer Louvain was sunk in the Mediterranean on January 21st [1918] with the loss of 224 lives.On January 27th, the Cunard liner Ardania was attacked and sunk when off the Irish coast. The passengers were saved.German destroyers in the straits of Dover, on February 15th, sank eight British boats."
Although German submarines continued to follow the policy of unrestricted submarine warfare, and continued to take a toll on shipping and transport of both combatant and neutral nations, Germany had too few submarines, and the convoy system, depth charges, and other protective measures limited Allied losses which peaked in April, 1917.
King's Complete History of the World War by W.C. King, page 510, copyright © 1922, by W.C. King, publisher: The History Associates, publication date: 1922
1918-02-15, 1918, February, sinkings, Louvain, Ardania, ML148
