Passengers, not yet settled in their accommodations, marvelled at the ship's size and splendour. With a length of 745 feet, she was one of the largest man-made objects in the world. First-class passengers could eat in a two-story Edwardian-style dining salon that featured a plasterwork dome arching some thirty feet above the floor. Those who travelled first class also occupied regal suites, consisting of twin bedrooms with a parlour, bathroom, and private dining area, for which they paid four thousand dollars one way. Second-class accommodations on Lusitania compared favourably with first-class staterooms on many other ships.
The day before Lusitania sailed from Pier 54, U-20, skippered by thirty-two-year-old Kapitänleutnant (Lt. Cmdr.) Walther Schwieger, left the German naval base at Emden on the North Sea. Schwieger's orders were to take U-20 around Scotland and Ireland to the Irish Sea. There he was to operate in the approaches to Liverpool for as long as his supplies permitted. He was told to with or without warning, sink enemy ships and any other vessels whose appearance or behaviour suggested that they might be disguised enemy vessels. The Germans though the Lusitania was being used to transport weapons to the Allies.
During the voyage, when the Lusitania was off the coast of Ireland, Thomas William Turner (Lusitania’s captain) received a warning about Submarines in the area. Precautions were taken to ensure the ship’s safety. All passengers had to turn off lights on deck and close all curtains to make it difficult for submarines to see the Lusitania. Unfortunately the Lusitania was seen by the U-20 and was torpedoed. The Lusitania takes the hit forward of the 1st funnel, in the aft end of the cargo hold. The Lusitania sank in a mere twenty minutes, taking 1,201 people with her. She rolled rapidly onto her starboard side and sank by the head.
The official Admiralty version is that two torpedoes struck the ship. However, Schwieger's log shows he only fired one torpedo. A second massive explosion then occurred. Much controversy surrounded this second explosion. The Germans thought that there was ammunition on the ship which caused the second explosion. More recently it has been though that neither of these caused the second explosion.
In 1993 American scientist Robert Ballard investigated the Lusitania. His findings seemed to find the cause of the second explosion and explain why the ship sunk so quickly. The room which the torpedo hit was used for storing coal. Although the coal had been used up, the room was filled with coal dust the coal dust ignited, causing a second explosion which ripped though the starboard side of the hull and doomed the Lusitania to sink very quickly.
After the sinking of the Lusitania, America became very angry with Germany as many innocent Americans were killed when America wasn’t even involved in the war. Many posters were produced to encourage America to join the war and avenge the deaths of the many Americans who lost their lives onboard the Lusitania. Eventually America did join the war and contributed to a victory for the Allies.
The Lusitania is still remembered to this day. A memorial service is held annually at the Lusitania propeller which is located at the Albert dock, Liverpool, within sight of the Cunard building.
Article by Gemma Hillidge
