The RMS LusitaniaJosie Ellison and Cody Walker

History

• The Lusitania was said to be a passenger ship running blockades with supplies for Britain

• Later it was found to be carrying Military supplies• It was the major reason for Americas entrance

into the war.

Purpose

• Mainly a passenger ship

• But was known to be carrying ammunition for Allied soldiers.

(actual Bullets retrieved from the Lusitania)

Passengers

• 1,959 passengers and crew aboard, 1,198 perished.

• On board were many important people including Charles Frohman (distinguished theater manager) and Alfred G. Vanderbilt.

Controversy of Cargo

• The British cunard men denied the armament of the Lusitania.

• Yet search of the vessel revealed “Ammunition that for decades British and American officials said didn't exist.”(Sides)

German Justification

• It was warned that any ship traveling the British Isles was liable to be sunk, most passengers ignored this message.

• It was known to be carrying munitions.

Dimensions• Overall length- 787ft• Length between

perpendiculars-760ft• Width-87ft 6 inches• Draught-33ft 6 inches• Tonnage-31,550.47

tons• Displacement- 44,060

Sinking Facts

• Travelling 8 knots below full speed in well known German sub patrolled area.

• Most believed it was sunk by 2 torpedo hits not a cargo explosion. (due to propaganda)

Sinking Facts (cont.)

• Sank within 18 minutes of the first Torpedo hit.

• Second explosion was a cargo explosion, not a torpedo.

• Sank forward• Deaths were from rapid

sinking. (unlike the Titanic, there was an adequate number of life-boats)

• 12 miles from the Irish coast• 303 feet below the surface

American Involvement!

• Around 200 Americans were on the Lusitania

• 114 of the Americans onboard died including a Harvard professor and a New York politician

• Along with the Zimmerman telegram, it brought America into the war.

1918 vintage animation of the 1915 event by Winsor McCay