Page 12 - Guerin Media | Cork Airport Holiday & Destination Guide 2015
P. 12
SINKING OF THE LUSITANIA
RMS Lusitania was a British ocean liner, launched by the Cunard Line in 1906. Nicknamed The
Greyhound of the Seas, she was awarded the Blue Riband for her unrivalled top speed of 25
knots and the fastest Atlantic crossing. In 1915, the Lusitania was the world’s largest passenger
ship and one of the finest liners in the world. Britain was at war with Germany and had introduced
a total sea blockade. Germany responded by declaring a war zone around the British Isles where any
ships could be attacked on sight.
At 12:28pm on Saturday 1st May Schwieger spotted the four stacks than the torpedo and passengers
1915, The Lusitania, on her 202nd of the Lusitania approaching and rushed up to the lifeboats on the
voyage, set sail to Liverpool from submerged his U20 and waited. upper deck. Thousands of
New York Pier 54 with 1,942 men, gallons of water begin to flow into
women and children on board. At 2.09pm, on Friday the 7th of the hull, causing the Lusitania to
Despite war fuel rations, she May 1915, Captain Schwieger gave list to starboard side. She was
maintained 21 knots over the the order to fire at the Lusitania 12 miles off the coast of Cork so
Atlantic Ocean and was set to and a torpedo ripped through her Captain Turner ordered the ship
reach land in 6 days. She entered starboard side, just under the water hard of starboard in an attempt
Irish waters at full speed on the line. The crew of the German U20 to reach land but with no steam,
evening of 6th May and was on looked on as a ruptured steam pipe the ship continued under her own
track to be in Liverpool within 24 caused an even greater explosion momentum. The Lusitania had
hours. However, the morning of
7th May brought with her a
blanket of thick fog and she was
forced to slow down. As the fog
lifted, passengers saw land for the
first time - the Old Head of
Kinsale.
Meanwhile, a German U20
Submarine, commanded by Captain
Walther Schwieger was coming
to the end of a torpedo campaign,
having fired on 3 ships in the
region. At 1pm on 7th May, the
U20 submarine surfaced for the
last time before making her journey
home. In the distance, Captain
12
RMS Lusitania was a British ocean liner, launched by the Cunard Line in 1906. Nicknamed The
Greyhound of the Seas, she was awarded the Blue Riband for her unrivalled top speed of 25
knots and the fastest Atlantic crossing. In 1915, the Lusitania was the world’s largest passenger
ship and one of the finest liners in the world. Britain was at war with Germany and had introduced
a total sea blockade. Germany responded by declaring a war zone around the British Isles where any
ships could be attacked on sight.
At 12:28pm on Saturday 1st May Schwieger spotted the four stacks than the torpedo and passengers
1915, The Lusitania, on her 202nd of the Lusitania approaching and rushed up to the lifeboats on the
voyage, set sail to Liverpool from submerged his U20 and waited. upper deck. Thousands of
New York Pier 54 with 1,942 men, gallons of water begin to flow into
women and children on board. At 2.09pm, on Friday the 7th of the hull, causing the Lusitania to
Despite war fuel rations, she May 1915, Captain Schwieger gave list to starboard side. She was
maintained 21 knots over the the order to fire at the Lusitania 12 miles off the coast of Cork so
Atlantic Ocean and was set to and a torpedo ripped through her Captain Turner ordered the ship
reach land in 6 days. She entered starboard side, just under the water hard of starboard in an attempt
Irish waters at full speed on the line. The crew of the German U20 to reach land but with no steam,
evening of 6th May and was on looked on as a ruptured steam pipe the ship continued under her own
track to be in Liverpool within 24 caused an even greater explosion momentum. The Lusitania had
hours. However, the morning of
7th May brought with her a
blanket of thick fog and she was
forced to slow down. As the fog
lifted, passengers saw land for the
first time - the Old Head of
Kinsale.
Meanwhile, a German U20
Submarine, commanded by Captain
Walther Schwieger was coming
to the end of a torpedo campaign,
having fired on 3 ships in the
region. At 1pm on 7th May, the
U20 submarine surfaced for the
last time before making her journey
home. In the distance, Captain
12
