Greg Burns
Member
Hi all,
I'm preparing to write a short booklet on the Lusitania medal produced by Karl Goetz and others, with part one of the book devoted to the ship, people, and sinking. I'd like to understand better the actual mechanics of the torpedo damage. My understanding is that the torpedo did not actually penetrate the hull and then explode inside the vessel, but rather it would detonate upon impact (small triggering device on the front of the torpedo) and the resultant underwater blast would either tear the steel plates of the hull opening the interior to the sea, or at the very least stress the hull plate seams to the point of compromising their watertightness. I've not been able to find much information on the Type G torpedo itself (specifications, means of destruction, etc.), and so am puzzled a little bit by the elsewhere posted reference to the Hickey/Smith reference to Albert Martin's having, "...seen the torpedo slam past him before it exploded between a group of boilers."
If I recall correctly, the torpedo only moved at something like 40 mph, and it seems unlikely that such a velocity would permit it to crash through the hull plating.
Seeking help...
Thanks,
Greg Burns
www.LusitaniaMedal.com
I'm preparing to write a short booklet on the Lusitania medal produced by Karl Goetz and others, with part one of the book devoted to the ship, people, and sinking. I'd like to understand better the actual mechanics of the torpedo damage. My understanding is that the torpedo did not actually penetrate the hull and then explode inside the vessel, but rather it would detonate upon impact (small triggering device on the front of the torpedo) and the resultant underwater blast would either tear the steel plates of the hull opening the interior to the sea, or at the very least stress the hull plate seams to the point of compromising their watertightness. I've not been able to find much information on the Type G torpedo itself (specifications, means of destruction, etc.), and so am puzzled a little bit by the elsewhere posted reference to the Hickey/Smith reference to Albert Martin's having, "...seen the torpedo slam past him before it exploded between a group of boilers."
If I recall correctly, the torpedo only moved at something like 40 mph, and it seems unlikely that such a velocity would permit it to crash through the hull plating.
Seeking help...
Thanks,
Greg Burns
www.LusitaniaMedal.com