Missunderstanding

[AmyJo Decker]

If the Lusitania was struck on her starboard bow why did she sink port first?

 

[Michael H. Standart]

As far as I know, she didn't. She rolled over on her starboard side and sank that way. That's why the wreck today is oriented with the port side up and the starboard side in the mud.

 

[rob scott]

yes, Lusitania had a 30 degree or some such list to starboard when her bow went under; in fact she dragged at least a couple of her starboard boats under with her- and it seems she wasn't really hit in the bows per se, but rather just abaft her bridge wing slightly for'd her #1 funnel; the impact breached her first boiler room, and heaven help us after that...
really enjoying Preston's book, written smoothly, edited superbly, not at all one of those can't-get-in-it books.
And boy she just puts you right in a German u-boat with the sights and smells and tastes and sound experience before radar or modern toilets!

Too bad more of the passengers didn't know about all the spy activity regarding her and like ships.

 

[AmyJo Decker]

Yes, but why do most stories and pic. show that she sank bow first? If it's not true than why Make it seem that way?

 

[Michael H. Standart]

>>Yes, but why do most stories and pic. show that she sank bow first?<<

Because overall, that's how she went down...and rolling to port as she did. This is the inevitable consequence of assymetric flooding.

 

[AmyJo Decker]

That's rather odd... but I think I understand. Thanks! xoxoxox

 

[Michael H. Standart]

Well, not really so odd when you think about it. The Lusitania's watertight subdivision scheme included longitudinal bulkheads as well as transverse bulkheads. The torpedo which sank her exploded in the port side so those sections were the first that were breached. The longitudinal bulkheads served to confine the flooding to the port side and was thus responsible for the list in that direction. Secondary flooding from open portholes, vents, cargo hatches, etc. did the rest.

Hope this helps.

 

[Samuel Halpern]

On the port side???? I believe it was starboard.

 

[AmyJo Decker]

It was starboard. Typo maybe...Thanks, that made it much more clear! *mimes kisses*

 

[Michael H. Standart]

Arrrgggg...you're right, Sam. Chalk it up to a senior moment.

See the corrected version below;

"Well, not really so odd when you think about it. The Lusitania's watertight subdivision scheme included longitudinal bulkheads as well as transverse bulkheads. The torpedo which sank her exploded in the port Starboard side so those sections were the first that were breached. The longitudinal bulkheads served to confine the flooding to the port starboard side and was thus responsible for the list in that direction. Secondary flooding from open portholes, vents, cargo hatches, etc. did the rest"

 

[Martin Owen Cahill]

The interesting thing during those last 18 minutes is that occaisionally she rolled back to an even keel at least once when the bulkhead to her portside bunkers failed (my own conclusion) causing some on her boat decks to thinks that some safety feature was coming into operation to bring the ship back. Of course she slumped back over to starboard again and some.

Martin