What Caused the 2nd Explosion?

J

Jesse D O'Neill

Member
What Do You Think Caused the 2nd Explosion?

A. Gun Cotton
B. Shells Filled w/ High Explosive Powder
C. Steam Line Explosion
D. Boiler Explosion
E. Coal Dust Explosion
F. Aluminum Powder Explosion
G. A combination of 2 or more of any of the mentioned above
H. Other

Please choose an answer and explain why you chose it in as much detail as possible.
 
I would think E. I think that because the Lustiania because it was almost done her trip to liverpool and the coal dust picked up and boom the 2nd explostion. I dont think for the rest cause its very unliky.
 
Given the dampness in the coal bunkers at the end of a voyage on the North Atlantic, the chances of the culprit being coal dust is so small as to practically qualify as a modern day red herring.

And Jessie, I hope you don't mind if I refrain from choosing anything from your list. It's not that I don't have an opinion on the matter. I do. The problem is with the nature of polls themselves which only serve to showcase what interested respondants...often unqualified...believe and which seldom has anything to do with what it is the actual science supports.
 
I second what Michael said about polls. They usually reveal more about the respondent than the subject.

Take G.W. Bush's "doing a good job" polls, for example.
 
At the risk of impugning myself I will give my answer to the poll.

I think I have read widely on this area and possess most of the books on the Lusitania, Bailey and Ryan, Lauriat and Morton not withstanding.

A and B are out in my book as I am certain about the torpedo hitting aft of the forward bulkhead in the first boiler room.

E being coal dust was one I considered seriously when Dr Ballard put it forward. On subsequent consideration of arguement posed here on ET Coal Dust no longer rates.

F I don't know about the Aluminium Dust idea. Mr O'Sullivan's book was well written and original but requires a hit on the cargo hold to work.

D doesn't work either. Preston and Ramsay (especially) go into detail discussing the consequences of boiler explosions. No one would have survived in the room and the damage to the area immediately above would have been greater.
However Schwieger describes fire breaking out. Someone please explain this one?

C is left as remaining possible cause which on considering the evidence that I have read I must say makes the most sense to me.

If not Then we must consider H

any takers...?

Martin, B.A. Hist

P.S. While I appreciate that they are in no way obliged, I would love to know What Michael H. Standart and Eric Sauder think caused the second explosion.
 
Martin, I haven't given the Lusitania a lot of in-depth research so I'm not really confident of my ground on this. In my highly subjective opinion, it was something in the boiler rooms which gave up the ghost...either a large steam line or a boiler. Either or both could wreak a surprising amount of havoc...and God help any of the poor sods who happen to be in the way. They'll die screaming!

NOTE: Opinion subject to change and revision based on where any testable and repeatable forensics evidence may lead.
 
I don't like C, because I don't think there's a steam line big enough to release a sufficient volume of steam at enough pressure to cause the kind of damage involved. At ten or fifteen atmospheres, the steam would only expand five times or so (because the Joule-Thompson effect would immediately cool it, reducing its pressure and volume).

When a boiler is breached, on the other hand, the superheated water it contains boils instantanously when the pressure is released, liberating enormous volumes of water vapor at high pressure.
 
to be fair since i started this, i figured i might as well give my opinion too.

A Boiler and Steam Pipe Combination of explosions is possible, though as no stokers witnessed it that survived, than it must taken atleast 2 - 3 mins before a boiler explosion occured if thats the case.

Also possible is a steam line and coal dust exlosion, though this also is questionable as bilge water all around the bottom of the coal bunker and it was near the end of a voyage where the lusitania would not have much coal left.

also possible is just a steam line explosion, though that also faces some difficulty in proving, refer to Tom Papas note.

also possible is a aluminum powder explosion, although no one witnessed bright flames as a such an explosion or fire would cause, also take note that no one was in the immediate area when the 2nd explosion occurred.
 
>>A Boiler and Steam Pipe Combination of explosions is possible, though as no stokers witnessed it that survived,<<

Well they wouldn't would they? Take a bath in live steam and about the only thing you'll be fit for is to be served up with drawn butter! You certainly won't be inclined towards conversation.

>>than it must taken atleast 2 - 3 mins before a boiler explosion occured if thats the case.<<

Not if it was breached by the warhead of the torpedo it wouldn't. It would happen almost at once.
 
G. The torpedo strike ignited the coal dust, which ruptured the boiler, wrenching loose the steam line and igniting the aluminum powder, which set off the contraband gun cotton and h.e. shells in the valet's quarters.

Or maybe H.
 
>>The torpedo strike ignited the coal dust, which ruptured the boiler, wrenching loose the steam line and igniting the aluminum powder, which set off the contraband gun cotton and h.e. shells in the valet's quarters.<<

Hay! I like that one!!!! Get's right up there with the Great Intergalactic Conspiracy between the liberals and conservatives to get together with the Illuminati, The Council on Foreign Relations and Space Aliens (C'mon...you knew the Space Aliens were lurking in there somewhere!) to kidnap our women and use them in breeding experiments with Elvis and Princess Di in order to turn our brains to mush.

Pass the tinfoil hat please!
wink.gif
 
I think it could have been a combination of of coal dust and an aluminium dust explosion. It probably would not have been ammunition explosion because the arms carried on Lusitania, as far as we know, were not explosive.
 

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