Lusitania

[Sir John]

Did the German Government and German Navy know for a FACT that the 'Lucitania' was carrying war materials?

If not..........

SJ

[mcnoch]

Yes, they were sure, that is why they send official diplomatic notes to the US state department that US citizens might be in danger if they are onboard British ships sailing under false flags. The Lusitania was too well known to be misidentified as a US ship and even the famous Cunard painting scheme was refreshed in 1915 after some camo-paintings had been tested without much success. The Lusitania was from a military standpoint a valid target but the public opinion sometimes has a different view. It was just a question of time when it would happen, so politicians could plan scenarios after an attack.

[mcnoch]

Feb 22, 2013 2:02:55 GMT -5 boxcar said:

I have never heard of a civilian criuser.

This idea was in parts a left over of the requirements of the RN in the past centuries but was becoming increasingly out-of-date with the developments of the modern navies of the 20th century.

But e.g. the RMS Aquitania, which was comparable to the Lusitania was indeed converted after the beginning of WWI to an auxilary-cruiser and troop carrier. Similar plans with a setup of 12 6-inch guns had been made for the Lusitania (published in 1907 in British technical journals) also, but she never was converted as the RN had understood that these ships were no longer suitable for modern naval warfare. Brassey's Fleet Book of 1914 list the Lusitania and her sistership the Maruetania as aux- cruiser and the German Weyer's handbook of the fleets list her as "most likely aux- cruiser - armament 12-15" means 12 guns of 15 cm.

[Deleted]

The hole if made spontance combustion would have been inside to outside same type of hole if it had been made by munitions , but again all open to speculation .