The Munitons Question:
Why So Fast?
The
Captain of the u-boat that sank Lusitania, U-20, did not expect his torpedo to sink the
great ship. However, there was a massive internal detonation after the first
explosion caused by the torpedo. This has been the subject of much debate--what blew
up?
The British stated that they had no weapons or troops onboard Lusitania during this voyage. However, official records showed later that when Lusitania embarked for England on 1 May 1915 her cargo included: 51 tons of 3-inch shells, 6,000,000 .303 caliber rifle bullets, and an indeterminate amount of guncotton, an explosive that detonates upon contact with water. It also picked up some 200 tons of additional ammunition from the Queen Margaret which was undergoing mechanical difficulties. (obtained from http://www.worldwar1.com/arm012.htm#lus ) This may have contributed to the massive second and possible third explosions, as well as the speed to which she sank--18 minutes.
