Eureka! … Since 1981

Eureka! Classics | A Damned Dirty Business

The Lusitania was built by John Brown and Company of Clydebank, and was launched in 1906.

She was the first British ship to have four funnels, the first steamer with quadruple propellers, and the first ship to exceed 30,000 tons. Such was her size that substantial modifications needed to be made to accommodate her at the Liverpool Landing Stage.

The Lusitania made her maiden voyage from Liverpool to New York on 7th September 1907. At that time the Lusitania was the largest ship in the world, a distinction she held only until her sister ship, the Mauretania, entered service two months later. A fast ship, the Lusitania held both Blue Ribands for Atlantic crossings, setting westbound records in October 1907, July 1908, August 1908 and September 1909, and the eastbound record in October 1907.

At the outbreak of World War I, the Lusitania was at sea but arrived home safely. Unlike the Mauretania, the Lusitania was kept in regular service during the war, and made monthly sailings between Liverpool and New York. However, disaster struck on 7th May 1915, when the Lusitania was torpedoed by the German submarine U-20, as she made her way off the Old Head of Kinsal, Ireland. U-20 had struck without warning, and Lusitania sank within 18 minutes. Of those on board, 1,198 were killed and 761 were rescued.

The sinking of the Lusitania has been surrounded by much controversy and debate. U-20 scored a hit with one torpedo, but two explosions rocked the ship. What was the cause of the second explosion? Did the sinking by U-20 merely demonstrate that warfare at sea had changed forever, and unarmed merchant ships were no longer safe from attack? Or was she carrying arms? This programme explores the history of the ship, and attempts to shed new light on the intrigue and mystery surrounding the second explosion.