The Lusitania Research Paper

The keel for the Lusitania was laid in May 1905 to be one of the biggest commercial ocean liners post the RMS Titanic hull. “John Brown and Co Ltd of Glasgow was the winning builders to build this ship. Post the building of the ship, over a 1 year period. She was launched on June 7th, 1906”. (“RMS Lusitania”) Her attraction was the fact that she had seven full decks for passengers compared to the normal four to five that most of the ships carried or housed at that time. The upper class passengers enjoyed their berthing like they always had with all the comforts of home. But now instead of the poor class having to sleep in open air berthing that had no privacy, they actually were able to sleep in 4 or six person to a berthing space or room.

Lusitania has a new feature that was to help protect her inners from attack or a collision by putting the coal bunkers on the side of the boiler room rather than in line with the boilers. “Engines were placed in the rear of the ship, boilers were placed amidships, and space for the cargo, which could be converted to a magazine if needed, was in the front”. (“Design-The Lusitania Resource.”)

With the out brake of World War I in 1914, this meant that the role of the Lusitania could and would change in the near future if needed. She was designed to be converted to an armed merchant cruiser should the need arise. She was designed to carry 12 quick fire six inch guns along with the ability to carry troops and

The Germans had launched their first unrestricted U-boat campaign in 1915. U-boat commander Walther Schwieger was the captain in charge of the U20. Per the German executive orders dated April 30th, 1915 to the Lieutenant-Commander Schwinger of U-boat 20 that gave him clear orders to attack any transport ships, merchant ships and warships as they see fit under any flag. “On 7 May 1915, Schwieger was responsible for U-20's torpedoing of the passenger liner RMS Lusitania leading to the deaths of 1,198 people”. (“Sinking of the RMS