There's been a fair amount of controversy as to whether the torpedo or the munitions the Lusitania was carrying actually sent her to the bottom so quickly.

In recent years the myth was quashed as they found evidence that it wasnt, it was coal dust from the bunkers which is highly explosive on its own.

Nope. No hard evidence was found one way or the other. The coal dust theory remains just that, a theory.

Ballard believes it was likely coal dust but with the ship lying on the side where the torpedo struck it remains impossible to tell for sure.

Klayman wrote

Everyone the answer is yes and no, what's that I hear ok the information -

The Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces
Berlin 30th September 1939
8 copies

Directive No.5

From section 4 - "Attacks on 'passenger ships', or large ships which obviously carry considerable numbers of passengers in addition to cargo, are still forbidden.


The Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces
Berlin 18th October 1939
8 copies

Directive No.7

From section 1 - The Navy may attack passenger ships in convoy or proceeding without lights.


Interesting what do you think of that.

Footnote -
The Fuher and Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces
Headquarters 24th May 1940
7 copies

Directive No.13

From section 4 - Tasks of the Navy.
All restrictions on naval action in English and French waters are hereby cancelled and commanders are free to employ their forces to the fullest extent.

Not going to directly comment since it's already been done but:
:huh: :huh: :huh: :huh: :huh: :huh:

My Grandad went across to Canada in the 1930s onboard the Letitia which IIRC was the sister ship of the Athenia :yep: