Documentary to debunk Lusitania munitions theory

Fresh revelations into sinking of the Lusitania claim to debunk theories that an explosion of munitions on board caused the ship to sink rapidly off the coast of Kinsale, Co Cork, claiming 1,198 lives.

The Cunard vessel was sailing from New York to Liverpool in 1915 when it was hit by a German torpedo.

Passengers reported a second explosion sparking debate that the liner was carrying a secret cache of munitions.

However, a National Geographic documentary to be aired on July 15 claims the second explosion was caused by one of the ship’s boilers.

It puts forward the argument that the rapid sinking was caused by the damage inflicted by the initial torpedo. The ship’s owner, Gregg Bemis, 84, was involved in the expedition, but disagrees with scientists’ findings in follow-up laboratory research.

Kinsale historian Dermot Ryan said he “would be inclined to agree with Bemis”.

Kinsale History Society invited two members of the dive team that took part in the National Geographic expedition to speak of their experiences last November.

Though bound by privacy issues relating to their contracts, they spoke of wading “knee deep in bullets” during the search.

“This [new information] is in line with previous British reactions to having a store of munitions on the ship,” said Mr Ryan. “We know there were bullets on board but was there something bigger? Conspiracy theories are always more interesting than facts. But, from a local history point of view, we believe the ship was carrying war supplies and that’s what caused the second explosion.”

Two schoolchildren in class at Barryroe, about 11 miles from where the ship sank, reported hearing the blast. The torpedo impacted at 2pm on May 7, 1915; 761 passengers survived.

The National Geographic dive team sent a camera 20ft into the wreck to inspect the cargo hold and blast damage.

It was followed by research at a specialist explosives facility in California testing theories that the second explosion was caused by aluminium used to make landmines and gun cotton.

The results allowed scientists to reject both theories but Mr Ryan is not convinced.

“The report states they were able to inspect 20ft inside the cargo hold but there is no way 20ft would allow for a conclusive inspection.

“I know they got access to part of the wreck but there has never been mention of them getting access to the entire wreck.”

The ship sits in 300ft of water 11 miles off the Kinsale coast. It had a store of .303 rifle cartridges which were declared.

* Dark Secrets of the Lusitania will air on the National Geographic Channel on July 15.