What happened U-boat 20?
U-20 became infamous following her sinking of the British ocean liner RMS Lusitania on 7 May 1915, an act that dramatically reshaped the course of World War I….SM U-20 (Germany)
| History | |
|---|---|
| German Empire | |
| Launched | 18 December 1912 |
| Commissioned | 5 August 1913 |
| Fate | Grounded 4 November 1916 and destroyed by her crew the next day. |
What happened to the U-boat that sank the Lusitania?
After the single torpedo struck, a second explosion occurred inside the ship, which then sank in only 18 minutes. Only 761 people survived out of the 1,266 passengers and 696 crew aboard, and many of the casualties were American citizens….Sinking of the RMS Lusitania.
| Painting of the sinking | |
|---|---|
| Date | 7 May 1915 |
| Cause | Torpedoed by German U-boat U-20 |
Why was the Lusitania sunk?
Following reports of German U-boat activity along the Irish coast, the Lusitania was warned to avoid the area and to adopt the evasive tactic of zigzagging. The captain ignored these recommendations, and the ship was sunk by a torpedo on May 7.
Was the Lusitania carrying ammunition?
Anne Constable The British passenger ship Lusitania was carrying small-arms ammunition in its hold when it was sunk by a German torpedo in 1915. The wreck of the Lusitania lies about 300 feet below the surface in Irish territorial waters approximately 12 miles off the coast of County Cork.
Why did Germany torpedo the Lusitania?
It was revealed that the Lusitania was carrying about 173 tons of war munitions for Britain, which the Germans cited as further justification for the attack. The United States eventually sent three notes to Berlin protesting the action, and Germany apologized and pledged to end unrestricted submarine warfare.