Dead Wake: The Last Crossing Of The Lusitania

Upon impact, the torpedo creates a large explosion on the Lusitania’s hull. The explosion causes metallic debris and water to rain over the ship. Soon after the torpedo’s initial impact, a second, smaller explosion occurs within the ship. The torpedo leaves a hole in the ship that is “the size of a small house,” allowing water to pour into the ship (247). The ship’s speed of 18 knots causes a high amount of water to spill into it, a phenomenon called “forced flooding” (248). The explosion ripples through the ship, causing damage to numerous doors and walls designed to prevent water from entering the ship. Some of the passengers aboard the ship are far away from the explosion, experiencing only a “dull thud” (249). Passengers who were closer to the explosion fall over as the impact causes the ship to tilt to its starboard side. Some of the passengers use stopwatches to time the torpedo’s impact. Others rush to their rooms to grab their life jackets. However, the Lusitania’s crew has not instructed the passengers about how to put their life jackets on.

After the explosion, Captain Turner rushes to the bridge and attempts to use the ship’s engines to brake the ship.