Key to Sauder Suggested Sites for Lusitania Exploration:


No. 1 Funnel to Knightshead - YELLOW DOTS
  1. Stem:
    1. Telegraph to bridge
    2. Telephone to bridge
    3. Extra lookouts were placed here when the Lusitania entered the war zone
  2. Anchors
    1. Oceaneering salvaged two, but the ship carried three. Is the third still with the ship or did it fall into the mud?
  3. Name at bow
    1. It is alleged that the Admiralty removed her name to conceal the identity of the wreck.
  4. Forecastle Deck
    1. Rumor has it that the Admiralty cleared the foredeck during their secret dives after World War II
  5. Gun Rings
    1. Photographs taken in 1914 show four gun rings fitted on the forecastle.
  6. Crow's Nest
    1. Masthead Light
    2. Telephone
    3. Bell salvaged in 1982
    4. Lookout Quinn saw the torpedo coming, rang the bell overhead, and notified the bridge.
  7. Cargo Hatches
    1. Rumor has it that the Admiralty cleared the cargo holds of munitions and other wartime contraband. Check to see if the metal has been scarred by these salvage attempts.
  8. Observation Room
    1. First class passengers could catch a glimpse of rough weather from this vantage point without the danger of being swept overboard.
  9. Captain's Cabin
    1. The captain's suite of rooms most likely fell into the sea floor with the wheelhouse and the boat deck cabins
  10. Running Lights
  11. Bridge (Only major components are listed)
    1. Ship's wheel (only one)
    2. Telemotor transmitters (two)
    3. Compasses (three)
    4. Engine Telegraphs (revolving shaft pattern, four)
    5. Docking/Anchor/Steering Telegraphs (chain and sprocket pattern; two single face, two double face -- one unknown pattern salvaged.)
    6. Tell-tales (four)
    7. All of this wreckage is on the seabed.
  12. Compass Platforms - One was over the wheelhouse, the other between the Nos. 1 and 2 funnels, both on seabed.
  13. Lifeboat Davits Forward - There is a good possibility that a few davits just abaft the wheelhouse are still in place. They were attached to the hull, not the superstructure.
  14. Funnel Hatch
  15. Funnel - Reports indicate that the funnel has fallen to the seabed but that sections are still identifiable. The whistles on the forward funnel (two diaphragm and a triplex chime) are not known to have been recovered.

Midships Section- BLUE DOTS

  1. Third Class General Room
  2. Third Class Smoking Room - These were the only two lounges available to over 1,000 third class passengers.
  3. Third Class Galley - Much of the enormous cooking equipment for third class and the crew is expected to survive in this compartment.
  4. Third Class Pantry - This is where the Third class stewards served the food from; so much of the china and serving ware is expected to be in this room.
  5. First Class Cabins on Promenade Deck - This section of the Lusitania housed the "ordinary" First class cabins. Charles Lauriat's and Alice Lines's cabins were in this area and possibly survive.
  6. Third Class Toilets - These were of the "self-flushing" types. Many in steerage had never seen a toilet before and could not be trusted to know how to flush it when the time came; so it was arranged for the water to run for as long as a person remained seated.
  7. Regal Suite occupied by the Warren Pears - As with other cabins in this area, this suite may survive relatively intact.
  8. First Class Children's Dining Room - John Light supposedly saw a gun in this room. Light also reported a great deal of tampering in this area.
  9. First Class Dining Room
  10. First Class Pantry, port side - This is where First class stewards served the food from. There is probably a large amount of the china and silverware still remaining in this area.
  11. Engineer's Office
  12. Engine Room Hatch

Superstructure Debris Field - RED DOTS

  1. Remains of First Class Lounges - All of the First Class lounges were located on Bat Deck and slid off with the superstructure. A look through the debris might reveal some of the decorative fittings from the various rooms.
  2. Remains of the Wireless Room

Stern - GREEN DOTS

  1. Name and Port of Registry - Oceaneering divers have reported that the letters of the name and port of registry have fallen to the sea floor.
  2. Gun Rings - Gun rings were supposedly fitted on the stern in 1913 to prepare the Lusitania for war.
  3. Docking Bridge - This was used as a command station during docking, and a number of instruments (such as telegraphs) might still be attached.
  4. Second Class Deck House
  5. Second Class Deck House
  6. Second Class Deck House -Because of the extensive internal stiffening to this structure in an attempt to reduce excessive vibration in the stern, there is a very good chance that this deckhouse is still attached. All of the Second class lounges and many of the cabins were located here.
  7. Second Class Dining Room - This room can be accessed through the circular well cut in the Shelter Deck.
  8. Thermotanks - Thermotanks located between the First and Second class deckhouses.

Specie Room, etc. - YELLOW DOTS

  1. Mail Room
  2. Specie Room - Oceaneering did some salvage work here. If Dr. Ballard wants to explore the Baggage Room, then the easiest access would be through this compartment. 39a - Lower Baggage Room Aft: This compartment could be used to store baggage or munitions, depending on the need. There is a chance that munitions may have been placed here on the last voyage. Access may prove to be impossible. The only entrance is through a watertight hatch in the deck, which may be shut.

Point of Torpedo Impact from Exterior - RED DOTS.

  1. Impact site and interior exploration from that point.
  2. Check coal scuttles for explosion jar.

 

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Copyright © 2009 Bill Sauder