Ballard / National Geographic mission to the "Lusitania" 1993

In 1993 I was invited by National Geographic to participate in a mission to the wreck of the Lusitania headed by Dr. Robert Ballard in an attempt to determine the factors involved in the ship's loss. Because a documentary team from Geographic would be on board, there was a long lead-in time for me to prepare materials that would assist in the assessment of the wreck.

Three documents were produced: An illustrated dictionary, a set of Plans and Illustrations and a booklet discussing the plans. The latter two are the subject of this web page.

Since a documentary production company may work on subjects as diverse as the "hunting techniques of the wolf spider" and "weather systems on Mars", this package was put together so that the show's staff were all on the same page with the same references and recourses.

The original package of plans consisted of 16 sheet depicting: (1) Spaces alloted to passenger and crew accommodations, (2) Utilization and disposition of working spaces, (3) Placement of watertight bulkheads and doors, (4) Location of guns and ammunition magazines, (5) An atlas of incidents occurring during the sinking (6) A diagram showing the relative depth of the wreck in comparison to the size of the ship, (7) The list assumed during the sinking, (8) Reported condition of the wreck (9) Proposed sites for exploration. Only those sheets of particular interest are on this web page and indicated in the above list in BOLD.

In a few instances, quotations from the supporting booklet have been provided.

 

 

Note: The Confidentiality Agreement between myself and National Geographic relating to this mission has expired, however, a very small amount of sensitive material has been silently redacted. None of the material impacted on the intellectual content of the drawings or documents, which are otherwise presented on the webpage as it was presented to Dr. Ballard and National Geographic in 1993.

 

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Guide to Plans and Illustrations for RMS Lusitania

By Bill Sauder and Eric Sauder

July 23, 1993

Prepared for the National Geographc expedition to the wreck, Dr. Robert Ballard, mission leader

 

Preface: [addressed to Dr. Ballard and the National Geographic team]

These plans, illustrations, and the accompanying notes have been prepared in an attempt to present a concise and coordinated overview of the Lusitania and the fate that befell her.

Many on the Odyssey* and National Geographic teams may come to the expedition having only a slight acquaintance with the ship. It is hoped this packet will offer a quick summary of her arrangement and history as it relates to the exploration.

Much of this report attempts to amplify points established in the accompanying drawings. In order to present a more rounded portrait of the Lusitania as a living ship, a number of sections have been written to give a glimpse of life on board

Above all else, however, we have attempted to keep to the purpose at hand -- the exploration of the wreck and how this endeavor could best be imparted to the public. Fine technical distinctions and digressions that have no bearing on the expedition or the controversy that surrounds the loss of the Lusitania have been knowingly omitted.

Although only a handful of these booklets have been prepared, feel free to copy and distribute it to your staff as you see fit.

As the project advances beyond the boundaries of this modest summary, you are welcome to contact us should you have any questions.

 

/s/ Bill Sauder

/s/ Eric Sauder

______________________________

* "Odyssey" was the name of Dr. Ballard's group.

This transcription © 1993-2009 Bill Sauder

Coversheet:

Based on the 1906 Engineering Magazine profile, modified to reflect the configuration and color scheme of the Lusitania at the start of the War.

Sheet 1: Allocation of Passenger and Crew Quarters

Blue: 1st Class
Green: 2nd Class
Pink: 3rd Class
Yellow: Officers
Brown: Crew

This sheet was designed to illustrate the relative placement of various classes and the space alloted to each. Only interior spaces were rendered.

Sheet 2: Allocation of Passenger and Crew Quarters

Blue: 1st Class
Green: 2nd Class
Pink: 3rd Class
Yellow: Officers
Brown: Crew

 

Sheet 3: Allocation of Working Areas

Baggage/Mail: Green
Cargo: Brown
Coal: Gray
Engine Spaces: Pink
Galleys & Pantries: Orange
Hospital: Red
Misc.: Dither
Provisions & Stores: Yellow
Water (Ballast & Drinking): Blue

Sheet 4: Allocation of Working Areas

This drawing shows space allocation for the "working" parts of the vessel.

Sheet 9: Incidents Occurring during the Sinking

 

A drawing closely patterned after the endpapers of early editions of Walter Lord's "A Night to Remember"

 

Sheet 10: Incidents Occurring during the Sinking

 

 

 

Sheet 12: List Assumed by Lusitania During Sinking.

 

A sketch showing the initial (pink) and terminal (red) list assumed by the Lusitania. The drawing is a simplification: The ship is shown heeled over on the center of flotation for the undamaged waterline at the designed displacement. This is the correct attitude for an undamaged ship, but a more correct drawing will take into account the loss of bouancy and change in trim.

Sheet 13: Reported Condition of Wreck

In 1993 the only reliable information on the wreck condition came from the Oceaneering expedition of 1982. The drawback was that the report was tightly focused around the propellers, mail room, and stem (all sites of salvage) leaving the vast midships section largely undocumented.

This drawing was my assessment of how the wreck might have appeared in 1993, in which black areas have definately collapsed, grey areas have probably collapsed, and green areas remaining intact. Areas marked in tan were hoped to have survived because (1) The Second Class deckhouse was an indepent structure heavilly reenforced in 1907 to counter vibration. (2) The foward Prom. Deck is sheltered by a heavy side screen (camoflaged as the structural hull, which it is not).

The Ballard expedition data established not only that the superstructure has disintegrated, but the hull itslef has folded up and collapsed.

Sheet 15: Proposed Areas of Exploration

A delightfully optomistic checklist for points of interest to visit: most of the internal spaces no longer exist in a meaningful way: their locations can now only be identified by bronze window fittings, foundation bars and plumbing deck penetrations.

For Key click HERE.

 

Sheet 16: Proposed Areas of Exploration

 

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