On May 7, 1915, six days after departing from New York and already within sight of the coast of Southern Ireland, the Lusitania was discovered by the German submarine U-20, commanded by Captain Walther Schwieger. Before the voyage, a secret warning, given to the ship's wealthiest passengers, reported that U-boat activity was to be expected and advised not to travel. There was also a public warning given by the German Embassy in the U.S.
The U-boat, which was on a routine and uneventful journey until it encountered the large steam ship at 2:00 pm, decided to fire a torpedo from a distance of 700 yards (640 m). The torpedo triggered a second explosion in the ship. It was said at the time to have been caused by dust residue from what remained of the ship's 6,000 tons of coal fuel. The Germans claimed that it was caused by munitions being secretly carried on board. The Lusitania sank 10 miles off the coast of Old Head of Kinsale, Ireland in just 20 minutes
What was the name of the German Sub that sank the Luisitania?
U boat-20 on april 30th 1915
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