egbert Posted 27 April , 2017 Share Posted 27 April , 2017 Coming from the USA transatlantic I met RMS Lusitania and followed her path to Cobh (ex-Queenstown). Today, early in the morning we passed the wrecksite of Lusitania. This picture above the wreck with view towards Irish coastline at Old Head of Kinsale Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
egbert Posted 27 April , 2017 Author Share Posted 27 April , 2017 Next picture with zoom from wrecksite -Head of Kinsale lighthouse, as could be seen from Lusitania when hit by torpedo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
egbert Posted 27 April , 2017 Author Share Posted 27 April , 2017 (edited) Lighthouse which was searched in thick fog by Lusitania for navigational purposes Edited 28 April , 2017 by egbert Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
egbert Posted 27 April , 2017 Author Share Posted 27 April , 2017 View from wrecksite. The coastline is some 16 miles away. Slightly zoomed in Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beechhill Posted 28 April , 2017 Share Posted 28 April , 2017 Very nice, Egbert. Never knew she sank so close to shore. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
egbert Posted 28 April , 2017 Author Share Posted 28 April , 2017 Yes indeed they were relatively close to the coastline but still too far from rescue as the small boat flotilla from Cobh only reached the site of tragedy after 4 hrs.. "Miraculously" the cruiser HMS Juno which supposed to escort the Lusitania when entering the war zone was ordered to leave the L. and slipped back to Cobh (ex-Queenstown) through the narrow harbor entrance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
egbert Posted 28 April , 2017 Author Share Posted 28 April , 2017 While Juno heads back to Cobh Naval Yards, the tragedy unfolds behind her. This view back "from Juno" is made from the same spot as the picture above, but pointing to Lusitania. L. sinks about 12km from this picture spot. Roughly between my picture taking and the cloud layer visible in the distance.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
egbert Posted 28 April , 2017 Author Share Posted 28 April , 2017 This image shows you the narrow straights into naval yards Cobh (ex-Queenstown and already within the natural harbour, view towards sinking site of L,) where Juno and her destroyer escort were shying away from the tragedy site on May 7th 1915. The following images will give you an impression of Cobh and its naval yard, which pretty much represents as it was existant in 1915 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
egbert Posted 28 April , 2017 Author Share Posted 28 April , 2017 Juno and destroyers sail very close-by the town and have to perform some pretty sharp turns to reach the naval yards. This picture even shows the massive coal-or ash remnants from the steam age at the tip of the naval yards island. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
egbert Posted 28 April , 2017 Author Share Posted 28 April , 2017 (edited) Here, in front of the town you can see the spot where the life boats from Lusitania were towed to. Land based pictures later. To the left is the old time pier where Titanic on its last voyage stopped and Lusitania as well on her services to the USA. Edited 28 April , 2017 by egbert Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
egbert Posted 28 April , 2017 Author Share Posted 28 April , 2017 After a last very sharp port- turn and with mandatory assistance from tug boats, Juno reached the naval yards opposite the town. The yard buildings are genuine from 1915 as is all the yard layout. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
egbert Posted 28 April , 2017 Author Share Posted 28 April , 2017 When looking at the following two images you need to let your imagination take over and imagine the destroyers and cruisers with 4stack funnels puffing black smoke. Today the site is used by the Irish Republican Navy. ...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnboy Posted 28 April , 2017 Share Posted 28 April , 2017 Thanks for posting such good photos. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stiletto_33853 Posted 28 April , 2017 Share Posted 28 April , 2017 Lovely pictures Egbert. Great sailing waters, sailed over the wreck a few times when sailing from Kinsale. Andy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
egbert Posted 28 April , 2017 Author Share Posted 28 April , 2017 (edited) Directly opposite the naval base is the original berthing place for the Cunard liners, some 5 minutes walking distance from downtown. Here Titanic started its doomed first and last voyage and Lusitania used the pier on its contraband runs late 1914and 15 as well. The Cobh heritage museums claim that rumors are still present that the Lusitania had last minute orders to divert to Cobh (ex-Queenstown) instead of sailing directly into Liverpool. But it is not proven as the Royal Navy archives are still top secret after 102 years and the signal messages will not be disclosed or have been erased deliberatly. Edited 28 April , 2017 by egbert Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
egbert Posted 28 April , 2017 Author Share Posted 28 April , 2017 So this image I took from the bridge, berthing at the exact spot the Titanic and Lusitania were moored. A very emotional place. Did not read your comments while busy with tricking our ship's sat connection. Thanx - and Andy isn't it mind blowing to sail above the wrecksite while recognizing the Head of Kinsale some 16 km away? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
egbert Posted 28 April , 2017 Author Share Posted 28 April , 2017 Landfall. Leaving the beauty and also cruel sea behind us. The pier is almost directly located in downtown. After 5 minutes of walking, the Lusitania memorial to the rescuers pops up: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
depaor01 Posted 28 April , 2017 Share Posted 28 April , 2017 Lovely pics and narrative Egbert. To be pedantic though, there is no "Irish Republican Navy" the phrase would make many people including me very nervous! It's simply the "Irish Naval Service" or, in Irish language "an tSeirbhís Chabhlaigh" This poignant photo appeared on an auction site recently... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
egbert Posted 28 April , 2017 Author Share Posted 28 April , 2017 When I took the pictures here, a local museum tour guide explained the tragedy to a bunch of American tourists. I was amazed upon the balanced view the guide conveyed, explaining how the Lusitania tragedy unfolded. She concluded that based on available open source information, the L. was a legitimate target for U 20 Captain Schwieger, because she repeatedly carried the neutral stars an stripes, carried contra band during each war crossing and was listed in the official Royal Navy's Brassey handbook as an auxiliary cruiser on May 7, 1915. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
egbert Posted 28 April , 2017 Author Share Posted 28 April , 2017 Irish naval forces is correct. When roaming Cobh yesterday I realized the sensitivity when tackling Irish-English matters. When I talked with locals I used the word "Queenstown" and an immediate $hitstorm hit me - Cobh it is. An Irish Naval Serviceman from a patrol ship explained me how a British sub tried to sneak into Cobh harbor using their boat as a surface coverage -believe me an immediate $hitstorm poured over the English. Anyway lets move on with 1915 Lusitania as I met her yesterday. The picture with the L. lifeboats in Cobh harbor are known to me . Will post the spot how it looks like today soon. But last, please accept the final memorial to the L rescuers image. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
egbert Posted 28 April , 2017 Author Share Posted 28 April , 2017 (edited) 7 hours ago, depaor01 said: Lovely pics and narrative Egbert. To be pedantic though, there is no "Irish Republican Navy" the phrase would make many people including me very nervous! It's simply the "Irish Naval Service" or, in Irish language "an tSeirbhís Chabhlaigh" This poignant photo appeared on an auction site recently... Alright, this is the very spot today where the Lusitania's lifeboats were towed to on May 7, 1915, just 1 minute away from the rescuers memorial: Edited 28 April , 2017 by egbert Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
egbert Posted 28 April , 2017 Author Share Posted 28 April , 2017 .... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
egbert Posted 28 April , 2017 Author Share Posted 28 April , 2017 Some meters from this place is a wall of plaques with the names of victims and survivors Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
egbert Posted 28 April , 2017 Author Share Posted 28 April , 2017 Here on May 7, 1915, all hell broke loose inside and outside of this original building...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
egbert Posted 28 April , 2017 Author Share Posted 28 April , 2017 The bronze plaque says it all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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