Doomed Ship Lusitania Revealed In New Images

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New images have been revealed of a luxury cruiseliner torpedoed off the Irish coast during the First World War with the loss of 1,201 lives.

RMS Lusitania was sailing from New York to Liverpool on its final voyage on 7 May 1915 when it was sunk by a German U-boat in just 18 minutes.

One hundred years on, the sonar pictures clearly show the 240m-long Cunard ship resting on its starboard side.

A white rose, plaque and list of those who died in the sinking will be placed on the wreck at 2.15pm today, the exact time the ship was attacked.

A memorial service will also be held at Old Head, close to the ship’s final resting place 11 miles off Ireland’s south coast

"It will be a permanent recognition of our feelings about the importance of the wreck - and to pay homage to the victims," said Gregg Bemis, the 87-year-old American who owns the wreck.

Diver Eoin McGarry, who has visited the wreck more than anyone else, will leave the tribute near the ship’s bridge.

"They say no flowers can be laid on a sailor's grave but in this instance we are going to lay a flower on it," said Mr McGarry.

The new sonar images give the best overview so far of the ship and should allow "new research and analysis", said Joe McHugh, Ireland’s minister for natural resources.

The massive loss of life aboard the Lusitania, one of the fastest and most luxurious ships of its day, contributed to America’s decision to eventually enter the war.

Most of the dead were British, although 114 Americans also died.

The rapid sinking of the ship - 18 minutes compared with nearly three hours for The Titanic - has sparked theories it was carrying a secret cargo of tonnes of explosives destined for Britain’s war effort.

There is also a theory that the captain ordered full steam ahead after the torpedo hit near the ship's bow forcing water into the vessel at a dramatic rate.

Wreck owner Mr Bemis is considering suing the Irish government after it refused his request to recover the bridge telegraph - which could reveal the captain’s final orders.

"To my mind there's been a huge cover-up of the actual cause of the fast sinking. I think that's abysmal," Mr Bemis said.

"If there's one thing I can do while I'm still here on earth I'd like to clarify that by getting the honesty and integrity of what happened out in the open, how it happened, why it happened."

The Lusitania is the only one of Ireland’s 18,000 wrecks to be deemed to have cultural and historical significance, putting strict restrictions on tampering with the doomed ship.