by Robert Ballard In May 1915, a German torpedo sank the sleek Cunard liner, Lusitania, taking 1,195 civilian lives. The sinking turned world opinion against Germany, and the deaths of 123 American passengers was the first step in bringing the United States into the First World War. Rumours of conspiracies and cover-ups surround the liner, and over 80 years later she is still a ship of mystery. In 1993 Robert Ballard led an expedition to the wreck of the Lusitania off the coast of Ireland in search of the answers. Ballard s conclusions are authoritative and provide a fascinating, definitive account of what happened on that fateful May afternoon. incredibly rich in illustration Diver Magazine

Explores the controversies surrounding the sinking of the cruise ship in 1915

Depicts five famous ships that have been lost at sea in modern times, the Empress of Ireland, the Lusitania, the Andrea Doria, the Brittanic, and the Titanic.

The legendary explorer of Titanic and Lusitania reveals the secret military missions behind his famous exploits and unveils a major new discovery on the occasion of the 35th anniversary of the Titanic find. Best known for finding the wreck of the Titanic, celebrated adventurer Robert Ballard has a lifetime of stories about exploring the ocean depths. From discovering new extremophile life-forms thriving at 750°F hydrothermal vents in 1977 to finding famous shipwrecks including the Bismarck and PT 109, Ballard has made history. Now the captain of E/V Nautilus, a state-of-the-art scientific exploration vessel rigged for research in oceanography, geology, biology, and archaeology, he leads young scientists as they map the ocean floor, collect artifacts from ancient shipwrecks, and relay live-time adventures from remote-controlled submersibles to reveal amazing sea life. Now, for the first time, Robert Ballard gets personal, telling the inside stories of his adventures and challenges as a midwestern kid with dyslexia who became an internationally renowned ocean explorer. Here is the definitive story of the danger and discovery, conflict and triumph that make up his remarkable life.

Beautifully presented, this volume gives a guided tour of some of the most historic and famous shipwrecks of the 20th century, including "Andrea Doria," "Bismarck," "Britannic," "Empress of Ireland," the Ghost Fleet of Guadalcanal, "Lusitania," and "Titanic." The detailed illustrations accompany an astounding collection of underwater photography, archival images, and memorabilia that recalls each ship s former glory. Gripping stories unlock the mysteries of the ships ghostly remains, and an epilogue speaks to the essential need for preserving ships. Equal parts scientific and historical study, this adventurous exploration into the lives of these ships and those who discovered them will thrill naval and transportation buffs, as well as any fan of nautical history."

Dr Robert Ballard's challenge for this work was to discover and photograph the ships sunk in the Battle of Midway, one of the most dramatic engagements of the Pacific War. After the bombing of Pearl Harbour in 1941, the Imperial Japanese Navy seemed almost unstoppable, and a final strike in Midway Island was planned by Admiral Yamamoto for June 1942. But the Americans, aware of the plan, were prepared for the attack and in a great victory sank three of the four Japanese carriers, losing only one of their own. The battle was a turning point in the Pacific War and never again would Japan take the offensive. The story of this battle is illustrated using Ballard's underwater photographs of the ships' remains, and Ken Marschall's evocative paintings.