(Can't edit posts since the last update)
Edit: torpedoes make less sense the more I think about it, but side turrets likely are why the ship was sunk. They probably shot down a recon plane, but who knows
I was halfway through responding to that in your initial comment. Torpedo tubes would require a massive retro fit. The lusitania was an ocean liner, so hard points for mounted cannons would be few and far between. There were most certainly armed merchant vessels with hidden cannons, but I dont think this was one.
(I really hope I dont come off as a dick here.)
I don't ever recall hearing or reading anything about the lusitania being any sort of belligerent. It was mentioned in a podcast earlier and the German reason for attacking was that it was suspected of transporting was materials. Which as far as I know, is totally substantiated.
The whole thing quickly became a propaganda piece by the British to bring America into the war. And churchill milked it for all he could.
With pearl harbor, that one is tricky, due to suppression of information and the passage of time. But from all I've found, the weight of the evidence falls to the oblivious surprise attack.
There were a couple indicators before hand, that in hindsight paint a clearer picture. But there were a several factors that resulted in the americans ignorance.
I really hope I dont come off as a dick here
No, this is why I like you (I'm the one that invited you to this site in the first place). You're actually arguing that I may have been trusting disinformation and sticking to that. I have no proof on the Lucitania and come to think of it, I heard about it from an Alex Jones podcast and didn't do my due diligence to research it more. Is it likely still valid? Yes and no, I just never even finished that thought hence my entire revoltion to my comment saying it had torpedoes lol. I truly do believe they weren't innocent, but we'll never know.
As for Pearl Harbor, I think that book is still in my Dad's basement. It's well over a decade old and they're trying to clean to sell the house so I hope it's still there. The idea that maybe those indicators happened but gross negligence occurred vs gross corruption to enter a war is a good question for all of the questions around PH
Of all the things surrounding pearl harbor. I dont recall it being the Japanese comms that gave it away. IIRC they were under strict radio silence for that whole time period.
There was some warning, but it either was misunderstood (such as the early radar warnings) or the messages were delayed.
As far as the lusitania, I dont recall it being armed at all. It was carrying war materials, but I dont think it had any mounted deck guns like you implied.