The U-20 fires a dud

Suppose the torpedo fired by the U-20 at the Lusitania turned out to be a dud and the warhead didn't explode? Unless it hit a seam squarely, I wonder if it would have had sufficient momentum to do any structural / mechanical damage to speak of. On the other hand, it would most certainly have robbed U-boats of the element of surprise and confirmed visibly the warnings by the Admiralty. Further consequences?
 

Delta Force

Banned
Suppose the torpedo fired by the U-20 at the Lusitania turned out to be a dud and the warhead didn't explode? Unless it hit a seam squarely, I wonder if it would have had sufficient momentum to do any structural / mechanical damage to speak of. On the other hand, it would most certainly have robbed U-boats of the element of surprise and confirmed visibly the warnings by the Admiralty. Further consequences?

How would anyone know it's a torpedo unless it becomes embedded in the ship?
 
America will have less public opinion going toward the war, but will probably get in around the same time anyway. There is bound to be another incident that forces Germany to agree to not go after all shipping, until they make a desperate gamble, which blows up in their face here and IOTL, to starve Britain via blockade before America gets angry and sends over troops.
 
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