You wrote: "You don't exactly have to be the sharpest knife in the drawer to see that these two interpretations of the incident vary considerably. This latter description of a major screwup is one hell of a lot different than the initial take which implies deliberately killing Jewish refugees."

Perhaps, but for those who have such extensive experience blowing things up, such a "major screwup" is a little surprising.

Or maybe it's just spin.

Of the four sources I provided, only two might be considered unbiased - the first, and the last - which you did not mention - which concluded:

"Jewish agents secretly carried out the operation to publicize the Zionist cause around the world."

In this History of the Irgun, note that the favored method of attack is blowing up buildings, actions sometimes conducted by Irgun agents disguised as Arabs, or dressed as British soldiers.

Of course, maybe it's a mistake to assume that an encyclopedia is unbiased. Consider this, from the EB:

""British attempts to prevent Jewish immigration to Palestine in the face of the terrible tragedy befalling European Jewry led to the disastrous sinking of two ships carrying Jewish refugees, the Patria (November 1940) and the Struma (February 1942). In response, the Irgun, under the leadership of Menachem Begin, and a small terrorist splinter group, LEHI (Fighters for the Freedom of Israel), known for its founder as the Stern Gang, embarked on widespread attacks on the British, culminating in the murder of Lord Moyne..."

That's pretty good, don't you think? In reponse to sinking their own ship, the Irgun unleashed a terror campaign against the British.

Food for thought.

sp