RMS Lusitania

About the RMS Lusitania

The RMS Lusitania was a British ocean liner built by John Brown & Company for the Cunard Line. Launched in 1906, she entered service in 1907 and became famous for her speed, luxurious accommodations and advanced engineering. Alongside her sister ship, the Mauretania, she was among the fastest and most prestigious liners crossing the Atlantic between Britain and North America. During World War I, the Lusitania continued carrying passengers and cargo across the Atlantic. On 7 May 1915, she was torpedoed by the German submarine U-20 off the coast of Ireland. She sank in just 18 minutes, killing 1,198 people, including many civilians. The disaster caused international outrage and increased anti-German sentiment, particularly in the United States. The sinking of the Lusitania became one of the most significant maritime tragedies of World War I.