Born out of a collaboration between Cunard and the British government, the Lusitania was the first response to the large and fast four funneled German liners, SS Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse, SS Kronprinz Wilhelm, and the SS Deutschland.
Cunard set out to crush the competition. With a dream of having two fast liners and a third larger opulent liner servicing the transatlantic market, plans were made. Designed with speed in mind, the RMS Lusitania utilized several iconic design cues and technology.
After several successful years with the sister ship RMS Mauretania, the Lusitania continued to steam between Britain and the United States providing nearly weekly service.
At the outbreak of WWI, the Lusitania remained in merchant marine duty maintaining her route until tragedy struck. Chased by a German U-Boat, the Lusitania was torpedoed off the coast of Ireland, sinking in under twenty minutes with a great loss of life.
To learn more about the RMS Lusitania shipwreck, go to the Great Ocean Liners Shipwrecks page.
Speed of Steam Turbines
One of the objectives of Cunard was speed. As a financing partner, the British government's objectives was speed as well. Due to increased competition of the International Mercantile Marine, a conglomerate owned by America's JP Morgan, Cunard the the British government came to agreement to modernize Cunard's fleet.
Built to admiralty specifications, the RMS Lusitania and sister ship RMS Mauretania, utilize a high strength steel hull, wireless telegraph installed, and revolutionary turbine engine design. The launch of the Lusitania was first time a turbine had been used in transatlantic travel. Causing tremendous vibrations, the aft of the Lusitania at full speed remained a relatively unpleasant space, a sacrifice for the speed provided.
Blue Riband Runs, Traveling in Style
Utilizing a design aesthetic of historic design styles, such as Georgian, Queen Anne, and neoclassical King Louis XVI motifs. These all created a level of opulence and scale not seen before.
Winning the Blue Riband on her second trip, the Lusitania was bred for speed. With four propellers and four steam turbines, two high pressure turbines and two low pressure turbines.
Fitted with lifts, indoor plumbing, heating and air conditioning, the Lusitania was a ship to showcase the upcoming ocean liner race.
Lusitania During WWI
During the outbreak of WWI, the shipping industry was hit hard. The often used Cruiser Rules to define naval warfare seemed slightly out of date with the new contingent of liners and submarines.
During the war, the Lusitania was one of few ships to maintain civilian service. Painted a dark grey color scheme at the beginning, the British Admiralty gave instructions of intercepting ships to be rammed, lessening the chance of capture or destruction.
At the beginning of 1915, the Lusitania's funnels were painted the distinctive solid black and allegedly began transporting munitions from the then neutral United States to the Allied front.
Disaster of War
In May of 1915, the Imperial German Embassy issued a warning notice to papers in the United States warning that British ships are traveling through a war zone and are subject to sinking. Even with warning, the Lusitania sailed on.
May 7, 1915 the Lusitania, sailing from New York to Liverpool, entered into waters south of Ireland. With the Lusitania's impressive speed, many believed if in trouble, the ship could simply outrun an enemy ships. Although this was the case, not in confined spaces. German U-Boat U20 fired upon the Lusitania in open waters and struck.
Minutes after the initial impact, there was a second and larger explosion. Once this occurred, the sinking increased and in a matter of minutes, the Lusitania sat at the bottom of the sea. Only six lifeboats were able to be launched successfully. Of the 1,962 Passengers and Crew aboard, 1,196 lost their lives. Of those lost, 128 were Americans, causing a backlash that forced the US to eventually enter the War as an Allied force.
RMS Lusitania Ship Facts
Tonnage:
31,550 GRT
Length:
787'
Beam:
87'
Draft:
33' - 6"
Number of Decks:
9
Cruising Speed:
25 Knots (29 mph or 46 km/hr)
Max Speed:
28 Knots (32mph or 52km/h)
Line:
Shipyard:
Port of Registry:
Liverpool
Maiden Voyage:
September 7, 1907
Years in Service:
1907-1915
Current Status:
Torpedoed and sunk by a German U-Boat in WWI
RMS Lusitania Frequently Asked Questions
What was the RMS Lusitania?
RMS Lusitania was a Cunard ocean liner built by John Brown and Company in Clydebank, Scotland. She entered service in 1907 and held the Blue Riband. A German U-boat torpedoed her off the coast of Ireland on 7 May 1915, killing about 1,200 people. Her sister ship was the Mauretania.
How fast was the Lusitania?
Her service speed was about 24 knots. She reached 25.6 knots on trials in July 1907, and in 1909 she crossed westbound at an average of 25.85 knots. Four Parsons steam turbines (76,000 shaft horsepower) drove her four propellers. In wartime her speed fell to about 21 knots after Cunard shut down one boiler room to save coal.
What was the Lusitania’s sister ship?
The sister ship of the Lusitania was the RMS Mauretania, built by Swan Hunter on the Tyne and entering service in November 1907. The Mauretania was slightly larger (about three feet longer) and faster. She took the Blue Riband from the Lusitania in 1909 and kept it until 1929.
How long did it take the Lusitania to sink?
The Lusitania sank in about 18 minutes. A torpedo from U-20 struck her at 2:10 p.m. on 7 May 1915, followed by a second explosion. She sank about 11 nautical miles off the Old Head of Kinsale, Ireland.
How big was the Lusitania?
She was 787 ft (239.9 m) long and 87.8 ft (26.8 m) wide, with a gross tonnage of 31,550. Her displacement was about 44,060 long tons. Gross tonnage measures enclosed volume, not weight. Her length is often misquoted as 785 or 790 ft.
Where was the Lusitania built?
She was built by John Brown and Company at Clydebank, Scotland (yard number 367). Her keel was laid on 17 August 1904, and she was launched on 7 June 1906. She left Liverpool on her maiden voyage on 7 September 1907.
Why did the Germans sink the Lusitania?
Germany had declared the waters around Britain a war zone and published warnings in American newspapers. The Lusitania was carrying about 173 tons of war materials, including roughly 4.2 million rifle rounds. Germany argued she was a legitimate target. She was not armed or commissioned as a warship.
How many people died on the Lusitania?
About 1,195 people died. Sources give totals from 1,195 to 1,199, depending on whether stowaways are counted. About 764 to 767 survived. Of the 1,960 people aboard, 128 of the dead were Americans.
How many watertight compartments did the Lusitania have?
She had 13 watertight compartments and 35 hydraulically operated watertight doors, and could stay afloat with any two flooded. A design flaw was that the coal bunker doors had to stay open in service.
Did the Lusitania carry weapons?
She carried ammunition and other war materials, but not guns, and she was not an armed ship. The cargo included about 4.2 million rounds of rifle ammunition, about 5,000 shrapnel shell casings and 3,240 brass fuses. It was listed on her manifests.
Where is the Lusitania wreck, and can you dive it?
The wreck lies on her starboard side at a depth of about 93 m (305 ft), about 11 miles south of the Kinsale lighthouse, in Irish waters. She was found on 6 October 1935. The wreck is badly collapsed and unstable, and three of her four propellers were removed in 1982. Dives need a license, and Ireland protects the site as it is a gravesite. Always verify the current license rules before diving.
Did the Lusitania win the Blue Riband?
Yes. On her second voyage, in October 1907, she took the westbound Blue Riband in 4 days, 19 hours and 53 minutes, at an average of 23.99 knots. In July 1909 she briefly regained it after propeller changes, but the Mauretania took it back that month and kept it until the Bremen in 1929.
Did the sinking of the Lusitania bring America into World War I?
Not directly. The sinking turned American opinion against Germany and led Germany to suspend attacks on passenger ships for a time. The United States did not declare war until 6 April 1917, after Germany announced renewed unrestricted submarine warfare in January 1917.
How many passengers and crew did the Lusitania carry?
She could carry 2,198 passengers (552 first class, 460 second class and 1,186 third class) with a crew of about 830 to 850. On the final voyage she had 1,264 passengers, three stowaways and 693 crew.
Last edited: October 2026