Changes

| pass=2,198 total <br>First-class: 552<br>Second-class: 460<br>Third-class: 1,186

| pass=2,198 total <br>First-class: 552<br>Second-class: 460<br>Third-class: 1,186

|}}

|}}

'''RMS ''Lusitania''''' was a British passenger liner sunk by a German U-boat (submarine) in [[World War I]] with heavy loss of life. The terrorist attack on unarmed civilians was a major atrocity that outraged Americans and ruined Germany's reputation as an honorable nation. The episode was one of the catalysts that helped push the U.S. to enter the war against Germany in 1917.

'''RMS ''Lusitania''''' was a [[British]] passenger liner sunk by a [[Germany|German]] [[U-boat]] ([[submarine]]) in [[World War I]] with heavy loss of life. The terrorist attack on unarmed civilians was a major atrocity that outraged [[American]]s and ruined Germany's reputation as an honorable nation. The episode was one of the catalysts that helped push the [[U.S.]] to enter the war against Germany in 1917.

==History==

==History==

''Lusitania'' was first conceived as a way of returning the Blue Riband Trophy to Britain, and ensuring British dominance of steamship passenger service across the Atlantic. In 1902, while the trophy was still in German hands (since 1897, by the Nordeutscher Lloyd ship ''Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse''), negotiations began between members of the government and Cunard with the purpose of building several liners capable of up to 25 knots; Cunard would retain all rights to use the ships, but in exchange for a government loan of £2,600,000 the vessels would be turned over to the government during a national emergency for use as troop transports or hospital ships. The ships would be named ''Lusitania'' and ''Mauritania''.

''Lusitania'' was first conceived as a way of returning the Blue Riband Trophy to [[Britain]], and ensuring British dominance of steamship passenger service across the [[Atlantic]]. In 1902, while the trophy was still in German hands (since 1897, by the Nordeutscher Lloyd ship ''Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse''), negotiations began between members of the government and Cunard with the purpose of building several liners capable of up to 25 knots; Cunard would retain all rights to use the ships, but in exchange for a government loan of £2,600,000 the vessels would be turned over to the government during a national emergency for use as troop transports or hospital ships. The ships would be named ''Lusitania'' and ''Mauritania''.

To meet the speed requirements the ships were fitted with new Parsons steam turbine engines powering four three-bladed propellers; their hulls were designed around a "nine-to-one" ratio of length versus beam, ensuring their power would push them easily to meet the projected speed requirements. After tank testing in the Admiralty, the length of each was fixed at 787 feet.

To meet the speed requirements the ships were fitted with new Parsons steam turbine engines powering four three-bladed propellers; their hulls were designed around a "nine-to-one" ratio of length versus beam, ensuring their power would push them easily to meet the projected speed requirements. After tank testing in the Admiralty, the length of each was fixed at 787 feet.