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

|}}

|}}

[[Image:NYT01May1915.jpg|200px|right|thumb|German advertisement in ''New York Times'', May 1, 1915, warns passengers not to take the Lusitania.]]

[[File:Lusitania-warn.png|300px|right|thumb|German advertisement in all major newspapers, warns passengers not to take the ''Lusitania.'' The ad did not say the Germans would violate international law by not giving passenggers a chance to board lifeboats.]]

'''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 helped push the U.S. into war against Germany in 1917.

'''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 helped push the U.S. into war against Germany in 1917.

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, and 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, and after tank testing in the Admiralty, the length of each was fixed at 787 feet.

''Lusitania's'' keel was laid in May, 1905, and when she was launced in June, 1906, she was the largest vessel afloat.  Passenger accomodations rivaled the finest hotels in Europe; even third-class accomdations, changed from standard open-berthing to four-to-six berth cabins, were palatial when compared to other ships.  In her sea trials her engines performed as expected, generating 68,000 horsepower while driving the ship forward at 25 knots.

''Lusitania's'' keel was laid in May, 1905, and when she was launced in June, 1906, she was the largest vessel afloat.  Passenger accomodations rivaled the finest hotels in Europe; even third-class accomdations, changed from standard open-berthing to four-to-six berth cabins, were palatial when compared to other ships.  In her sea trials her engines performed as expected, generating 68,000 horsepower while driving the ship forward at 25 knots, compared to 10 knots for a typical freighter (and 3 knots for a submarine underwater).

Thinking of her possible wartime service in the future, ''Lusitania'' was designed with her coal bunkers placed along side her boiler rooms, the theory being that a hit by a torpedo or ramming would be absorbed by these compartments and not affect her vital machinery.   

Thinking of her possible wartime service in the future, ''Lusitania'' was designed with her coal bunkers placed along side her boiler rooms, the theory being that a hit by a torpedo or ramming would be absorbed by these compartments and not affect her vital machinery.   

On May 7th, ''Lusitania'' and the German submarine both entered the Irish Channel.   

On May 7th, ''Lusitania'' and the German submarine both entered the Irish Channel.   

[[Image:Lusitania.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Poster about the ''Lusitania'']]

[[Image:Lusitania.jpg|right|thumb|340px|British recruiting poster explots the attack]]

Running low on fuel Kapitänleutnant Schwieger was onm his way back to Germany when he crossed paths with the ''Lusitania.'' He immediately recognized the huge ship as an unarmed passenger liner. He fired one torpedo. The torpedo was spotted, but nothing was able to be done about it. Right after it hit, it triggered a secondary, larger explosion within the ship.  Due to the list of the ship, it was impossible to launch half of her lifeboats. A distress signal was sent out and picked up at Queenstown (now called [[Cobh]]), Ireland.  The Lusitania sank 18 minutes after the torpedo hit.

Running low on fuel Kapitänleutnant Schwieger was onm his way back to Germany when he crossed paths with the ''Lusitania.'' He immediately recognized the huge ship as an unarmed passenger liner. He fired one torpedo. The torpedo was spotted, but nothing was able to be done about it. Right after it hit, it triggered a secondary, larger explosion within the ship.  Due to the list of the ship, it was impossible to launch half of her lifeboats. A distress signal was sent out and picked up at Queenstown (now called [[Cobh]]), Ireland.  The Lusitania sank 18 minutes after the torpedo hit.