Everything Everywhere Daily The Sinking of the Lusitania
Nov 5, 2025
On May 7, 1915, the RMS Lusitania was sunk by a German U-boat, leading to over 1,100 casualties, including many Americans. The sinking fueled outrage and played a pivotal role in the U.S. entering World War I. Delve into the ship's design flaws, its peacetime career, and the decisions that led to its tragic fate. Discover the public's reaction and the media coverage that intensified anti-German sentiment. Was the Lusitania secretly carrying munitions? Explore the complexities behind America's shift from neutrality to involvement in the war.
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Why Cunard Built The Lusitania
- Cunard built the Lusitania and Mauritania to outcompete German lines and secure immigrant traffic across the Atlantic.
- The ships were funded by a loan requiring Admiralty specifications so they could be converted for wartime use.
Dual-Use Design Made Lusitania A Target
- The Lusitania was built to Admiralty specs so it could host naval guns and be listed as a reserve merchant vessel during wartime.
- Those military design clauses made the liner both strategically valuable and an identifiable wartime target.
Speed Came With Deadly Design Tradeoffs
- The Lusitania combined unprecedented speed with design compromises that created stability and lifeboat challenges.
- Those flaws magnified the ship's vulnerability when it came under attack in wartime conditions.