RMS Lusitania was a British transatlantic liner infamously sunk by a German U-boat on 7 May 1915 during the First World War (1914-18). Struck off the coast of southern Ireland, the ship sank in less than 20 minutes, and nearly 1,200 passengers lost their lives. The attack on the unarmed vessel sailing from New York to Liverpool caused such a furore in Britain and the United States that Germany subsequently limited its submarine attacks on merchant vessels. The wreck of the Lusitania was explored and mapped by Robert D. Ballard in 1993.
More about: RMS LusitaniaDefinition
Timeline
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Sep 1907RMS Lusitania makes its maiden voyage.
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Oct 1907RMS Lustiania gains the Blue Riband for the fastest crossing of the Atlantic.
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7 May 1915The German U-boat U-20 sinks the passenger liner RMS Lusitania.
