Fast Facts

The RMS Lusitania was a British ocean liner torpedoed and sunk by the German submarine U-20 on 7 May 1915, becoming a casualty of World War I. 128 American civilians died in the attack, turning American opinion against Germany, making the sinking a turning point of the war. However, the United States would not declare war on Germany and enter World War I until April 1917.

Date attacked: 7 May 1915

Duration of sinking: 18 minutes

People aboard: 1,960*

Survivors: 767* (4 died in subsequent months)

Victims: 1,193 (per this site) + 4 survivors who died soon thereafter = 1,197*

Americans killed: 128* (officially)

Passenger ship carrying war materiel for the British Army when she was attacked and sunk

Wreck location: 51°25′N 8°33′W, ~300 feet (91 meters) underwater, ~11 miles (18 km) south of the Old Head of Kinsale, Ireland

*Numbers for passengers and crew subject to revision as names are cross-checked and confirmed by family members and researchers.

Other fast facts:

Gross tonnage: 31,550

Length overall: 787 feet / 239.8 meters

Beam: 87 feet 6 inches / 26.7 meters

Draft: 33 feet 6 inches / 10.2 meters

Top speed: 26.35 knots

Read more at “Lusitania Facts and Figures“