Ship
Specifications
In 1907, when the Lusitania set sail on her maiden voyage from Liverpool to New York, she was the largest man-made mobile object in the world—at 790 feet long, 88 feet wide across her beam, and 68 feet high from the water line alone. For comparison, the Eiffel Tower, built in 1889, stands 986 feet tall and the Statue of Liberty, completed in 1886, stands 305 feet from the ground to the top of her torch. Zeppelins, or air ships, averaged about 500 feet long.
The British government loaned Cunard Lines 2.6 million pounds, at the reduced interest rate of 2.75%, to build the sister ships Lusitania and Mauretania on the condition that they could:
- be converted to warships;
- travel faster than Germany's fastest ship—the Kaiser Wilhelm II (top speed of 23.5 knots); and
- be controlled by the government for 20 years.
Upon agreeing to these terms, Cunard received an annual £75,000 subsidy.
Naval architect Leonard Peskett was challenged to design to the Admiralty's requirements for speed and war capability and Cunard's desire for a floating hotel that could accommodate 2,300 passengers and 900 crew and staff members. To achieve the 25 knot speed requirement, Peskett needed to build higher than had been attempted before. The Admiralty also required that all boilers, engines, steering, and fuel be placed in compartments below the water line, which was a standard practice in war ships. Eleven water tight compartments, 25 boilers, cargo in the bows, and turbines aft completely filled the bottom of the ship, leaving no room for coal storage. To complete a transatlantic voyage, a ship of this size required 6,600 tons of coal. The longitudinal compartments, originally designed to provide buoyancy and to protect the interior boiler rooms in case of attack, were eventually used for coal storage.
Modifications
The Lusitania was taken out of service on May 12, 1913 to retrofit her entire length between the shelter and upper decks with double-plated armor and hydraulc rivets. A reserve coal bunker and part of the mail rooms were converted to ammunitions storage areas. Gun mounts were installed on the forecastle and after deck and under hatches in the shelter deck. In August 1914, the Lusitania was outfitted with guns, the F deck passenger accommodations were gutted, and a portion of the shelter deck was enclosed. In September 1914, the Lusitania was registered with the Admiralty as an armed auxiliary cruiser. As a result of the Titanic's sinking in 1912, the Lusitania was retrofit with additional lifeboats, however, these were mounted 69 feet above the water line and were located 7 feet away from the upper deck. These modifications would become significant at the time of Lusitania's sinking.
Accommodations
First cabin
At a time when working class men earned about 20 dollars a week, Cunard charged as much as $4,000 for a one-way passage in first, or saloon, class accommodations. The Regal Suite apartment comprised two bedrooms, a private parlor and dining room, a pantry, and a bathroom. First class passengers enjoyed dining in a resplendent domed dining room, decorated in the Greek Revival style. In addition to a dining room, a verandah café was meant to simulate a European outdoor café. Elevators took passengers between decks, while private telephones were available in the cabins.
Second cabin
On the Lusitania, second class areas were more luxurious than first class areas on other ships. Classes were segregated on ship: first, second, and third class had their own deck promenade areas, dining rooms, smoking rooms, and sitting rooms.
Third cabin
Third class was located in the lowest part of the ship. No attempt was made to make the areas look like a grand hotel, instead they looked institutional. The third class dining room was more like a dormitory or military mess hall, with long tables and hard-seated chairs. Menus were dictated by the day of the week, no selection was given to third class passengers. Cabins were set up to be shared by up to 8 people, often strangers. Cunard emblems covered the bedspreads, not as an attempt at décor, but to deter theft by clear markings.
