Throughout its nearly 200-year history, the Cunard Line has lost several ships, primarily due to the catastrophic events of the two World Wars. Historians record approximately 20 Cunard ships lost during World War I alone, representing over 50% of the company's pre-war tonnage. The most famous of these was the RMS Lusitania, which was torpedoed by a German U-boat in 1915 with a loss of 1,201 lives. During World War II, Cunard lost another 7 major vessels, including the Lancastria, which was bombed in 1940 resulting in the largest loss of life in British maritime history (estimated between 3,000 and 9,000 people). In total, various records suggest around 45 Cunard-owned vessels have been lost over the centuries, though this number includes smaller subsidiary ships and freight vessels. In the "modern era" (post-1950), Cunard has maintained an exceptional safety record, with no major founderings or sinkings of its passenger fleet in regular service.