Titanic

On 15th April 1912 (almost 100 years ago) the 'unsinkable' luxury liner RMS Titanic was to sink on its maiden voyage. Just 5 days out from Southampton and in mid-Atlantic Ocean it allegedly collided with an ice-berg. A single rogue ice-berg in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. Incredibly bad luck or something more sinister afoot? The 'Ship That Never Sank?' by Robin Gardiner explores an alternative theory. Basically, an insurance fraud and it makes a compelling case.

• On the 14th April 1912, the Moon was a waning crescent. A very small illuminated slice, essentially providing a moonless night. However, 3 months earlier on 4th January 1912, a full moon was at the closest to Earth that it had been for many, many years (perigee). The effect of this is that the unusually high gravitational attraction could have caused many ice-bergs to have broken away from Newfoundland. Over the ensuing weeks, these could have floated south into the shipping lanes.

The White Star Line was the owner of the ship Olympic. This vessel had been in collision with the British warship HMS Hawke (20th September 1911). It was only after examination at the Harland and Woff shipyard (specialisation in ship repair and conversion) in Belfast that the extent of the damage was realised. The ship was effectively a writedown. The White Star Line had been selling lucrative tickets for an as yet unbuilt ship (Titanic) and the other ship had no commercial future unless very expensive repairs were undertaken. The company was in a very serious condition and faced potential bankruptcy.

• The inquiry into the collision with HMS Hawke concluded that the Olympic had 'sucked' the warship in as it passed by in the Solent. The Navy was thus cleared of all blame.

RMS Titanic

RMS Olympic

The fraud that is suggested involved switching the identities of Titanic and Olympic.The Olympic would become the Titanic and this vessel would be sacrificed. Notably, when the damaged propeller was changed, the day-long repair took around a week to complete. It is proposed that during this time the identity switch was executed. Name plates, crockery, cutlery, towels and anything that showed Olympic was removed and replaced with the Titanic livery. Some structural alterations to the vessel were made at this time to complete the identity switch.

• It should be noted that Harland and Wolff provided work for many, many people. Large families were involved and any failure of the 'breadwinner' to comply with the employer's demands or be a 'whistleblower' would be met with sacking of the individual that would impact on the livelihood of many. Future work prospects (anywhere) would be severely compromised.

The ship was allegedly undergoing sea trials and the race was on to reach New York and set a new record for safe and fast travel across the Atlantic Ocean. That icebergs were known to be in or near the shipping lanes was apparently of no concern. It must have the modern-day equivalent of driving at high speed in fog.

Lunacy?

• The Coal Fire Theory suggests that a faster rate of coal consumption was happening with the consequence of more steam being made and the need for greater speed to use it up. But by the time of the collision, it has been estimated that the smouldering fire would not have been reached. This could account, however, for the greater speed at a highly dangerous time.

Coal Fire (short story)

Almost 'unbelievably' the lookouts had no binoculars to... look out. The optics had apparently 'gone missing'.

Deliberate or just bad luck?

The decision for full stop followed by all reverse full would have had the consequence of the loss of rudder steerage control. Moving water is essential for the rudder to work and turn the vessel. These were ostensibly unwise actions. Titanic was launched and ultimately put into service with inadequate lifeboats. After all, this vessel was 'unsinkable' and such safety requirements were unnecessary. Since the 'fate' of Titanic (or the writedown Olympic) was for it to be scuttled, lifeboats were not going to be needed. It must be noted, however, that the requirements for a full lifeboat complement was just 16 at the time. Titanic had 20, so actually an additional 4 lifeboats were being carried in excess of the minimum requirement. The rules had not been updated for two decades. Also, the route was in a busy shipping lane and potential rescue ships would not have normally been far away. Lifeboats would have been used to ferry between a stricken ship and rescuers. A large number of 'boats would possibly have been regarded as unnecessary if an ordinary vessel is expected to survive maybe 36 hours before sinking. Titanic was 'sold' to the public as being 'unsinkable'.

• The concept of the fraud involved a rescue ship, but running lights would have been turned off. This vessel was not supposed to be where it was. It was not an iceberg that was hit, but another ship. Metal-on-metal would cause much greater damage than metal-on-ice, hard though ice may be.

The 'explanation' of the Titanic disaster is well known, but may have been just a cover-up to enable the fraud to be successful. Many would have been involved though a great many more probably not. The story should be read and understood if nothing else to restore some kind of balance. This book is to be commended.

Titanic - Real Reason for Tragedy - Comments
Titanic - National Museums Northern Ireland
Board of Trade - British Inquiry
Titanic - Aftermath and Enquiry
Titanic - Inquiry Project
RMS Titanic - about

Olympic is proposed to have served from

1911 to 1935, having been repaired after
the collision with HMS Hawke in the Solent,
but was it actually Titanic? The...

'Ship That Never Sank?'

'Ship That Never Sank?' by Robin Gardiner (Amazon)
Olympic and Titanic - Analysis of the Conspiracy Theory
HMHS Britannic - White Star Line
Alternative Theories
RMS Lusitania
Apollo (mmm? - DA)