Titanic Strikes Iceberg

On the evening of 14th April 1912 the RMS Titanic was steaming towards New York. During the day Titanic had received ice warnings from other ships travelling through the area for which the Titanic was bound.  

Titanic steams toward New York on evening 14th April 1912

Shortly before 11:40 pm Ships Time 14th April 1912 the lookouts on board Titanic spotted an iceberg directly in front of the ship. 

Titanic steams towards the Iceberg

Lookout Frederick Fleet rang the warning bell three times and rang the bridge to warn of the danger. First Officer William Murdoch ordered the helmsman to turn hard to starboard, a manoeuvre that caused a glancing collision with the iceberg causing a hole in the side of Titanic.

Titanic's lookout spot the Iceberg

Titanic manoeuvres to avoid the Iceberg

Titanic strikes the Iceberg

The iceberg had struck below the waterline puncturing the hull, inflicting what was to become a fatal blow. Titanic would sink 2 hours 40 minutes later.  

Iceberg strikes Titanic's hull below the waterline

Iceberg strikes Titanic's hull below the waterline

Titanic sinks in Real Time - 2 hrs 40 mins

Carpathia Rescues Survivors

At 12:15 am (00:15) 15th April 1912 the radio operator of the RMS Carpathia picked up a distress signal from Titanic. The Carpathia had left New York on 12th April 1912 bound for the Mediterranean. Over the other side of the Atlantic, the RMS Titanic was leaving Queenstown (now Cobh) for New York.

RMS Carpathia

Titanic sends out distress signals

The RMS Carpathia was en-route to Fiume, a regular Cunard route between New York and the Austro-Hungarian port, for migrants going to and from America. The Carpathia had been built by Swan Hunter on the River Tyne, launched in 1901, making her maiden voyage in May 1903. The ship could carry 2,550 passengers, a work horse which would neither win the Blue Ribbond (fastest trans Atlantic crossing), nor carry rich millionaires.

RMS Carpathia

On receiving the distress signal, Carpathia's captain, Rostrom, ordered Carpathia to alter course towards the Titanic 93 km (58 miles) north west. It would take four hours for Carpathia to reach Titanic. Carpathia's top speed was 14 knots (16 mph - 26 kmh). Captain Rostrom ordered the ships heating and hot water turned off to ensure maximum power to the engines.  This allowed Carpathia to reach a speed of 17 knots. As the Carpathia headed for Titanic, Rostrom made preparations to receive survivors.

Carpathia reached the edge of the icefield in  just over 2 hours at 2:25 am (02:25). Carpathia  would not reach Titanic's position, till 4:00 am (04:00).  There was no sign of the stricken ship, however a signal flare from one of Titanic's lifeboats was spotted.

Carpathia spots signal flare from one of Titanic's lifeboats

Titanic lifeboats approach the Carpathia

Titanic lifeboats approach the Carpathia

The first lifeboat found was no 12, the survivors boarded the Carpathia at 4:00 pm (04:00).

Carpathia rescues survivors

The Carpathia rescued 712 people, the last survivors from boat 12  coming on board at 7:30 am (07:30).

Titanic lifeboat no 6 approaches Carpathia

 

Lifeboat 14 and D approaching Carpathia, 15th April 1912.

 

 Collapsible lifeboat approaches Titanic

Titanic survivors boarding Carpathia

Captain Rostrom set sail for New York from where Carpathia had left 3 days earlier. The closest port was Halifax, Nova Scotia, but that meant sailing through the icefields. Carpathia set sail for New York.

Titanic Survivors on board Titanic

Titanic Survivors on board Titanic

Titanic Survivors on board Titanic with lifeboats

 

Carpathia New York bound