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ZTV Akron
Apr 24, 20204 min read

Taking you Back to The Titanic | 5 Minute Flashback

General Manager: Juan Contreras

Producer: Nicole Maxhimer

Author: Kristen Dauber

 

Hey, all you history lovers and flashback fanatics! In today’s 5-Minute Flashback, we’ll be talking about an extremely famous historical event that happened almost exactly 108 years ago.


The Titanic, or in full The Royal Mail Ship (RMS) Titanic, was a British luxury steamship that sank during the early hours of April 15th, 1912 after striking an iceberg during its maiden voyage. The Titanic was en route to New York City from Southampton, England, killing about 1,500 passengers and crew members. As one of the most famous tragedies in modern history, it has inspired countless stories, films, and musicals, as well as scientific speculation.


Construction of the Titanic

The Titanic was born from the intense competition among shipping lines in the early 20th century. During this time, the transatlantic passenger trade was highly profitable and competitive. Ship lines competed to transport extremely wealthy travelers and immigrants.




Two men, J. Bruce Ismay and William Pirrie were looking to answer the debut of two new ships produced by their rivals. They devised a plan to build a class of large liners that would be known for their comfort, as opposed to speed.


It was decided that three vessels would be constructed: the Olympia, the Titanic, and the Brittanic. Each ship would measure 882 feet in length and 92.5 feet at their broadest point, making them the largest of their time.


In March 1909, construction of the Titanic began and continued nonstop for two years. It featured an immense first-class dining saloon, four elevators, and a swimming pool. Its second-class accommodations were comparable to first-class features on other ships, and it’s third-class accommodations were still noted for their comfort.






The Titanic’s Fatal Flaws


The Titanic contained 16 watertight bulkhead compartments equipped with electric watertight doors that could be operated from a switch on the bridge. This was intended for water to be contained in the event the hull was breached. The ship’s builders claimed that four of the compartments could be flooded without endangering the vessel’s buoyancy. This is what led many to believe that the Titanic was unsinkable.


However, it was in these watertight compartments that a major design flaw was a critical factor in the demise of the Titanic. While these compartments were presumed to be watertight, the bulkheads were not capped at the top. The walls separating the bulkheads only extended a few feet above the waterline, so water could pour from one compartment into another. This was especially problematic in the event that the ship begins to pitch forward.


Another critical safety lapse in the design of the Titanic was the lack of lifeboats the liner carried. A total of 16 boats could accommodate 1,178 people, while the Titanic carried 2,435 passengers. With a crew of approximately 900 people, the Titanic had a capacity of over 3,300. As a result, even if all of the boats were filled to maximum capacity, there were only enough seats for roughly one-third of the passengers.


The Maiden Voyage


On April 10, 1912, the Titanic set sail to New York City. The voyage nearly began with a collision with the America Line’s S.S. New York. After an hour of maneuverings to prevent the incident, the voyage was underway. Following multiple stops in France and Ireland, the Titanic set sail for its journey to New York.



On April 14th, after four days of smooth sailing, the Titanic received reports of ice from other ships. These messages, however, were taken lightly. Around 11:30 p.m., a lookout noticed an iceberg ahead and notified the bridge. The ship made a sharp turn and, instead of making a direct impact, grazed the side of the ship with the iceberg. The iceberg slashed a 300-foot gash in the hull and damaged 5 of the 16 compartments. By the time the area was assessed, water was already filling the compartments and the bow of the ship was pitched downward, allowing water to spill from one compartment to another. The crew estimated that the ship would only stay afloat for an hour and a half, and lifeboats were ordered to be loaded.


Check out this video from National Geographic "New CGI of How Titanic Sank | Titanic 100"


A frantic evacuation began, and women and children were loaded onto the boats first. When there were no women or children nearby, men were permitted to load onto the boats. However, due to disorderly procedures, many women and children failed to get onto lifeboats. The third-class passengers suffered the greatest loss: of about 710 people, only 174 survived. By 2:20 a.m., the Titanic had disappeared beneath the Atlantic. In the end, there were around 1,500 casualties. A few hours after receiving Titanic’s distress call, another liner named the Carpathia arrived at the scene and rounded up all of the lifeboats. They contained only 705 survivors.


Well, that's all for this 5 Minute Flashback, What do you think about The Titanic? If you're looking to learn more history the best way is by subscribing to ZTV 5 Minute Flashback on YouTube, liking us on Facebook, following us on Twitter, and showing us some love on Instagram. This was Kristen Dauber from Five Minute Flashback, and be sure to stay in, enjoy life and stay curious!

 

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Author:

Kristen Dauber

Communications: Media Studies

 

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