This is an awesome timeline, though are we certain that Britannic was originally called Gigantic before her sister sank? I could’ve sworn it was a myth
Disaster Averted (Titanic Lives)
- Thread starter PrinceHenry_of_Rheinsberg
- Start date
It is your timeline to make as 'in depth' as you want, or if you just want to focus on the ships.
I would say that the non-loss of Titanic, and the survival of those 1506 souls would have an impact on the world, people like Major Butt, or Astor or the Macy's have influence, plus who knows if there was a future Tesla or Edison among the dead in 3rd class?
Olympic, Titanic, and Gigantic would of course have competition from the Imperator and other German ships soon enough, provided no disasters happen to them?
I would say that the non-loss of Titanic, and the survival of those 1506 souls would have an impact on the world, people like Major Butt, or Astor or the Macy's have influence, plus who knows if there was a future Tesla or Edison among the dead in 3rd class?
Olympic, Titanic, and Gigantic would of course have competition from the Imperator and other German ships soon enough, provided no disasters happen to them?
Snopes says it's true: https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/gigantic/
I suspect Gigantic was the name as its part of the Greek Myth theme, but Titanic sinking killed that dead during planning. When she was laid down someone (at the yard?) was 'off message' and used the old name in a briefing before the Press Office got on the case.
In an AU however with no Titanic disaster I could see the Gigantic joining the service in 1914.
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And so, with the outbreak of the First World War, what's Titanic's war-time history going to entail?
In OTL, Britannic served as a hospital ship, whilst Olympic served as a troop ship (in which she sank a U-Boat).
But there is one war time role that Titanic could maybe find itself in, if it wasn't made into one of those two.
An armed merchant cruiser (armed with QF 4.7-inch guns mainly).
In OTL, Britannic served as a hospital ship, whilst Olympic served as a troop ship (in which she sank a U-Boat).
But there is one war time role that Titanic could maybe find itself in, if it wasn't made into one of those two.
An armed merchant cruiser (armed with QF 4.7-inch guns mainly).
Wasn't Olympic armed even when trooping?
As I recall the Olympic class don't really suit armed cruiser role since they are not really fast enough to outrun U-boats.
No no, the AMC was not really ideal for fighting against U-Boats (I think that role was more in line for Q-ships), but more for convoy defense against either warships or German merchant raiders, to which liners had quite superior speed to warships of the time.
And yes, I found out that Olympic, whilst as a troopship, was equipped with 12-pounders and 4.7-inch guns in 1915, and later equipped with 6-inch guns in 1917.
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It was the Olympic. She was able to sink the U-103 by ramming the Uboat.
I can see Olympic and Titanic working together as troop transports while Britannic/Gigantic stays as a hospital ship.
Without Titanic sinking there's not gonna be the regulations that made lifeboats for everyone onboard mandatory, so a lot more people would die if one of them is sunk like Britannic OTL, or even worse on Lusitania which could prompt earlier US intervention in WW1. Though the idea of the three sisters working together well into the 20s and 30s is quite nice in my opinion.
Without Titanic sinking there's not gonna be the regulations that made lifeboats for everyone onboard mandatory, so a lot more people would die if one of them is sunk like Britannic OTL, or even worse on Lusitania which could prompt earlier US intervention in WW1. Though the idea of the three sisters working together well into the 20s and 30s is quite nice in my opinion.
I am not sure about that, in wartime conditions I suspect they would still ram the decks with life boats simply cos you don’t want to risk the troops loss…
All three Olympic class ships will have to be careful indeed during the war. It would be unrealistic to say they see no action, but it is plausible they all make it out.
IF Roosevelt gets the 1912 election thanks to help from Major Butt, then I could see America involved much earlier so the Olympic Class might only ever be troopships.
All three Olympic class ships will have to be careful indeed during the war. It would be unrealistic to say they see no action, but it is plausible they all make it out.
IF Roosevelt gets the 1912 election thanks to help from Major Butt, then I could see America involved much earlier so the Olympic Class might only ever be troopships.
The Second Transcontinental Railway (Canada)
The Second Transcontinental Railway
Among those saved from the stricken Titanic was one Charles Melville Hays, President of the Grand Trunk Railway in Canada. Under him, the Grand Trunk Railway was a system of rails that operated throughout much of Canada’s southern provinces, concentrated in Quebec and Ontario whilst having lines in Connecticut, Maine, Michigan, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Vermont. Having begun in the railroad business as a clerk at the mere age of 17, Hays had worked his way up the ranks quickly in management and became the General Manager of the Walbash, St. Louis and Pacific Railway. He later became its Vice-President in 1889, and stayed till 1896, as he became General Manager of the Grand Trunk Railway (GTR) of Canada.
After managing to keep the company afloat from bankruptcy. He later became President of GTR including all its consolidated lines, subsidiary railroads, and steamship companies. Ever ambitious, Hays sought to create a second transcontinental railroad within the borders of Canada.
Despite having begun construction in 1905, construction costs were growing whilst trouble came in the form of Grand Trunk union workers demanding wages increased like those in the United States in 1910. A strike halted construction and would force Hays to give into workers’ demands, though he would fail on his promise to rehire 250 previously fired strikers. He followed this by denying their pensions.
By 1912, the cost of Constructing the railway was increasing, with rising wages and price increases on materials, while the government refused to allow a rate increase. Matters weren’t helped by Hays push for building on the very highest standards. Competition also grew from the Canadian Northern Railway (CNoR) and Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) with the two monopolizing growing traffic in the western prairies as they were being rapidly settled.
All this would lead Hays to leave for London where he hoped to solicit financial support for the GTP. By April however, Hays had grown anxious to return back to Canada for the opening of the Chateau Laurier in Ottawa, Ontario with the gala opening set for April 25, 1912. He also learned that his daughter Louise was having difficulty with her pregnancy. After getting an invitation from J. Bruce Ismay, Hays found himself, wife, daughter, son-in-law, secretary and maid all boarded the ship bound for New York.
Following their rescue, Hays and his entourage regrouped in New York after being separated during the evacuation and later, staying overnight in hotel rooms provided for them. As Hays prepared to leave for Canada, he bid farewell to a number of acquaintances he had spoken to during the voyage, before having one last conversation with J. Bruce Ismay on April 23. As the two men sat together in the lounge area of the hotel where they were staying, Hays chose to wait for Bruce Ismay who had remained on board Titanic.
It was quiet for a moment, neither man willing to speak though Hays noticed how Ismay seemed distant, unable to focus on anything in front of him and instead just looked out mindlessly. “Ismay?” Blinking once, Ismay turned to his companion and offered a brief ‘sorry’ before he leaned back in his chair. “M-My apologies, Mr Hays. I still feel unsettled from… what happened.” Hays took little time in replying back, “I doubt anyone would come from that and still be able to come to terms with it. Still, she did hold her own.” Nodding briefly, Ismay checked the time on a nearby clock before reaching for his glass and taking a drink.
Ever Since he got back, Ismay had been forced to defend himself from the press that tried pinning the blame for this mess on his shoulders. Not even Smith got as much backlash, and yet it seemed he had managed to upset some in the press. He could care less about that right now, as instead Ismay was left worrying over the effect on the White Star Line itself would be felt by what happened. He doubted even his father, when he was head of the company, could spend a day at ease after witnessing a disaster of epic proportions nearly take place before his eyes. But he would be damned if he was to allow his fathers, and his own, work to go to waste by false rumors and lies spread by the press. No, Ismay wouldn’t give in and would ensure the company's reputation would survive this incident. The Olympic, and now Titanic, may have suffered severe damage and a hit to their prestige, but both had survived and were still around.
That alone could do wonders for PR as the White Star Line could boast having the safest ships in the world. Not to get ahead of himself, he turned his focus back on the railroad giant who also was seeking to build his own companies fortunes through expansion. “What are you planning to do once you return to the GTR?”
Hays sighed, his face displaying a grimace as he reclined back in his seat and quietly observed the hotel in the runnings. Truthfully, it was stressful, he would say as he struggled to complete his plan of creating a transcontinental railroad within the borders of Canada. The complexities of the plan and need for logistics had taken a strain, yet Hays was not yet done. “I plan to continue with my project. To complete the transcontinental railroad and connect the Atlantic to the Pacific with rail. It’s been difficult acquiring the needed funds for such an endeavor, however I refuse to back down now that construction has begun.” He then turned to the Chairman of White Star, “If I may, as we had previously discussed on Titanic… perhaps we could come to a mutual agreement between ourselves?” What would follow would be talks that would see dealings between White Star Line and the ever growing railroad giant.
Sometime later Hays would leave, first attending the Gala in Chateau Laurier in Ottawa, Ontario after it had been delayed due to Titanic and Hays late arrival. Next would be meeting his grandchild before finally returning to Canada and managing the affairs of his company once more. With time, Hays as President of GTR oversaw the management of the company and completion of the Southern New England Railway in Providence, Rhode Island, which began in 1910 and was finished in 1918.
With the Southern New England Railway built, GTR was now connected with the GT-owned Central Vermont Railway at Palmer, Massachusetts south and east to the port of Providence, Rhode island. This would end up breaking the near monopoly of the New Haven Railroad in Southern New England and spark competition in the region between the two.
As part of an arrangement with the government, GTR would begin operating the NTR as apart of an expansion from Winnipeg to Moncton, New Brunswick via Quebec City whilst the GTR (with federal assistance) would operate the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway (GTPR) from Winnipeg, Manitoba to Prince Rupert, British Columbia which would both operate under GTR.
Trouble would brew, however, as the new routes for the GTPR’s main line were located far north compared to the profitable CPR main line in the Prairies, and NTR was even farther north of the populous centers of Ontario and Quebec. Construction costs grew despite the advantage of favorable crossing of the Continental Divide in North America at Yellowhead Pass. As Hays worked to dea; with the economic woes of expansion, the GTPR was finally opened in 1914 and followed by the NTR in 1915. Last would be the Quebec Bridge, which would take the next several years to complete. With high costs and low returns, Hays sought to begin construction on a number of hotels and invest in opening new lines to hopefully increase profits from the new line and traffic.
Over the course of the Great War and beginning of the 1920s, the transcontinental Railway would be complete, setting the newly created Grand Canadian Trunk Railway to the path of dominating railway traffic in Canada with its chief rival in the Canadian Pacific Railway company respectively. Hayes would pass away, however, in 1935 after retiring from the position of President.
Death on the St. Lawrence
Death on the St. Lawrence
As rail was laid down across Canada, the Canadian Pacific Steamships or CPR would commission a new ship for the North Atlantic Route between Liverpool and Quebec City. Empress of Ireland would be a part of the company's self-proclaimed “World’s Greatest Transportation System”.
The second ship of her class, work began in 1904 at Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering in Glasgow, Scotland. Originally named Empress of Germany and Empress of Austria, their names changed to Empress of Britain and Ireland respectively after a new policy which had it that any new Canadian Pacific ship named empress would be given a name based after a dependency or colony of the British Empire.
Empress of Ireland was launched on 27 January 1906.
For her final crossing, the Empress of Ireland departed Quebec City for Liverpool at 16:30 local time (EST) on 28 May 1914. For many, this was a return journey home to see family in a very diverse background of immigrants from across Europe. Few were of first class, totaling 87 compared to 253 in second class amongst whom were a large part of the Salvation Army members and their families, numbering 170 in all who were looking forward to the 3rd International Salvation Army Congress in London.
Third class was the largest, booking around 717 passengers nearing full capacity. In Command was Henry George Kendall, promoted Captain of Empress of Ireland just at the beginning of the month, and this would be his first trip down the Saint Lawrence River in command of the Empress.
The Empress of Ireland would reach Pointe-au-Pere in the early hours of May 29 1914, where the harbor pilot left the ship. Resuming a normal outbound route course, whereupon she sighted the masthead lights of SS Storstad, a Norwegian collier, on her starboard bow at a distance of several miles. In turn, Storestad, was abreast of Metis Point and virtually reciprocal course and spotted the Empress masthead lights.
These first sightings were made in clear weather, however an intense fog rolled in and enveloped the two ships in a thick blanket that obscured their view. Repeating the use of each other's fog horns, the ships continued on whilst attempting to make their way through the fog. Suddenly lights would be sighted, with Storstad bearing down on the Empress.
As Captain Kendall stood at the helm, he continued to squint his eyes in an attempt to see where the other vessel was. After ordering the ship's foghorn to blare once again, a reply came back. But neither Captain was any closer to finding the other ship. Tension was felt in the air as the wall of gray mist continued to surround the Empress as her Captain searched for the other ship. “Sir?” the helmsmen spoke, tense as well by his grip on the wheel. The Captain, not wanting to frighten the poor man anymore by showing concern, simply turned and gave a firm nod. “Don’t worry, the fog will likely clear out soon. Just stay the course, and we shall be safe once more.” Reluctantly the helmsmen nodded, turning his gaze back out towards the windows and the quiet and dark world outside.
Finally, Kendall reached for the ship's telegraphs and pulled the handles back then forward, setting the speed too slow as the ship continued on through the Saint Lawrence seemingly alone. Just after he did, it happened. As Captain Kendall and the helmsman heard the foghorn of Storstad, which was much closer now, the two watched in horror as lights appeared out of the mist and were heading right for the Empress. “Full ahead!” Kendall was quick, ordering the ship full ahead to move her whilst the helmsman desperately sought to turn the ship.
On Storstad, Captain Alfred Toftness, ordered for the ship to go full astern and the helm hard over, however it was too late and at 1:56 local time Storstad crashed into the Empress of Ireland’s starboard side at around midships. Storstad remained afloat despite the forward bow's damage, however the Empress was left with a gaping hole on her side. Kendall, quickly getting to his feet and finding his balance after being forced to the ground from the impact, retrieved a megaphone and shouted to the crew of Storstad to keep her Engines at full as to keep the latter in the Empresses side and keep the the stricken ship afloat. Unfortunately, due to still having forward momentum and the currents, the two ships separated after just about five seconds.
Crew down below struggled to try and close the ship's watertight doors. An unfortunate flaw with the Empresses watertight doors was the lack of a central switch to shut them, instead the doors needing manual crew to close them. The Empress of Ireland lurched hard to her starboard and began to settle by her stern. No time was given to close her watertight doors, and soon screams could be heard from the countless women and children onboard. Water quickly began entering through open portholes, originally intended for ventilation, now sentenced countless passengers and crew to death by drowning.
On the upper decks, many were awoken from the collision and desperately sought to board the ships lifeboats, however in this proved a near futile effort. Within just a few minutes, the ship listed hard onto the starboard side that the port lifeboats could not be launched. Attempts to do so only lead to the lifeboats smashing against the ship and dumping the occupants into the freezing water below. Only five lifeboats on the starboard side would escape, a sixth capsizing during the attempt to lower.
The lights went out, failing five to six minutes after impact and plunging the ship into darkness. By roughly ten or eleven minutes, the ship lurched violently onto her starboard side, allowing roughly 700 passengers and crew to crawl out of portholes and decks on her port side. She laid on her side for a minute or two longer, before her bow rose up and she went down. Hundreds of people were thrown into the near-freezing water, resulting in the death of 1,030 people (excluding crew) out of 1,542 passengers. Crew totaled 420, with 172 lost where 248 were saved. Only 3 children out of 138 survived.
The Tragedy of the Empress of Ireland struck Canada, with Canadian Pacific announcing its charter of the Allan Line’s Virginian to fill the void in service left by the loss of the Empress. Despite the outbreak of the First World War only months later, the Empress still made headlines and is remembered for the tragic loss of life even today. The wreck was declared a site of historical and archaeological importance and thus became protected under the Cultural Property Act and was listed in the register of Historic Sites of Canada. A number of memorials and commemorations took place in the decades since.
Hays getting the transcontinental railroad made should make Canadian settlement easier. Also move troops faster. If White Star did make a deal then I could their ships going to Halifax with more immigrants than OTL as the line promoted the inter-rail connection.
Well the loss of the Empress of Ireland should see changes to ship design or even retrofitting features such as automatic watertight doors.
Changes to lifeboats may happen, but given the circumstances of not even being able to launch them it might be the davits mechanism that changes not the boats.
Well the loss of the Empress of Ireland should see changes to ship design or even retrofitting features such as automatic watertight doors.
Changes to lifeboats may happen, but given the circumstances of not even being able to launch them it might be the davits mechanism that changes not the boats.
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Tides of War
Tides of War
At Pier 54, the crowds of passengers walked along as loved ones said their goodbyes and either waved as friends and family alike traveled up into the ship or were among the hundreds climbing up the ramps and stepping inside through the gangway doors on the side. Flags flew proud overhead with the American and Union Jack sharing the spotlight whilst the White Star Line colors blew in the breeze at the stern of the ship. Captain William Murdoch, stepping out of the bridge to gaze down as passengers boarded the RMS Titanic, checked the time on his watch for departure which was fast approaching them. Close by, one of Titanic’s chief rivals was also preparing for departure, the RMS Lusitania was also readying for her journey, though she would be delayed as she was expecting additional cargo bound for Britain and would have to wait for Titanic to go first.
With the loud bellow of the ship's whistles, Titanic started forward slowly as Murdoch returned to the bridge where the helmsman and other officers stood at attention. “Slow ahead.” “Yes sir!” came the reply back, as Titanic moved out and away from the pier and towards the open ocean. As she was escorted by a pair of tug boats, a notice was within the newspaper that said the following.
“Ocean Steamships: White Star
Europe VIA Southampton
TITANIC” below it, the notice came from the Imperial German Embassy and would say; “Travelers intending to embark on the Atlantic voyage, are reminded that a state of war exists between Germany and her allies and Great Britain and her allies; that the zone of war includes the waters adjacent to the British Isles; that in accordance with formal notice given by the Imperial German Government, vessels flying the flag of great Britain, or of any of her allies, are liable to destruction in those waters and travelers sailing in the war zone on ships of Great Britain or her allies do so at their own risk.”
This notice did little to convince many not to make the crossing, however, as evident by the huge crowds boarding the Lusitania along with other ships close by. Titanic now found herself sailing towards an unknown future, passing by the statue of liberty to her port side, as she began her journey across the Atlantic once more like she had done so often before.
As the Titanic steamed across the Atlantic, war had descended across the continent of Europe between the members of the Triple Alliance and Triple Entente. Germany and Austria-Hungary stood together against the Anglo–Russo-French alliance in the largest war yet known to man. Other powers on the European Continent would partake too, including the Kingdom of Italy, Portugal, Ottoman (Turkey) and Japan among others. For Britain especially, this war would prove its first major test after centuries of being the World’s predominant power on the global stage. This position which it had held for up to a century was no under threat from the upstart German Empire, ruled by a relative of the British Royal Family and King of Great Britain, Kaiser Wilhelm II.
After the deaths of Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife in Sarajevo back in July, the Great War escalated as nations followed their treaty obligations into taking up arms for one another. The wider world itself was still affected, even despite the fact many were not directly involved. German U-Boats and commerce raiders prowled the seas, whilst his majesty's navy blockaded the continent and closed off imports to the surrounding central powers. The Colonial War was underway, as German colonies found themselves isolated and surrounded by their British and French counterparts.
Right now, the seas around Britain were a warzone, under threat of German U-Boats despite the presence of the Home-fleet. For many passengers, boarding ships heading for Britain, it was a tense yet thrilling crossing. For some, it was a chance to see for themselves the supposed war. For others, a chance to meet with and assure that family and friends alike were alright. Many would be returning home, whilst others were on business trips abroad. Whatever the case, none of those could ever have imagined what would happen in the next few days.
Closer to the British isles, on the surface and on the prowl, a German submarine was in the midst of its latest hunt. Already she had sunk a number of unlucky merchant vessels and was approaching the end of her run before she returned to port for refueling and re-arming. Under command of Kapitänleutnant Walther Schwieger, the U-boat was cramped and uncomfortable, with hardly any room to walk and move around. Finishing writing down his thoughts in his war diary, Schwieger checked the time briefly before looking over at his second in command. “Number of Torpedos left?”
Pausing briefly, the man replied back- “One.” Nodding, Schwieger was already considering heading home, yet with one last torpedo still onboard, perhaps they could try for one last kill. Checking the log of ships once again, Schwieger briefly looked over a list of ships under the ensign for British merchants, before flipping a few pages and seeing a list of ocean liners. Amongst them, the Titanic, Olympic, Lusitania and Mauritania. All would be unlikely prey due to their size, and no doubt would tank any torpedo fired at them. Yet the prospect of giving one a ‘bloody nose’ was still a thought. At least it would scare her passengers and give a warning as to not travel to Britain again. “Only if we can find her…” Closing the log book, Schwieger went ahead to oversee his U-Boats course and navigation, his mind still wondering over the prospect of going after one of the “Big Three” White Star-liners out there.
With the loud bellow of the ship's whistles, Titanic started forward slowly as Murdoch returned to the bridge where the helmsman and other officers stood at attention. “Slow ahead.” “Yes sir!” came the reply back, as Titanic moved out and away from the pier and towards the open ocean. As she was escorted by a pair of tug boats, a notice was within the newspaper that said the following.
“Ocean Steamships: White Star
Europe VIA Southampton
TITANIC” below it, the notice came from the Imperial German Embassy and would say; “Travelers intending to embark on the Atlantic voyage, are reminded that a state of war exists between Germany and her allies and Great Britain and her allies; that the zone of war includes the waters adjacent to the British Isles; that in accordance with formal notice given by the Imperial German Government, vessels flying the flag of great Britain, or of any of her allies, are liable to destruction in those waters and travelers sailing in the war zone on ships of Great Britain or her allies do so at their own risk.”
This notice did little to convince many not to make the crossing, however, as evident by the huge crowds boarding the Lusitania along with other ships close by. Titanic now found herself sailing towards an unknown future, passing by the statue of liberty to her port side, as she began her journey across the Atlantic once more like she had done so often before.
As the Titanic steamed across the Atlantic, war had descended across the continent of Europe between the members of the Triple Alliance and Triple Entente. Germany and Austria-Hungary stood together against the Anglo–Russo-French alliance in the largest war yet known to man. Other powers on the European Continent would partake too, including the Kingdom of Italy, Portugal, Ottoman (Turkey) and Japan among others. For Britain especially, this war would prove its first major test after centuries of being the World’s predominant power on the global stage. This position which it had held for up to a century was no under threat from the upstart German Empire, ruled by a relative of the British Royal Family and King of Great Britain, Kaiser Wilhelm II.
After the deaths of Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife in Sarajevo back in July, the Great War escalated as nations followed their treaty obligations into taking up arms for one another. The wider world itself was still affected, even despite the fact many were not directly involved. German U-Boats and commerce raiders prowled the seas, whilst his majesty's navy blockaded the continent and closed off imports to the surrounding central powers. The Colonial War was underway, as German colonies found themselves isolated and surrounded by their British and French counterparts.
Right now, the seas around Britain were a warzone, under threat of German U-Boats despite the presence of the Home-fleet. For many passengers, boarding ships heading for Britain, it was a tense yet thrilling crossing. For some, it was a chance to see for themselves the supposed war. For others, a chance to meet with and assure that family and friends alike were alright. Many would be returning home, whilst others were on business trips abroad. Whatever the case, none of those could ever have imagined what would happen in the next few days.
Closer to the British isles, on the surface and on the prowl, a German submarine was in the midst of its latest hunt. Already she had sunk a number of unlucky merchant vessels and was approaching the end of her run before she returned to port for refueling and re-arming. Under command of Kapitänleutnant Walther Schwieger, the U-boat was cramped and uncomfortable, with hardly any room to walk and move around. Finishing writing down his thoughts in his war diary, Schwieger checked the time briefly before looking over at his second in command. “Number of Torpedos left?”
Pausing briefly, the man replied back- “One.” Nodding, Schwieger was already considering heading home, yet with one last torpedo still onboard, perhaps they could try for one last kill. Checking the log of ships once again, Schwieger briefly looked over a list of ships under the ensign for British merchants, before flipping a few pages and seeing a list of ocean liners. Amongst them, the Titanic, Olympic, Lusitania and Mauritania. All would be unlikely prey due to their size, and no doubt would tank any torpedo fired at them. Yet the prospect of giving one a ‘bloody nose’ was still a thought. At least it would scare her passengers and give a warning as to not travel to Britain again. “Only if we can find her…” Closing the log book, Schwieger went ahead to oversee his U-Boats course and navigation, his mind still wondering over the prospect of going after one of the “Big Three” White Star-liners out there.
Mind you with the way that Lusitania sank, it doesn't really matter if she had enough lifeboats or not. Only 6 were successfully launched in OTL.
How about converted into a Sea Plane carrier to serve with the Grand Fleet when Campania proves useful but less than reliable?
The Last Trial (Part 1)
New
Titanic & U-20
RMS Titanic was on the last leg of her voyage, her bow cutting through the Atlantic waves as she made her trip towards the coast of Ireland on her trip to Britain with her destination being Queenstown, Ireland before ending her trip in Southampton, England. Warnings of U-Boat activity had been sent a couple days prior to 6 May, 1915, with the Admiralty issuing her instructions on how to avoid submarines. Titanic had, under Captain William Murdoch, changed her protocols including the painting of her funnels a dark gray to help mask her from view of German submarines. She also flew no flags upon entry into the warzone. In addition, Murdoch ordered for her lifeboats to be prepped and forbade lights to be left on at a certain time of night to reduce chances of detection. Finally, her watertight doors were closed for the last leg of the journey.
In the early afternoon around 5:00 PM, Titanic was steaming half-ahead and approaching the south-west coast of Ireland. Lookouts on watch had been stationed across the ship, including the bridge wings and aft the fourth funnel. As she began to turn to starboard on her approach, so it happened.
~~~
The air was warm with a light breeze mixed with the cold-sea spray that surrounded the crew and passengers, the RMS Titanic was on her latest voyage across the Atlantic on behalf of the White Star Line and IMMC. Though she flew no flags atop her masts, her operators were well known as she had quickly become one of the most well known and recognized ships in the world. As part of this fame, she had gained a reputation for safety and assured travelers who were fortunate enough to purchase a ticket that they would have a safe trip. Of course, reality was different as whilst the press were willing to highlight her survival and evacuation of her passengers, the ship had come dangerously close to meeting her end.
Now she found herself in an active warzone, with the threat of U-Boats abounding as she made her voyage across the Atlantic. As Captain Murdoch observed the compass on the forward helm, first officer Boxhall approached nearby as he glanced down from the windows of the bridges onto the well-deck just below, watching as a few sailors and deck crew anxiously wondered about and glanced often out to sea either way. The fear of U-Boats had kept both himself, the crew, and much of the passengers, on edge. While they hadn’t received any sightings yet of any submarines, the fear was still there and made the mood on the bridge tense to put it lightly.
“Maintain her current course, Mr. Hetchens.” “Ay Sir!” As the helmsman stood by and looked on ahead, Murdoch sighed, clearly the stress from the long voyage in dangerous waters had not been treating himself, nor his crew, all that well. First Officer Boxhall, noticing this, opted to try and get his weary Captain some rest. “Sir, in all do respect, we won’t be in harbor for the next half an hour or so, maybe longer… I can take the first watch while you leave for your cabin, sir.” Tempted, Murdoch stopped to give it some serious thought, but ever since that night of April 14, 1912, he had become more vigilante (some would say paranoid) thus he refused on the spot.
“I’m afraid I must turn down your offer, Mr. Boxhall. With us sailing in these waters and a war just over the horizon, I can’t let myself rest till we are safely in port.” Wearily, First Officer Boxhall nodded before silence engulfed the two men. Behind them and within the interior of the ship, first, second and third class passengers were already out and enjoying the fine weather, walking along the promenade decks for each, either in the main super-structure or stern part of the ship. Families gathered together, fathers pointing to the edges of land that made up their native Ireland as they told stories of their life living there. Mothers carried their children, mostly infants, out to take in the sights and get some fresh air after spending much time huddled together down below within their cabins, having stayed up much of the night out of fear of German Submarines.
Some lounged back in deck chairs or benches, reading, resting, or conversing with their fellow passengers along the way. Still some were inside, enjoying the amenities the Olympic-Class were well known for. Some swam within the Titanic’s swimming pool, whilst others dined in her saloons, and still some chatted away business, deals, and casual talk within her smoking room. Some were even enjoying the comforts of the ships Turkish baths, which did wonders to calm the nerves of some especially jittery passengers. Still the crew down below continued to work in the hot, cold dust infested, noisy underbelly of the ship. Shoveling coal into her countless furnaces, working round the clock to pump the “blood” that kept the ships steel heart pumping away and alive. Further back, her engine crew worked around her set of three engines, two standard and one turbine, which continued to thump and churn as the tall machinery whirled away.
Overhead, a trio of seagulls flew just over the bow of the ship, bound for the coastline of Ireland. As Titanic made her way forward, leaving behind a trail of black smoke and white foam in her wake, a periscope began to gradually close in. The protruding object left a small wake in its path, below the remainder of the predator moving gradually through the water, stalking its prey. Though dwarfed by the much larger ship, the U-Boat was more than capable in bringing down this titan of the seas, which was exactly what her commander and crew intended to do. So it happened.
On Titanic’s port bridge wing, the lookout continued to search across the waves for any signs of U-Boats, or god forbid, Torpedoes in the water. Yet so far nothing. But he had been ordered to stay on the watch till he was finally dismissed once another deck crew came up and took his place. Straining his eyes a bit more, he briefly moved the binoculars away in order to give his straining spectacles a break before returning to look through them. Nothing.
Endless set of rolling waves that continued to roll over one another, joining another set which led to a pattern that continued on forever, or at least until it came into contact with the ships on wake. Choosing to give one more sweep of the horizon and work his way down again, the lookout paused once he spotted a strange trail of water approaching. The water was foaming up, as if something was below the water's surface and propelling itself forward quickly. His blood running cold, he peered closer in the hopes of identifying just what it was. A sea creature was easily ruled out. A floating object was crossed off…
Then he shouted out, causing everyone to freeze. “TORPEDO ON THE PORTSIDE!!!”
Watching from afar, Kapitanleutnant Walther Schwieger watched with baited breath as his subs' last torpedo raced towards the mammoth ship. Quickly it had gone ahead and vanished in the endless waves of the ocean that surrounded it, leading Schwieger to pray it was on course and not a dud. Minutes ticked by, as he continued to watch from the confines of the periscope whilst his crew waited anxiously for the word they had hit their mark. Close by, one man held a watch and continued to count up as seconds stretched on. Then it happened.
A massive plum of water and sea spray rose up just before the ship's bridge, and a smile came to the U-Boat commander's face. “Hit”, and his crew cheered.
The Titanic shook, the harsh impact causing an intense vibration that ventured throughout the ship, causing some items to fall from their original places. Glass and china fell to the floor, shattering, books fell onto the floor, pens and pencils were sent flying up before falling back down again. Some unlucky crew and passengers found themselves knocked right off their feet or off their beds and chairs, hitting the floor hard. Those who had once been asleep now were forced awake, whilst those already up grabbed hold onto anything to keep their balance.
Water sprayed the forward deck and superstructure, drenching a few unlucky passengers and crew who were left stumbling back from the impact and finally slipping to the floor from all the water that now turned the floor sleek and hard to stand on. Screams of women and children began to be heard throughout the ship, whilst the crew on deck desperately ran about either controlling the chaos that now came from panicked passengers or seeking orders on what to do. Down below, shrapnel from the explosion shredded a number of unlucky stokers as water came pouring in from a gaping hole on her side. Firemen desperately tried to escape, with a few staying behind and attempting to close her boilers to prevent a boiler explosion from happening. Forward the sixth boiler room, one of the ships cargo holds began to flood rapidly as water quickly enveloped the forward spaces and before long they were mostly under. Desperately, some stokers sought to open a couple watertight doors in order to escape, however quickly they found their efforts futile as the hard impact from the torpedo had damaged some of the ships equipment, making the doors near impossible to open again. Thus, they were forced up the escape ladders one at a time, though a few were soon caught off and nearly drowned as water came up from up above and flooded down through the hatches. From the bridge, Officer Boxhall rushed down below in order to assemble crew and both assess the damage and stem the tide of water flow.
Captain Murdoch stood at the bridge, a mixture of dread and anguish evident on his expression, as he felt his ship rock from under him. They had obviously been hit, and developed something of a slight port list. “Close Watertight doors!” He spoke, voice filled with some fear but also determination. “Doors are already closed sir!” One officer said, as Murdoch peered out from the bridge windows and looked down below at the deck and watched as crew were scrambling about where some water sloshed about to the port side.
Down below, Titanic’s water pumps were brought up and began to work as crews cleared the way in order to allow access to the flooding sixth boiler room. The influx of water was making this effort extremely difficult for some, as the crew were struggling hard just to stay standing up due to the intense flow of water rushing in.
RMS Titanic was on the last leg of her voyage, her bow cutting through the Atlantic waves as she made her trip towards the coast of Ireland on her trip to Britain with her destination being Queenstown, Ireland before ending her trip in Southampton, England. Warnings of U-Boat activity had been sent a couple days prior to 6 May, 1915, with the Admiralty issuing her instructions on how to avoid submarines. Titanic had, under Captain William Murdoch, changed her protocols including the painting of her funnels a dark gray to help mask her from view of German submarines. She also flew no flags upon entry into the warzone. In addition, Murdoch ordered for her lifeboats to be prepped and forbade lights to be left on at a certain time of night to reduce chances of detection. Finally, her watertight doors were closed for the last leg of the journey.
In the early afternoon around 5:00 PM, Titanic was steaming half-ahead and approaching the south-west coast of Ireland. Lookouts on watch had been stationed across the ship, including the bridge wings and aft the fourth funnel. As she began to turn to starboard on her approach, so it happened.
~~~
The air was warm with a light breeze mixed with the cold-sea spray that surrounded the crew and passengers, the RMS Titanic was on her latest voyage across the Atlantic on behalf of the White Star Line and IMMC. Though she flew no flags atop her masts, her operators were well known as she had quickly become one of the most well known and recognized ships in the world. As part of this fame, she had gained a reputation for safety and assured travelers who were fortunate enough to purchase a ticket that they would have a safe trip. Of course, reality was different as whilst the press were willing to highlight her survival and evacuation of her passengers, the ship had come dangerously close to meeting her end.
Now she found herself in an active warzone, with the threat of U-Boats abounding as she made her voyage across the Atlantic. As Captain Murdoch observed the compass on the forward helm, first officer Boxhall approached nearby as he glanced down from the windows of the bridges onto the well-deck just below, watching as a few sailors and deck crew anxiously wondered about and glanced often out to sea either way. The fear of U-Boats had kept both himself, the crew, and much of the passengers, on edge. While they hadn’t received any sightings yet of any submarines, the fear was still there and made the mood on the bridge tense to put it lightly.
“Maintain her current course, Mr. Hetchens.” “Ay Sir!” As the helmsman stood by and looked on ahead, Murdoch sighed, clearly the stress from the long voyage in dangerous waters had not been treating himself, nor his crew, all that well. First Officer Boxhall, noticing this, opted to try and get his weary Captain some rest. “Sir, in all do respect, we won’t be in harbor for the next half an hour or so, maybe longer… I can take the first watch while you leave for your cabin, sir.” Tempted, Murdoch stopped to give it some serious thought, but ever since that night of April 14, 1912, he had become more vigilante (some would say paranoid) thus he refused on the spot.
“I’m afraid I must turn down your offer, Mr. Boxhall. With us sailing in these waters and a war just over the horizon, I can’t let myself rest till we are safely in port.” Wearily, First Officer Boxhall nodded before silence engulfed the two men. Behind them and within the interior of the ship, first, second and third class passengers were already out and enjoying the fine weather, walking along the promenade decks for each, either in the main super-structure or stern part of the ship. Families gathered together, fathers pointing to the edges of land that made up their native Ireland as they told stories of their life living there. Mothers carried their children, mostly infants, out to take in the sights and get some fresh air after spending much time huddled together down below within their cabins, having stayed up much of the night out of fear of German Submarines.
Some lounged back in deck chairs or benches, reading, resting, or conversing with their fellow passengers along the way. Still some were inside, enjoying the amenities the Olympic-Class were well known for. Some swam within the Titanic’s swimming pool, whilst others dined in her saloons, and still some chatted away business, deals, and casual talk within her smoking room. Some were even enjoying the comforts of the ships Turkish baths, which did wonders to calm the nerves of some especially jittery passengers. Still the crew down below continued to work in the hot, cold dust infested, noisy underbelly of the ship. Shoveling coal into her countless furnaces, working round the clock to pump the “blood” that kept the ships steel heart pumping away and alive. Further back, her engine crew worked around her set of three engines, two standard and one turbine, which continued to thump and churn as the tall machinery whirled away.
Overhead, a trio of seagulls flew just over the bow of the ship, bound for the coastline of Ireland. As Titanic made her way forward, leaving behind a trail of black smoke and white foam in her wake, a periscope began to gradually close in. The protruding object left a small wake in its path, below the remainder of the predator moving gradually through the water, stalking its prey. Though dwarfed by the much larger ship, the U-Boat was more than capable in bringing down this titan of the seas, which was exactly what her commander and crew intended to do. So it happened.
On Titanic’s port bridge wing, the lookout continued to search across the waves for any signs of U-Boats, or god forbid, Torpedoes in the water. Yet so far nothing. But he had been ordered to stay on the watch till he was finally dismissed once another deck crew came up and took his place. Straining his eyes a bit more, he briefly moved the binoculars away in order to give his straining spectacles a break before returning to look through them. Nothing.
Endless set of rolling waves that continued to roll over one another, joining another set which led to a pattern that continued on forever, or at least until it came into contact with the ships on wake. Choosing to give one more sweep of the horizon and work his way down again, the lookout paused once he spotted a strange trail of water approaching. The water was foaming up, as if something was below the water's surface and propelling itself forward quickly. His blood running cold, he peered closer in the hopes of identifying just what it was. A sea creature was easily ruled out. A floating object was crossed off…
Then he shouted out, causing everyone to freeze. “TORPEDO ON THE PORTSIDE!!!”
Watching from afar, Kapitanleutnant Walther Schwieger watched with baited breath as his subs' last torpedo raced towards the mammoth ship. Quickly it had gone ahead and vanished in the endless waves of the ocean that surrounded it, leading Schwieger to pray it was on course and not a dud. Minutes ticked by, as he continued to watch from the confines of the periscope whilst his crew waited anxiously for the word they had hit their mark. Close by, one man held a watch and continued to count up as seconds stretched on. Then it happened.
A massive plum of water and sea spray rose up just before the ship's bridge, and a smile came to the U-Boat commander's face. “Hit”, and his crew cheered.
The Titanic shook, the harsh impact causing an intense vibration that ventured throughout the ship, causing some items to fall from their original places. Glass and china fell to the floor, shattering, books fell onto the floor, pens and pencils were sent flying up before falling back down again. Some unlucky crew and passengers found themselves knocked right off their feet or off their beds and chairs, hitting the floor hard. Those who had once been asleep now were forced awake, whilst those already up grabbed hold onto anything to keep their balance.
Water sprayed the forward deck and superstructure, drenching a few unlucky passengers and crew who were left stumbling back from the impact and finally slipping to the floor from all the water that now turned the floor sleek and hard to stand on. Screams of women and children began to be heard throughout the ship, whilst the crew on deck desperately ran about either controlling the chaos that now came from panicked passengers or seeking orders on what to do. Down below, shrapnel from the explosion shredded a number of unlucky stokers as water came pouring in from a gaping hole on her side. Firemen desperately tried to escape, with a few staying behind and attempting to close her boilers to prevent a boiler explosion from happening. Forward the sixth boiler room, one of the ships cargo holds began to flood rapidly as water quickly enveloped the forward spaces and before long they were mostly under. Desperately, some stokers sought to open a couple watertight doors in order to escape, however quickly they found their efforts futile as the hard impact from the torpedo had damaged some of the ships equipment, making the doors near impossible to open again. Thus, they were forced up the escape ladders one at a time, though a few were soon caught off and nearly drowned as water came up from up above and flooded down through the hatches. From the bridge, Officer Boxhall rushed down below in order to assemble crew and both assess the damage and stem the tide of water flow.
Captain Murdoch stood at the bridge, a mixture of dread and anguish evident on his expression, as he felt his ship rock from under him. They had obviously been hit, and developed something of a slight port list. “Close Watertight doors!” He spoke, voice filled with some fear but also determination. “Doors are already closed sir!” One officer said, as Murdoch peered out from the bridge windows and looked down below at the deck and watched as crew were scrambling about where some water sloshed about to the port side.
Down below, Titanic’s water pumps were brought up and began to work as crews cleared the way in order to allow access to the flooding sixth boiler room. The influx of water was making this effort extremely difficult for some, as the crew were struggling hard just to stay standing up due to the intense flow of water rushing in.
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You could say Captain Murdoch instead of ‘former first officer’ in the opening. Seems clunky otherwise.
If Titanic is in the same-ish location as Lusitania was they are only a few miles from the Irish coast, an SOS will get help quickly.
Any 4 compartments and she will float. Depending on her changes post iceberg and how many doors her shut she should be ok if damaged. It is also against regulation to be sailing into a war zone with the watertight doors and any portholes open- someone as paranoid as Murdoch is portrayed here would never have allowed regulation to be breached.
I doubt Murdoch will try and make a run for the coast since he knows this will drive more water inside Titanic and risk a capsize.
I find it unlikely Titanic would be carrying war materials like Lusitania may have been simply cos White Star never have the relationship with the UK govt and Royal Navy Cunard did.
Titanic will be damaged, from that location hit plan, but not as warped as Britannic was OTL or likely to get a secondary explosion as Lusitania.
I say she will survive, if down a lot and can be towed into Cobh.
If Titanic is in the same-ish location as Lusitania was they are only a few miles from the Irish coast, an SOS will get help quickly.
Any 4 compartments and she will float. Depending on her changes post iceberg and how many doors her shut she should be ok if damaged. It is also against regulation to be sailing into a war zone with the watertight doors and any portholes open- someone as paranoid as Murdoch is portrayed here would never have allowed regulation to be breached.
I doubt Murdoch will try and make a run for the coast since he knows this will drive more water inside Titanic and risk a capsize.
I find it unlikely Titanic would be carrying war materials like Lusitania may have been simply cos White Star never have the relationship with the UK govt and Royal Navy Cunard did.
Titanic will be damaged, from that location hit plan, but not as warped as Britannic was OTL or likely to get a secondary explosion as Lusitania.
I say she will survive, if down a lot and can be towed into Cobh.
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