Classification
- Incident Type: Sinking
- Severity: High
- Mechanism: Iceberg collision followed by progressive flooding and foundering.
Vessel Details
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Vessel Name | Titanic |
| Vessel Type | Passenger |
| Flag State | United Kingdom [GB] |
| IMO Number | |
| Official Number | 131428 |
| Signal Letters | HVMP |
| Gross Tonnage | 46328 |
| LOA (m) | 269 |
| Breadth (m) | 28.20 |
| Year Built | 1912 (completed; launched 1911) |
| Crew Size | |
| Lifeboats | 20; capacity 1,178 persons |
Incident Details
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Date | 1912-04-14 (collision); 1912-04-15 (foundering) |
| Location | North Atlantic Ocean; official inquiry position near 41°46′N, 50°14′W; wreck site about 325 nm south-southeast of Newfoundland |
| Coordinates | 41.730000, -49.950000 |
| Region | Atlantic Ocean |
| Fatalities | 1517 |
| Injuries | |
| Missing | |
| Vessel Outcome | Total loss |
| Direct Damage | |
| Economic Damage |
Key facts
- Titanic collided with an iceberg at about 23:40 on April 14, 1912, and foundered at about 02:20 on April 15.
- The National Archives records 2,223 people aboard, 706 rescued, and 1,517 deaths.
- Titanic carried 20 lifeboats with capacity for 1,178 people, less than the number aboard.
- Carpathia reached the lifeboats, taking aboard the first boat at about 04:10 and rescuing 706 people.
- The British Wreck Commissioner's Court attributed the loss to an iceberg collision brought about by the speed at which Titanic was navigated.
Narrative
Titanic left Southampton on April 10, 1912, on her maiden voyage to New York via Cherbourg and Queenstown. The Royal Museums Greenwich chronology records the first ice warning from Caronia at 09:00 on April 14. At about 23:40, Titanic struck an iceberg in the North Atlantic. The British inquiry recorded the casualty position near 41°46′N, 50°14′W; the later wreck site is separately marked in the incident details. Progressive flooding followed the collision and the vessel began to founder by the bow.
The first wireless call for assistance was transmitted at about 00:45 on April 15. Titanic continued sending distress traffic until its last transmission at about 02:10 and foundered at about 02:20. Carpathia responded to the distress calls, reached the lifeboats during the morning, and picked up 706 survivors. The National Archives records 2,223 people aboard and 1,517 deaths.
The ship had 20 lifeboats with capacity for 1,178 people. The U.S. Senate investigation examined the inadequate lifeboat capacity, crew assignment and training, the handling of ice warnings, Titanic's speed, wireless operations, and the failure of a nearby ship to respond to distress signals. The Senate report led to recommendations for lifeboat capacity for all passengers, better crew training and drills, improved radiotelegraph regulation, and other maritime safety measures.
The British Wreck Commissioner's Court found that the loss was caused by collision with an iceberg, brought about by the excessive speed at which Titanic was navigated. The page uses the established figure of 1,517 fatalities; contemporary and later institutional sources contain differing approximate totals.
Sequence of events
| Date/time | Event |
|---|---|
| 1912-04-10 | Titanic sailed from Southampton on her maiden voyage to New York. |
| 1912-04-14 09:00 local | The first recorded ice warning in the Royal Museums Greenwich chronology was received from Caronia. |
| 1912-04-14 23:40 local | Titanic collided with an iceberg. |
| 1912-04-15 00:45 local | The first wireless call for assistance was transmitted. |
| 1912-04-15 02:10 local | Titanic sent its last wireless transmission. |
| 1912-04-15 02:20 local | Titanic foundered. |
| 1912-04-15 04:10 local | Carpathia picked up the first lifeboat. |
Contributing factors
| Factor | Evidence status | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Iceberg collision | Confirmed finding | The British Wreck Commissioner's Court found that the loss followed a collision with an iceberg. |
| Speed in an ice area | Confirmed finding | The British court attributed the collision to the excessive speed at which Titanic was navigated. |
| Insufficient lifeboat capacity | Confirmed finding | Titanic's 20 lifeboats could accommodate 1,178 people, while the National Archives records 2,223 people aboard. |
| Ice warnings and nearby assistance | Reported | The U.S. Senate record examined ice warnings, Titanic's speed, and the failure of the nearby Californian to respond to distress signals. |
Investigation
The United States Senate Committee on Commerce held hearings from April 19 to May 25, 1912, heard 82 witnesses, and issued its report on May 28, 1912. Its report examined the casualty and recommended changes to lifeboat requirements, crew organization and training, passenger drills, wireless operation, and passenger-ship safety.
The British Board of Trade's Wreck Commissioner's Court conducted a formal investigation in May, June, and July 1912. Its report, dated July 30, 1912, found that Titanic was lost through collision with an iceberg brought about by excessive speed. The two inquiries recorded different casualty totals; this page retains 1,517, the figure documented by the U.S. National Archives and specified for this record.
References
- U.S. Senate: Senate Committee on Commerce, Subcommittee on the “Titanic” Disaster
- U.S. Senate, Report on the Investigation into Loss of S.S. “Titanic,” May 28, 1912
- National Archives: They Said It Couldn’t Sink
- National Archives: The Titanic: A Warning Ignored
- Royal Museums Greenwich: Research guide D1, RMS Titanic
- Royal Museums Greenwich: Report, findings and recommendations of the British inquiry
- British Wreck Commissioner's Inquiry report, archival transcription
Related
- Titanic
- Atlantic Ocean
- Collision
- Sinking
- Progressive Flooding
- Committee on Commerce, United States Senate