 |
The Olympic class liners
RMS Olympic
In December 1908 construction began of Olympic and nearly two years later on October 10, 1910 she was launched. On May 31, 1911 Olympic was delivered to White Star Line and set sail for Liverpool that same afternoon with J.P Morgan the American financier and owner of WSL's parent companies International Mercantile Marine and the Oceanic Steam Navigational Company as passenger. Also managing director of WSL Bruce Ismay and Lord Wiliam James Pirrie chairman of Harland & Wolff his wife and the mayor of Belfast were attending. She left on her maiden voyage that same day.
| |
Harland & Wollf had a loyal partnership with White Star Line, but had major competition from the Cunard line with luxurious liners. They understood what it meant for people crossing the Atlantic by ship. Since it took several days while offering passingers safe, comportable and above all fast passage. Those huge ships were not only build to accomodate the wealthy people of those days, but also for speed, which really served their needs as well as publicity and competition. The accomodation on HMS Olympic was the best known on ships of the day, passengers wouldn't have mind staying a little longer, but compitition made them think differently.
Olympic's maiden voyaye was on May 31, 1911 to New York actually the same route as her sister's would be 11 months later. Olympic sailed from Southampton, where she was docked on the White Star Dock, specially build to accomodate the three sisters.
On the morning of September 20, 1911 RMS Olympic departed from Southampton with captain E.J. Smith in command. She encountered the 7350 ton British Cruiser Hawke shortly after at normal harbour speed of 19 knots, being approx. 250 yards apart Hawke suddenly came towards Olympic. A collision was unavoidable and slammed into the starboard rear of Olympic about 85 feet from the stern. Both ships were badly damaged, Olympic had two holes one above the water line and one under and the starboard propeller was damaged. The propeller shaft had be relaced with that of Titanic's. This took Harland & Wolff two months. RMS Olympic was held responsible.
After RMS Titanic sank, Olympic was remodified back at Harland&Wolff's shipyard. They extended the double bottom up the sides to give her a second skin. Also extra lifeboats were installed. In 1913 she was back in service at the North Atlantic passengers route.
During World War One Olympic was remodified again to become a troop ship carrying up to 7.000 troops at
once. Olympic is known for ramming a German U-boat and causing it to sink. After 24 years
of service Olympic was scrapped in 1935. A relentless end of the first and the last of the
three sisters belonging to the "Olympic-class" ocean liners !
Want to join Mary Jane's Real Titanic webring go to RMS Titanic.
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Feel free to make comments: | F.Spanjers@net.HCC.nl |
 |
|---|
