Pirates & Shipwrecks · Ocean liner, 1912
RMS Titanic
North Atlantic, south of Newfoundland
What happened
Titanic was the largest ship afloat when it left Southampton, England, for New York in April 1912. Late at night on 14 April it struck an iceberg in the North Atlantic. The ship broke in two and sank at 2:20 am, in under three hours.
Why it matters
There were not enough lifeboats for everyone on board. The disaster led to new safety rules, including round-the-clock radio watches and an International Ice Patrol to monitor icebergs.
What came next
The ship Carpathia, under Captain Arthur Rostron, picked up the survivors. The wreck was found in 1985 and showed that the ship had broken in two.
Did you know?
Titanic had its own printer, who made a daily newspaper for passengers using news from the ship's radio operators.
Timeline
- 31 May 1911Titanic is launched in Belfast.
- 10 April 1912Titanic leaves Southampton on its first voyage.
- 14 April 1912The ship strikes an iceberg.
- 15 April 1912Titanic sinks at 2:20 am.
- 1985The wreck is found.