1 Series 12 Titanic Aresources.news.com.au/.../09/1226266/763700-dt-classmate-titanic.pdf · Series...
1
Series 12 thetelegraph.com.au/classmate 269m long The age of the ocean liner At the start of the 20th century, ocean liners were considered the best way to travel in comfort and style. Wealthy people chose first class, which had the most luxurious cabins and amenities. Middle-class travellers who saved up for an ocean holiday, or business people travelling out of necessity, were accommodated in second class – still comfortable but less luxurious. Poor people who saved enough to emigrate were usually only able to afford a cabin (or berth) in third class, or steerage. Some liners had cramped, uncomfortable conditions for steerage and segregated these passengers from first and second class. The Titanic was known for the comfort of its steerage section, with fewer people crammed into cabins and large common rooms. The women and children in steerage slept in cabins at the stern (rear of the ship) while the men shared a dormitory near the bow. The White Star giants In 1907 Thomas Andrews, the designer for shipbuilders Harland and Wolff, was commissioned by the White Star Line to design three of the biggest, most luxurious and safest ocean liners. In 1908 construction began on the Olympic, which was ready for service in May 1911. It collided with a British navy ship HMS Hawke in September 1911 and had to undergo months of repair work. Construction began on the Titanic in 1909 and despite some delays, brought about by the Olympic disaster, it was ready for its maiden voyage in 1912. The third vessel, the Britannic, was launched in 1914. It was soon put into service as a troop ship in World War I and was sunk by a mine in 1916. Olympic also served as a troop ship but survived the war and was retired in 1935. A century ago this year the RMS Titanic set out from Southampton, England, on its maiden voyage across the Atlantic. The largest and most luxurious liner built to that date, it never reached its destination. The majestic vessel struck an iceberg and sank to the ocean floor. A shortage of lifeboats meant there were few survivors. There will be many commemorations to mark the centenary of the maritime disaster, including a 3D re-release of the film Titanic. Cl @ ss mate Email [email protected] Phone 9288 2542 EVERY TUESDAY FOR FREE TEACHER RESOURCES VISIT thetelegraph.com.au/classmate Editor: Troy Lennon Additional research: Irina Belsky Graphics: Paul Leigh and Will Pearce SOURCES & FURTHER STUDY Books And The Band Played On by Christopher Ward (Hodder) Eyewitness Guide: Titanic by Simon Adams. The Ghosts Of The Abyss by Don Lynch and Ken Marschall (Hodder & Stoughton) Shadow Of The Titanic by Andrew Wilson (Simon & Schuster) Titanic Love Stories by Gill Paul (New Holland) Imax Education Resources Page www.imax.com. au/schools/resources_new.asp Encyclopaedia Britannica http://search.eb.com/titanic/ Titanic Tragic figure: Captain Smith (above) and (below) the menu for third-class passengers 1 N O R T H A T L A N T I C New York Queenstown Cherbourg Southampton TITANIC Bridge Boiler rooms Engine rooms Crow’s nest The Titanic’s hull was divided by 15 bulkheads extending above the waterline Areas of the hull damaged by the iceberg Only a small section of an iceberg is visible above the waterline; its bulk lies beneath IMPACT AREAS Iceberg Titanic Hull Waterline Three huge propellers (spanning more than 4.8m) made the Titanic difficult to manoeuvre and to slow down One of the funnels was a dummy, built for visual balance and used for storage 1 5 4 3 2 Titanic struck the iceberg beneath the waterline, piercing the starboard hull BULKHEADS First six compartments flooded from iceberg damage Waterline At 7pm on April 14, 1912, the crew of the Titanic received iceberg warnings, but decided not to slow down, relying on being able to spot any iceberg large enough to cause any damage. 11.40pm: The Titanic struck the iceberg. Although lookouts spotted the icy obstacle, the ship was going too fast to avoid it. The iceberg pierced the starboard side, ripping apart some of the steel plates of the hull. First officer William Murdoch, in charge at the time, gave the order to close the watertight doors. But too many compartments had been breached and the water began pulling the ship down at the bow. After midnight: Realising that the ship was sinking, Captain Edward John Smith gave the order to prepare to abandon ship, knowing there were not enough lifeboats to save everyone aboard. Titanic safety Despite popular belief, the designers of the Titanic never claimed the ship was unsinkable. But the design included watertight bulkheads (partitions running from the keel to the upper decks) which were supposed to have made it “virtually unsinkable’’. It was only envisaged that one part of the ship’s hull would be punctured in a collision and that watertight doors could be shut to seal off the area to prevent a sinking. But in its collision with the iceberg, Titanic’s hull was punctured in several places. The overconfidence in the design of the bulkheads had resulted in lifeboats being cleared from the upper decks, so passengers could have more room to walk or relax on deck. The ship’s operators believed that even if the worst happened and the ship did begin to sink, the watertight bulkheads would keep it afloat long enough for the radio operators to call for help and wait to be rescued. Hitting the iceberg Seeking answers Soon after the sinking, investigations and inquiries were conducted. A US Senate inquiry blamed Captain Smith for ignoring the danger of the icebergs and blamed the British Board of Trade for poor safety and inspection standards. The British inquiry did not find the captain to blame but made similar recommendations to improve safety standards and equipment. One result was that laws were introduced requiring ships to carry enough lifeboats to rescue all passengers. Life vests Everyone aboard was issued with life vests made of cork floats covered with canvas. However, some people refused to wear them and, although the vests kept people afloat, they provided no protection from the icy waters. 12.25am: The captain gave the order to abandon ship, and people began getting into lifeboats and were lowered into the water. Women and children were to be given priority, but some men were allowed aboard to help row the boats. Even before Captain Smith had given the order to abandon ship, White Star Line manager Bruce Ismay insisted that the boats be loaded. 2.05am: All of the lifeboats had gone and hundreds of people were still left on the Titanic with no escape. Many simply jumped into the icy water where they died of hypothermia. 2.18am: The ship broke up, leaving the stern still floating. 2.20am: The stern followed the bow to the bottom of the Atlantic. Titanic today The Titanic has decayed considerably since it settled on the bottom of the Atlantic. While much of the damage is due to nature, explorers in large submersibles have destroyed parts of it, including the crow’s nest and mast. Dr Robert Ballard (pictured), the man who headed the team that discovered the Titanic, said: “I think the deep sea is a museum. I treat it like the Arizona and Pearl Harbor. You don’t take brass belt buckles off the Arizona.’’ Finding the sunken liner In 1985, a joint US-French research team discovered the remains of the Titanic on the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean. The head of that team, Dr Robert Ballard, had been developing techniques of exploring the ocean floor for many years. Using remote-operated vehicles (ROVs) rather than manned submersibles, the team conducted radar surveys around where the ship reportedly sank. When one scan revealed debris, the team was able to follow this back to the original wreck. They took the first pictures of the ship in more than 70 years. Romance of the Titanic The Titanic disaster could have been merely another ship sinking, but several things made it more fascinating. For one thing it was deemed “virtually unsinkable’’. It was also the most luxurious liner afloat, the largest man-made movable object up to that time and was on its maiden voyage with many rich, famous and important people. Special edition newspapers, magazines and books were rushed into print shortly after the disaster. One month after the sinking, the first film on the subject premiered – Saved From The Titanic. Since then there have been thousands of books on the disaster. One of the best known was A Night To Remember published in 1955 and later turned into a film. The 1997 film Titanic, directed by James Cameron, became one of the most successful films of all time. Water starts to pour in. After 10 minutes six compartments are flooded As water filled the bulkheads one by one, the bow slowly sank pulling the stern out of the water The weight of water in the hull pulled the bow under, putting great strain on the keel The keel snapped and as the bow broke away the stern righted itself The stern floated by itself for a few minutes before also sinking Titanic could carry up to 3547 passengers and crew How the Titanic sank The fateful voyage Lookouts in the crow’s nest spotted the iceberg, but the ship was going too fast to avoid it Narrow escape: Survivors take to one of the Titanic’s few lifeboats
Transcript of 1 Series 12 Titanic Aresources.news.com.au/.../09/1226266/763700-dt-classmate-titanic.pdf · Series...
Series 12
thetelegraph.com.au/classmate
269m long
The age of the ocean linerAt the start of the 20th century, ocean liners were considered the best way to travel in comfort and style. Wealthy people chose first class, which had the most luxurious cabins and amenities. Middle-class travellers who saved up for an ocean holiday, or business people travelling out of necessity, were accommodated in second class – still comfortable but less luxurious. Poor people who saved enough to emigrate were usually only able to afford a cabin (or berth) in third class, or steerage. Some liners had cramped, uncomfortable conditions for steerage and segregated these passengers from first and second class. The Titanic was known for the comfort of its steerage section, with fewer people crammed into cabins and large common rooms. The women and children in steerage slept in cabins at the stern (rear of the ship) while the men shared a dormitory near the bow.
The White Star giantsIn 1907 Thomas Andrews, the designer for shipbuilders Harland and Wolff, was commissioned by the White Star Line to design three of the biggest, most luxurious and safest ocean liners. In 1908 construction began on the Olympic, which was ready for service in May 1911. It collided with a British navy ship HMS Hawke in September 1911 and had to undergo months of repair work. Construction began on the Titanic in 1909 and despite some delays, brought about by the Olympic disaster, it was ready for its maiden voyage in 1912. The third vessel, the Britannic, was launched in 1914. It was soon put into service as a troop ship in World War I and was sunk by a mine in 1916. Olympic also served
as a troop ship but survived the war and was retired in 1935.
A century ago this year the RMS Titanic set out from Southampton, England, on its
maiden voyage across the Atlantic. The largest and most luxurious liner built to that date, it never reached its destination. The majestic vessel struck an iceberg and sank to the ocean floor. A shortage of lifeboats meant there were few survivors. There will be many commemorations to mark the centenary of the maritime disaster, including a 3D re-release of the film Titanic.
Cl@ssmateEmail [email protected] Phone 9288 2542
EVERY TUESDAYFoR FREE TEAchERRESoURcES ViSiTthetelegraph.com.au/classmate
Editor: Troy Lennon Additional research: Irina Belsky Graphics: Paul Leigh and Will Pearce
SoURcES & FURThER STUDYBooksAnd The Band Played On by Christopher Ward (Hodder)Eyewitness Guide: Titanic by Simon Adams.The Ghosts Of The Abyss by Don Lynch and Ken Marschall (Hodder & Stoughton)Shadow Of The Titanic by Andrew Wilson (Simon & Schuster)Titanic Love Stories by Gill Paul (New Holland)Imax Education Resources Page www.imax.com.au/schools/resources_new.aspEncyclopaedia Britannica http://search.eb.com/titanic/
Titanic
Tragic figure: Captain Smith (above) and (below) the menu for third-class passengers
1
N O R T HA T L A N T I C
New York
Queenstown
CherbourgSouthamptonTITANIC
Bridge
Boiler rooms
Engine rooms
Crow’s nest
The Titanic’s hull was divided by 15 bulkheads extending above thewaterline
Areas of the hull damaged by the iceberg
Only a small section of an iceberg is visible above the waterline; its bulk lies beneath
IMPACT AREAS
IcebergTitanic
Hull
Waterline
Three huge propellers (spanning more than 4.8m) made the Titanic difficult to manoeuvre and to slow down
One of the funnels was a dummy, built for visual balance and used for storage
1
5
4
3
2
Titanic struck the iceberg beneath the waterline, piercing the starboard hull
BULKHEADS
First six compartments flooded from iceberg damage
Waterline
At 7pm on April 14, 1912, the crew of the Titanic received iceberg warnings, but decided not to slow down, relying on being able to spot any iceberg large enough to cause any damage.
11.40pm: The Titanic struck the iceberg. Although lookouts spotted the icy obstacle, the ship was going too fast to avoid it. The iceberg pierced the starboard side, ripping apart some of the steel plates of the hull. First officer William Murdoch, in charge at the time, gave the order to close the watertight doors. But too many compartments had been breached and the water began pulling the ship down at the bow.
After midnight: Realising that the ship was sinking, Captain Edward John Smith gave the order to prepare to abandon ship, knowing there were not enough lifeboats to save everyone aboard.
Titanic safetyDespite popular belief, the designers of the Titanic never claimed
the ship was unsinkable. But the design included watertight bulkheads (partitions running from the keel to the upper decks) which were supposed to have made it “virtually unsinkable’’. It was only envisaged that one part of the ship’s hull would be punctured in a collision and that watertight doors could be shut to seal off the area to prevent a sinking. But in its collision with the iceberg, Titanic’s hull was punctured in several places. The overconfidence in the design of the bulkheads had resulted in lifeboats being cleared from the upper decks, so passengers could have more room to walk or relax on deck.
The ship’s operators believed that even if the worst happened and the ship did begin to sink, the watertight bulkheads would keep it afloat long enough for the radio operators to call for help and wait to be rescued.
Hitting the iceberg
Seeking answersSoon after the sinking, investigations and inquiries were conducted. A US Senate inquiry blamed Captain Smith for ignoring the danger of the icebergs and blamed the British Board of Trade for poor safety and inspection standards. The British inquiry did not find the captain to blame but made similar recommendations to improve safety standards and equipment. One result was that laws were introduced requiring ships to carry enough lifeboats to rescue all passengers.
Life vestsEveryone aboard was issued with life vests made of cork floats covered with canvas. However, some people refused to wear them and, although the vests kept people afloat, they provided no protection from the icy waters.
12.25am: The captain gave the order to abandon ship, and people began getting into lifeboats and were lowered into the water. Women and children were to be given priority, but some men were allowed aboard to help row the boats. Even before Captain Smith had given the order to abandon ship, White Star Line manager Bruce Ismay insisted that the boats be loaded.
2.05am: All of the lifeboats had gone and hundreds of people were still left on the Titanic with no escape. Many simply jumped into the icy water where they died of hypothermia.
2.18am: The ship broke up, leaving the stern still floating.
2.20am: The stern followed the bow to the bottom of the Atlantic.
Titanic todayThe Titanic has decayed considerably since it settled on the bottom of the Atlantic. While much of the damage is due to nature, explorers in large submersibles have destroyed parts of it, including the crow’s nest and mast. Dr Robert Ballard (pictured), the man who headed the team that discovered the Titanic, said: “I think the deep sea is a museum. I treat it like the Arizona and Pearl Harbor. You don’t take brass belt buckles off the Arizona.’’
Finding the sunken linerIn 1985, a joint US-French research team discovered the remains of the Titanic on the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean. The head of that team, Dr Robert Ballard, had been developing techniques of exploring the ocean floor for many years. Using remote-operated vehicles (ROVs) rather than manned submersibles, the team conducted radar surveys around where the ship reportedly sank.
When one scan revealed debris, the team was able to follow this back
to the original wreck. They took the first pictures of the ship in
more than 70 years.
Romance of the TitanicThe Titanic disaster could have been merely another ship sinking, but several things made it more fascinating. For one thing it was deemed “virtually unsinkable’’. It was also the most luxurious liner afloat, the largest man-made movable object up to that time and was on its maiden voyage with many rich, famous and important people. Special edition newspapers, magazines and books were rushed into print shortly after the disaster. One month after the sinking, the first film on the subject premiered – Saved From The Titanic. Since then there have been thousands of books on the disaster. One of the best known was A Night To Remember published in 1955 and later turned into a film. The 1997 film Titanic, directed by James Cameron, became one of the most successful films of all time.
Water starts to pour in. After 10 minutes six compartments are flooded
As water filled the bulkheads one by one, the bow slowly sank pulling the stern out of the water
The weight of water in the hull pulled the bow under, putting great strain on the keel
The keel snapped and as the bow broke away the stern righted itself
The stern floated by itself for a few minutes before also sinking
Titanic could carry up to 3547 passengers and crew
How the Titanic sank
The fateful voyage
Lookouts in the crow’s nest spotted the iceberg, but the
ship was going too
fast to avoid it
Narrow escape: Survivors take to one of the Titanic’s few lifeboats
