Doomed Sisters Of The Titanic

[Matthew Newman]

I ran across this on a Titanic search through my new Verizon FIOS and am not sure if it's old or new.

It's coming on Saturday night on History International I and was hoping some here could shed some light on this documentary.

There's another coming on right after called Titanic Tech, which already has a thread on this board. Surprisingly enough I haven't seen Titanic Tech yet and it came out in 2003, from what my menu says. This Saturday looks like a Titanic mini-marathon on History International.

Anyone care to share on either of these docs?

 

[Michael H. Standart]

Both have been around for a few years. The first from 1999 (See http://imdb.com/title/tt0228232/ ) and the latter from 2003. (See http://imdb.com/title/tt0650185/ ) I think you'll find that both are well worthwhile.

 

[Matthew Newman]

Thank you Mike. I'm watching Doomed Sisters now and am enjoying it. I recognize most of the material they're covering as it's been discussed at length on this board. One big thing I noticed is they're sticking with the idea that Britannic was originally Gigantic and the name was changed to avoid raising eyebrows.

 

[Michael H. Standart]

>>I'm watching Doomed Sisters now and am enjoying it.<<

I figured you would.

>>One big thing I noticed is they're sticking with the idea that Britannic was originally Gigantic and the name was changed to avoid raising eyebrows.<<

Some of that material is a bit dated. I doubt if any of those guys are unaware of the historical problems with the "Gigantic" as a name. Especially the Sauder brothers!

 

[Ernie Luck]

I seem to recollect the word 'doomed' was over used. The narrator slipped the word in whenever he could. They were dooomed.

 

[Matthew Newman]

Shortly after my post last night all Hell broke loose in my house and I was distracted from both shows. I'm fixing to watch the recordings and will try to post later.

 

[Jeremy Aufderheide]

I still don't see how the Olympic was doomed...but whatever.

 

[Luke Owens]

Well, it's like this, Jeremy. All three ships had accidents that led to their destruction in one way or another. Therefore, according to the History Channel and Weekly World News, they were doomed.... ;-)

Luke

 

[Michael Cundiff]

Please enlighten me on the accident which the "Ship Magnificant" (AKA OLYMPIC) was doomed?

To my knowledge she lost a propellor at sea on one particular voyage. And also holds the noted distinction of being the only OCEAN LINER to sink an enemy submarine during her tenure of the GREAT WAR in her role as a troop transport.

I must concur with a previous post of "I don't see how she was doomed". She lived a very long and marveled life.

Michael Cundiff
NV, USA

 

[Jason D. Tiller]

Hello Michael,

Please enlighten me on the accident which the "Ship Magnificant" (AKA OLYMPIC) was doomed?

The collision with HMS Hawke on Sept 20, 1911.

 

[Jeremy Aufderheide]

I think that it was the collision with the Nantucket Lightship that caused her "doom". She sailed for 25 years after the Hawke collision.

If anything, I think she was pretty lucky. To have survived the war (torpedo dent and all), sunk a submarine by ramming it, several collisions and a horrid makeover to her grand staircase...she was pretty fortunate.

 

[Jason D. Tiller]

Hello Jeremy,

I think that it was the collision with the Nantucket Lightship that caused her "doom".

Why? That incident was in 1934, which was towards the end of her career. Unless you're referring to a reason as to why her career ended so soon after, but that wouldn't be it. In other references (I can't remember where), the collision with the HMS Hawke is mentioned. Not that I agree with the term "doom", because I don't. I believe it was just a case of bad luck.

Having said that, I agree with you; she had a wonderful career along with the incidents you mentioned. That's how she earned the nickname "Old Reliable".

 

[Michael Cundiff]

I realize the collision with the HAWKE was extreme but it certainly did not as with the NANTUKET incident "doom" the OLYMPIC.

She went on to the breakers in '34 after a luxurious life, now I consider that her doom, however not fitting for a beautiful lady.

The "doomed" sister is lying at the bottom of the AGENA...a stunning example of doom as with TITANIC's eary demise!

Michael Cundiff
NV, USA

 

[Jason D. Tiller]

She went on to the breakers in '34 after a luxurious life

Pardon me, Michael, but Olympic did not go to the Jarrow scrapyard until October 1935. See here.

 

[Jeremy Aufderheide]

A more proper title to the documentary may have been "The Doomed Sisters of the Olympic"...but that wouldn't have brought in the viewers, most thinking it was a sporting event.

Jason, I was referring to the 1934 incident, because she was pretty much taken out of service after that and scrapped beginning the following year. That pretty much is "doom" in a nutshell. Similar to the Norway's boiler explosion. The boiler explosion spelled her doom, in much the same way the Nantucket Lightship collision did for the Olympic. The Hawke collsion did not.

The Hawke collision doesn't scream "doom". There was damage to the Olympic, but she sailed for years after. There was no loss of life. The Hawke didn't sink and neither did the Olympic. So, it was generally an okay day for all involved.