What do you think sank Britannic

[Kyle Fisher]

What do you think that sank the britannic?
And why do you that way.

 

[Mark Chirnside]

Hi Kyle!

My opinion doesn't matter, but this link gives a good overview. I'm assuming you are interested in the 'torpedo vs. mine' debate rather than any secondary causes. Michail has put a lot of work into his text, here:

http://www.hospitalshipbritannic.com/the_enigma.htm

Best regards,

Mark.

 

[Mark Chirnside]

Refresher!

 

[Phillip Ivey II]

definitely a mine. latest video footage confirms that.

 

[Mark Draper]

Yep the 2003 expedition I think found the mine debris. It was shown on the National Geographic Channel around the time GotA was released on dvd.

 

[Matt Robinson]

Definitely a mine. Thats surely the only explanation.

 

[Mark Chirnside]

As I've said, I think Michail's site gives a good outline to the debate.

Best wishes,

Mark.

 

[MATTHEW JOSEPH COOPER]

Torpedo

 

[Ioannis Georgiou]

Report into the loss of HMHS Britannic by Captain Charles Alfred Bartlett;

... At 8.12 A.M. when in the position above mentioned a tremendous but muffled explosion occurred, the ship trembling and vibrating most violently fore and aft, continuing for some time; the ship fell of about 3 points from her course. ... My first impression was that we had struck a mine and would probably be safe.

 

[MATTHEW JOSEPH COOPER]

That's interesting I thought I read he agreed it was a Torpedo.

check 4:03 4:19

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KoYAzlq6Oew&feature=related

 

[MATTHEW JOSEPH COOPER]

Actually I think Mine and Torpedo

 

[Jeremy Aufderheide]

How could a mine and torpedo strike together at the exact moment in the same place?

 

[MATTHEW JOSEPH COOPER]

The mine hit's the bottom and the torpedo hit's furthur up.But there was rumors and I read this in the enigma on Hospital Ship Britannic.com page that there was a second explosion.

 

[Jeremy Aufderheide]

>> The mine hit's the bottom and the torpedo hit's furthur up.

Matthew that didn't answer the question. The question is how within a very short timeframe could a torpedo and a mine hit a ship. A mine is anchored and waiting to be brushed up against...accidentally. A torpedo is intentionally fired. The sub would need to be lying in wait for a ship to a hit a mine, and why do double the damage when a mine can sink a ship in two shakes?

Second explosions can mean quite a few things on a sinking ship.

And, finally, was there documented sub activity in the area at the time of the sinking? Did anyone see the trail of the torpedo as it moved toward the ship?

 

[Augusto Félix Solari]

"Second explosions can mean quite a few things on a sinking ship."
We have to remember that those ships were full of coal and other flammable substances that could have caused another explosion.