Titanic: what the evidence says (timeline, figures, the 1912 inquiries)
The White Star liner Titanic struck an iceberg on 14 April 1912 at 11:40 p.m. (ship's time) in the North Atlantic and sank at about 2:20 a.m. on 15 April. More than 1,500 people died: 1,517 according to the US Senate inquiry, 1,490 according to the British inquiry.
Last checked: · Our method
More than 1,500 people died that night. We show no suffering and turn no victim into a character.
Timeline
- 31 May 1911 — The hull is launched at Harland & Wolff, Belfast.
- 10 April 1912 — Departure from Southampton around noon; call at Cherbourg in the evening.
- 11 April 1912 — Call at Queenstown (now Cobh, Ireland), then the crossing to New York.
- 14 April 1912 — Several wireless messages report ice on the route during the day.
- 14 April 1912, 11:40 p.m. — The lookouts report an iceberg right ahead; the ship strikes it on the starboard side.
- 15 April 1912, about 12:15 a.m. — First wireless distress calls (CQD, then SOS).
- 15 April 1912, about 2:20 a.m. — Titanic disappears below the surface.
- 15 April 1912, about 4 a.m. — Carpathia reaches the scene and picks up the survivors in the boats.
- 18 April 1912 — Carpathia arrives in New York.
- 19 April - 25 May 1912 — US Senate inquiry, chaired by Senator William Alden Smith.
- 2 May - 3 July 1912 — British Wreck Commissioner's inquiry (Lord Mersey); report published 30 July 1912.
- 20 January 1914 — The first SOLAS convention on safety at sea is signed in London.
- 1 September 1985 — The wreck is located by a French-American expedition (Ifremer and Woods Hole), about 3,800 m deep.
Frequently asked questions
How many people died on the Titanic?
More than 1,500. The two 1912 inquiries give different figures: 1,517 dead according to the US Senate, 1,490 according to the British inquiry, which counted 2,201 people aboard and 711 saved.
What time did the Titanic hit the iceberg?
At about 11:40 p.m. on 14 April 1912, ship's time, according to crew testimony before both inquiries.
How long did it take the Titanic to sink?
About 2 hours 40 minutes: from the collision (11:40 p.m.) to the ship's disappearance at about 2:20 a.m. on 15 April 1912.
How many lifeboats did the Titanic carry?
20 boats (14 wooden lifeboats, 2 emergency cutters and 4 collapsibles) with 1,178 places in total, according to the British inquiry.
Which ship rescued the survivors?
Cunard's Carpathia, which reached the scene at about 4 a.m. on 15 April 1912 and took on the people in the boats.
Where is the Titanic wreck?
About 3,800 m deep in the North Atlantic, south-east of Newfoundland. It was located on 1 September 1985.
Could the disaster have been avoided?
That is the question of the whole series The Night of April 14: ten dossiers compare the testimony and the two 1912 reports, and the reader gives the verdict.
Myths and evidence
- "The Titanic was called unsinkable." RUMOUR
The phrase comes mostly from the press and period brochures; the 1912 inquiries examined its construction, not a slogan. - "Nobody warned the ship about the ice." FACT
Several wireless messages reporting ice were received on 14 April; the 1912 inquiries establish which ones reached the bridge. - "The band played until the end." TESTIMONY
Several survivors said so; accounts differ on the tunes and the time.
Primary sources and references
- US Senate inquiry report (1912) — Titanic Inquiry Project
- British Wreck Commissioner's report (1912) — Titanic Inquiry Project
- Full testimony of both inquiries — Titanic Inquiry Project
- Encyclopedia Titanica (passenger and crew lists)
- SOLAS — International Maritime Organization
Investigate it yourself : « The Night of April 14 »
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