A Night to Remember

On this day in 1912 the HMS Titanic hit an iceberg and began to sink. This occurred shortly before midnight and two hours and forty minutes later, in the early morning hours of April 15th she slipped quickly under the water of the North Atlantic.

HMS Titanic was the largest passenger steamship in the world at that time, and was four days into her maiden voyage. 1,517 passengers lost their lives in the sinking, and one of my favorite facts is that a disproportionate number of men died due to the women and children first protocol that was followed. Wonder if that would work in today's world, some group would likely be offended.

In 2000 I got the chance to pass by the final resting place of this once mighty ship while crossing the North Atlantic on board the USS Simpson (FFG 56). We were trying to out run a hurricane and spotted several vessels appearing to be at anchor in the middle of the ocean. My Lamps helicopter, Hellcat 447 was sent to check on the ships, warn them of the impending storm and to inquire if they needed assistance. We were informed they were research ships and that they had submersibles down on Titanic, wow never even thought about the fact of that being the case. I don't think we even knew about the position of Titanic, it was not part of our mission brief. The ships thanked us for checking up on them, and assured us they were watching the storm and were safe, we continued on our way. I can not describe the feeling of seeing those ships in the middle of the North Atlantic and knowing they were sitting two and a half miles above were the Titanic on the ocean floor. I get chills today as I write this. In 1912 as well as today, she truly went down in the middle of no where.

In it's death, and since it's re-discovery in 1985 by Dr. Robert Ballard, the once mighty ship continues the deterioration that will win out in the end, turning it into nothing more that rust stains on the sea floor. Visits by tourist in submersibles, and uncontrolled salvage have added to this rapid decline. It is estimated that the hull will collapse into the sea bed within the next fifty years. Rest in piece, as best you can Titanic, but I do not think you will be soon forgotten.

"Oh hear us when we pray to thee, for those in peril on the sea."

Old Chief sends