Topic: What are the odds? Would it survive? (Read 8219 times)

Smithacus · « **on:** July 17, 2011, 18:39:47 »

Oh no! Not another Titanic topic!

Actually, I hope this one could be a little serious and thought provoking. I see all the time another request or another topic on Titanic throughout these boards, so it's on the mind of many users. Surfing the web on various topics, such as oceans, ships, shipwrecks, war history, war movies, etc., I started to think what would have been the odds of Titanic surviving to this day? Not good, in my opinion.

It seems that if passenger ships were targets during the two World Wars, combined with the hazzards of the sea and the ravages of time, that the Titanic might not have survived to this day.

I would say, in my opinion, it may not have survived World War One, and if it did, it's odds of longevity would have diminished drasticly and quickly as the years go on. Many ocean liners have been scrapped over the years, also, just because of age, cost to maintain, failure to maintenance, and lack of interest. Even the recent ones. SS France (1961) is gone. The RMS Queen Mary and the SS United States survived scrapping, however. So the possibility is there.

This website gives some statistics of WWI&II sinkings:
http://www.shipsnostalgia.com/guides/Passenger_Ship_Disasters_-_Part_6
http://www.shipsnostalgia.com/guides/Passenger_Ship_Disasters_-_Part_7

This website gives some statistics of WWII sinkings:
http://members.iinet.net.au/~gduncan/maritime-1.html

Time is not kind to ships. What are your thoughts?

(I've enabled users to change votes and there's no time limit, so if you change your mind later come back.)

VirtualSkipper · « **Reply #1 on:** July 17, 2011, 20:49:57 »

I think it would have been scrapped around the WWII period. The Olympic has.

assassinator2.0 · « **Reply #2 on:** July 17, 2011, 21:24:13 »

Yes i very much doubt it would have survived much after WWII. It wouldve most likely been scrapped i think

dexter7 · « **Reply #3 on:** July 18, 2011, 02:01:46 »

it would've been bombed by the germans during WWI and if that didn't happen it would been scrapped during WWII because there were larger ships

matt5674 · « **Reply #4 on:** July 18, 2011, 02:47:57 »

In my opinion, had the Titanic survived the iceberg and continued to sail, she would be sailing in World War I but would not continue through World War II as Cunard and White Star merged before WWII and the liners of White Star and Cunard were taken out of service to make room for new age liners. This affected the Olympic, Mauritania and Aquitania as they were scrapped when Cunard White Star Line formed and would also affect Titanic.

saltydog · « **Reply #5 on:** July 18, 2011, 04:19:13 »

She may have survived WWI as a transport ship..After that she probably would have been used for target practice..

Third Mate · « **Reply #6 on:** July 18, 2011, 04:48:10 »

Wasn't Titanic sinking that created all these WW's, I'm talking about some sort of government conspiracy, there hiding something

VirtualSkipper · « **Reply #7 on:** July 18, 2011, 05:45:53 »

Quote from: Third Mate on July 18, 2011, 04:48:10

Wasn't Titanic sinking that created all these WW's, I'm talking about some sort of government conspiracy, there hiding something

No, something entirely different caused WW1.

Quote from: matt5674 on July 18, 2011, 02:47:57

In my opinion, had the Titanic survived the iceberg and continued to sail, she would be sailing in World War I but would not continue through World War II as Cunard and White Star merged before WWII and the liners of White Star and Cunard were taken out of service to make room for new age liners. This affected the Olympic, Mauritania and Aquitania as they were scrapped when Cunard White Star Line formed and would also affect Titanic.

Now that's what I call a good answer to the question of this topic.

Although nothing affected the Aquitania, she was just scrapped because she just got a weakened superstructure.

The Ferry Man · « **Reply #8 on:** July 18, 2011, 08:37:33 »

Although...

would White Star Line and Cunard have merged if the Titanic disaster never happened...?

VirtualSkipper · « **Reply #9 on:** July 18, 2011, 09:29:40 »

Quote from: The Ferry Man on July 18, 2011, 08:37:33

Although...

would White Star Line and Cunard have merged if the Titanic disaster never happened...?

They actually did. The two shipping lines were called Cunard White Star Line but White Star Line went bankrupt later on so Cunard was on it's own again.

The Ferry Man · « **Reply #10 on:** July 18, 2011, 09:49:52 »

nono

I know they did merge - BUT - if the Titanic never sunk would they have still merged?

Stuart2007 · « **Reply #11 on:** July 18, 2011, 15:37:56 »

I don't think it would have made much difference. WSL continued for a number of years after their incompetence with the boring ship.

Had they "gone under" quite quickly that'd have been different but the company stayed afloat for what 20 years or so.

Mad_Fred · « **Reply #12 on:** July 18, 2011, 16:08:54 »

Quote from: Third Mate on July 18, 2011, 04:48:10

Wasn't Titanic sinking that created all these WW's, I'm talking about some sort of government conspiracy, there hiding something

You're joking, surely?

Traddles · « **Reply #13 on:** July 18, 2011, 16:42:11 »

Somebody never heard of Sarajevo.

assassinator2.0 · « **Reply #14 on:** July 18, 2011, 17:01:58 »

Quote from: Traddles on July 18, 2011, 16:42:11

Somebody never heard of Sarajevo.

Sarajevo?

Mad_Fred · « **Reply #15 on:** July 18, 2011, 17:12:24 »

Yes, you know, where Gavrilo Princip killed Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria, which ultimately led to the start of WWI..

Traddles · « **Reply #16 on:** July 18, 2011, 17:39:07 »

Somebody else never heard of the place.

Possibly also didn't know about the invasion of Poland, but then of course "Titanic" was not there either.

assassinator2.0 · « **Reply #17 on:** July 18, 2011, 19:34:32 »

We havent learned about WWI yet. i thought WWI started because of the invasion of Poland....or was that WWII?

dexter7 · « **Reply #18 on:** July 18, 2011, 19:35:30 »

invasion of poland was WWII

assassinator2.0 · « **Reply #19 on:** July 18, 2011, 19:36:43 »

ahh okay

IRI5HJ4CK · « **Reply #20 on:** July 18, 2011, 20:06:49 »

A summary of WWI...

Germany, Austria and Italy are standing together in the middle of a pub when Serbia bumps into Austria and spills Austria's pint. Austria demands Serbia buy it a complete new suit because there are splashes on its trouser leg. Germany expresses its support for Austria's point of view. Britain recommends that everyone calm down a bit. Serbia points out that it can't afford a whole suit, but offers to pay for the cleaning of Austria's trousers. Russia and Serbia look at Austria. Austria asks Serbia who it's looking at. Russia suggests that Austria should leave its little brother alone. Austria inquires as to whose army will assist Russia in compelling it to do so. Germany appeals to Britain that France has been looking at it, and that this is sufficiently out of order that Britain should not intervene. Britain replies that France can look at who it wants to, that Britain is looking at Germany too, and what is Germany going to do about it? Germany tells Russia to stop looking at Austria, or Germany will render Russia incapable of such action. Britain and France ask Germany whether it's looking at Belgium. Turkey and Germany go off into a corner and whisper. When they come back, Turkey makes a show of not looking at anyone. Germany rolls up its sleeves, looks at France, and punches Belgium. France and Britain punch Germany. Austria punches Russia. Germany punches Britain and France with one hand and Russia with the other. Russia throws a punch at Germany, but misses and nearly falls over. Japan calls over from the other side of the room that it's on Britain's side, but stays there. Italy surprises everyone by punching Austria. Australia punches Turkey, and gets punched back. There are no hard feelings because Britain made Australia do it. France gets thrown through a plate glass window, but gets back up and carries on fighting. Russia gets thrown through another one, gets knocked out, suffers brain damage, and wakes up with a complete personality change. Italy throws a punch at Austria and misses, but Austria falls over anyway. Italy raises both fists in the air and runs round the room chanting. America waits till Germany is about to fall over from sustained punching from Britain and France, then walks over and smashes it with a barstool, then pretends it won the fight all by itself. By now all the chairs are broken and the big mirror over the bar is shattered. Britain, France and America agree that Germany threw the first punch, so the whole thing is Germany's fault . While Germany is still unconscious, they go through its pockets, steal its wallet, and buy drinks for all their friends.

Smithacus · « **Reply #21 on:** July 18, 2011, 22:29:42 »

Interesting comments.

For Thrid Mate:
The controversial ship sinking was the Lusitania, 7 May 1915 (early into WWI). It was torpedoed then rocked by a secondary explosion. There are multiple theories on this, but in essence the two main ideas were that the second explosion was caused by a secret cargo of munitions, which were illegal to carry on a passenger ship and thus justified in targeting, or the other idea was that the torpedo stirred up coal dust which then ignited explosively. I don't know either way, it's been too many years since high school history class, which was the only place I had heard of such theories. You can find more info either by googling Lusitania or going to the library. Here is just one of many sources: http://www.greatships.net/lusitania.html

Back to Titanic:
I had another thought on Titanic. It's biggest claim to fame was it's sinking, especially after it was touted as "unsinkable." It was the biggest of it's time, but since bigger ones followed it could have disappeared into obscurity had it not sunk. Or, become an attractive target in WWI or WWII. But it's manner of demise (maiden voyage, iceberg, many lives lost) and it's discovery in 1985 and therefore becoming the subject of renewed interest and science expiditions, the events of 15 April 1912 probably have propelled it to a better everlasting fame than it would have had it had a normal run. I don't know.

The Ferry Man · « **Reply #22 on:** July 19, 2011, 00:15:53 »

If it hadn't sank it would be "another liner", known only to the real liner experts...

its only because of what happened that has kept it in the public eye...

Third Mate · « **Reply #23 on:** July 19, 2011, 03:12:26 »

Yeah, If would be here still today, I think It will be in a similar position as Queen Mary(haunted Liner). Al dough it may of been likely that Titanic would not be haunted instead it would be docked at Harland and Wolf Shipyard for people to look at. The ship would of had maintenance done to it so they can keep it looking good. And there would not be any movies, CD music records, the millions of dollars made by Hollywood for making movies about it It would of been just another Liner because less people knew of it.But in 2012 the ship would make a historical trip to NY as a celebration of one of mans greatest achievements with 50% discounts on tickets.

assassinator2.0 · « **Reply #24 on:** July 19, 2011, 04:47:31 »

Quote from: Third Mate on July 19, 2011, 03:12:26

But in 2012 the ship would make a historical trip to NY as a celebration of one of mans greatest achievements with 50% discounts on tickets.

u mean they are going to raise her? XD

Poll

Had the Titanic not sunk in 1912 how long would it have survived?

Author Topic: What are the odds? Would it survive? (Read 8219 times)

matt5674