Sinking of the Titanic
The 1912 shipwreck in which the British passenger liner RMS Titanic struck an iceberg and sank in the North Atlantic, killing more than 1,500 people.
Titanic–iceberg collision: The impact between RMS Titanic and an iceberg late on April 14, 1912, that opened several compartments to the sea. The glancing impact damaged the hull along multiple compartments, beginning the flooding that sank the ship.
RMS Titanic: A British passenger liner operated by the White Star Line that sank on its maiden voyage in 1912. The sinking is the defining event in the history of this liner.
Edward Smith: The British sea captain who commanded RMS Titanic on its maiden voyage. Smith commanded Titanic during the collision, evacuation, and sinking.
RMS Carpathia: A Cunard passenger liner that rescued Titanic survivors from lifeboats after the sinking. Carpathia's arrival ended the survivors' immediate ordeal and carried them to New York.
Watertight compartment: A ship compartment designed to limit flooding by enclosing water behind bulkheads and doors. Titanic's bulkheads limited flooding, but did not extend high enough to prevent water spilling between compartments.
Titanic's maiden voyage: RMS Titanic's first voyage, from Southampton toward New York, begun on April 10, 1912. The disaster occurred during the liner's first crossing of the Atlantic.
Thomas Andrews: An Irish shipbuilder and managing director of Harland and Wolff who traveled aboard Titanic. Andrews assessed the damage and recognized that the ship was likely doomed.
Titanic inquiry: The British and American investigations into the Titanic disaster and its causes. The inquiries examined the collision, lifeboat capacity, communications, and crew decisions.
Titanic's breakup: The separation of Titanic's hull into two main sections as the ship sank. The hull broke apart during the final descent, shaping the wreck's position on the seabed.
White Star Line: A British shipping company that operated RMS Titanic and other passenger liners. The company owned Titanic and faced scrutiny over the ship and its safety arrangements.