The sinking of the RMS Titanic is one of the most infamous shipwrecks in history. On April 15, 1912, the British passenger liner collided with an iceberg and sank in the North Atlantic Ocean during her maiden voyage from Southampton to New York City. Of the estimated 2,224 passengers and crew aboard, more than 1,500 died, making it one of the deadliest peacetime maritime disasters ever. One of the most frequently asked questions about the Titanic is how long it took for the massive ship to fully sink below the ocean’s surface after hitting the fateful iceberg.
Key Facts About the Sinking of the Titanic
- The Titanic struck the iceberg at around 11:40 PM ship’s time on April 14, 1912.
- It took about 2 hours and 40 minutes for the Titanic to fully sink beneath the waves.
- The Titanic sank at 2:20 AM ship’s time on April 15, 1912.
- The Titanic was massive, measuring 882 feet 9 inches (269.1 m) long and 175 feet (53.3 m) high from the keel to the top of the funnels.
- The Titanic had a maximum capacity of 3,547 passengers and crew.
- There were an estimated 2,224 people aboard the Titanic for her maiden voyage.
- Lifeboats could only accommodate around 1,178 people in total.
- Water flooded into the Titanic through openings created by the iceberg at an estimated rate of 7 long tons per second.
- The Titanic broke apart during the sinking process, sinking in two separate pieces.
Timeline of the Sinking
To understand exactly how long it took for the Titanic to sink, it is helpful to break down the timeline of events during that fateful night:
| Time | Event |
|---|---|
| 11:40 PM | Titanic collides with an iceberg on the starboard side. |
| 11:50 PM | Captain Edward Smith orders the lifeboats to be uncovered. |
| 12:05 AM | First lifeboat is launched with 28 people aboard. |
| 12:25 AM | The lifeboats begin launching filled to full capacity of 65 people. |
| 12:45 AM | The last full lifeboat is launched. |
| 2:05 AM | The last lifeboat with room for more passengers leaves Titanic. |
| 2:10 AM | The forward part of the Titanic plunges underwater. |
| 2:18 AM | Lights on the Titanic go out shortly before it breaks apart. |
| 2:20 AM | Titanic breaks apart and bow and stern sink beneath the waves. |
From this timeline, we can see it took approximately 2 hours and 40 minutes from the collision until the Titanic was fully submerged. The Titanic did not sink all at once, but rather gradually submerged bow-first over this time period. After the initial collision at 11:40 PM, it took over 2 hours for the Titanic to take on enough water to pull the bow underwater. The stern section briefly bobbed upright before also flooding and sinking at 2:20 AM.
Breaking Down the Sinking Process
Why did it take so long for the Titanic to sink? The answer lies in the ship’s mammoth size and state-of-the-art safety features that slowed the flooding:
- Huge mass to flood: The Titanic was enormous, weighing over 52,000 tons. Flooding and sinking such a massive vessel took a significant amount of time.
- Bulkheads: The Titanic had 16 watertight compartments with mechanically operated doors that could be closed from the ship’s bridge. These bulkheads could contain water and delay flooding of the entire ship.
- Pumps: The Titanic’s pumps could discharge over 1,700 tons of water per hour. The pumps helped counteract the incoming floodwater.
- Lifeboats launching: It took time to uncover, prepare, and launch the lifeboats, which was prioritized over attempts to save the ship herself.
- Breaking apart: As water flooded the forward compartments, stresses became too much for the hull to withstand. The Titanic broke in two sections that sank separately.
While the Titanic’s safety features played a role, the reality was that the ship was doomed after colliding with the iceberg. The openings created along the starboard side of the hull were too large and too many compartments were breached for the pumps and bulkheads to make a difference. Still, the safety systems delayed the inevitable sinking for a couple precious hours.
Final Plunge
After holding together for over two hours, the Titanic could withstand no more. The flooded bow pulled down the forward half of the ship, causing the stern to lift out of the water and expose the propellers. Shortly after 2:10 AM, witnesses reported the Titanic breaking apart between the third and fourth funnels. The forward section plunged first, followed soon after by the raised stern which flooded with water before capsizing and sinking at 2:20 AM. Within 10 minutes, all that remained were scattered debris and the lucky survivors who had made it onto the lifeboats.
Legacy of the Disaster
The Titanic disaster led directly to major improvements in maritime regulations and safety practices. Requirements were established for providing enough lifeboat spots for all passengers and crew. The International Ice Patrol was formed to monitor icebergs in the North Atlantic shipping lanes. And the first International Convention for Safety of Life at Sea was convened in 1913, leading to many new safety standards that are still in effect today. While the loss of life was tragic, the sinking of the Titanic led to critical changes that continue to protect all sailors to this day.
Conclusion
It took approximately 2 hours and 40 minutes for the RMS Titanic to completely sink beneath the waves after striking the iceberg at 11:40 PM on April 14, 1912. The massive size of the ship, combined with advanced safety features like compartmentalized bulkheads and pumps, delayed the flooding process. But ultimately, the enormity of the damage was too much for the Titanic to withstand. After holding together for over two hours, the Titanic broke apart and plunged under the water shortly after 2:20 AM on April 15th. This analysis provides a detailed timeline and breakdown of the factors that influenced how long it took for this iconic ship to meet her tragic fate. While a devastating disaster, the sinking of the Titanic led to critical improvements in maritime safety that endure to this day.