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I was 50 to 100 yards away, I would say, when she went down. I could not be exact, but about that. She broke in two. All at once she seemed to go up on end, you know, and come down about half way, and then the afterpart righted itself again and the forepart had disappeared.

—Quartermaster Arthur John Bright.


RMS Titanic breaking in half was an event during its sinking. It occurred just before the final plunge, when the ship suddenly snapped in two pieces, the stern settled down into the water and allowing the bow section to sink beneath the waves.

Most survivors, such as Charles Lightoller, didn't see the break-up, as most of the lights suddenly went out, plunging the ship into near-total darkness. However, others like Jack Thayer saw the huge silhouette of the ship falling back into the water or saw the ship "buckle".

It was unknown to the common people before the wreck was discovered in 1985. Many questions were asked about the break-up. "Did the break-up occur in front of the third funnel or behind it?" "Did the bow raise itself up?" Scientists have confirmed that it did happen, and it was caused by the uneven distribution of weight in the Titanic's stern. In the movie, the split happened behind the third funnel. This is unconfirmed in real life, but it is known that the bow wreck doesn't have the area of the third funnel.

The breakup of the RMS Titanic is one of the most infamous attributes of it's sinking, and has been depicted and referenced in many ways in pop culture.

Break-up explanation[]

The breakup took place at 2:18 A.M. It started with the ship's lights going out, plunging everything into total darkness. Rumbling and metallic screeching then shook the ship. The ship then broke into two (possibly 3 or 4) pieces just aft of the 3rd funnel deckhouse. Around here, it's debated about how the break-up occurred.

ANTR Final Plunge

A Night to Remember (1958)'s depiction of the Plunge.

Theory 1 — One Piece Theory (1912–1985)[]

The ship reached an angle of 45 degrees when her lights went out at 2:18 A.M. She then quickly began her final plunge. After 3 minutes, at 2:20 A.M, the whole ship gently slid into the ocean, with mostly air bubbles causing any sort of dramatic effect, this was shown in all the movies. Despite plenty of survivors seeing that she broke in two, their stories were strangely enough not confirmed as truth in the Enquiries, so it was perceived as sinking intact throughout history until Robert Ballard found the wrecks of the two sections of Titanic separated, in 1985.

Theory 2 — Top Cant Break-Up Theory[]

Finalised top-cant render

Credit: Wolfric Rogers

The fallen second funnel was underwater and the liner was at a forward trim of about 20 degrees, inundated to the compass tower when the hull began to buckle. The liner then bowed and the lights went out, then the ship writhed as it broke right in front of the third funnel with a rumbling roar and what sounded like two explosions. The bow took a dip, partially pulling the forward tower off as the stern almost righted itself, only held together by the galley section and lower hull. The dislodged forward starboard engine cylinder and boiler room #1 boilers slid out of the starboard side of the damaged hull. The stern suddenly listed to port and violently pitched into the air at a 30 degree angle as water surged into the engine room, plunging the section to a point where the fourth funnel’s base was just above water. The keel broke off from the bow section, hanging loosely from the stern section. The aft end of the bow section briefly rose up and bobbed forward. The third funnel toppled backwards and to port as the forward tower was pulled forward and mounted the galley section. The third funnel struck the area of the aft expansion joint on the port side, knocking the aft tower’s forward port corner onto the forward port engine cylinder and pushing the forward tower to the east (forward-starboard).

With two more explosive sounds, the Titanic’s two main sections entirely broke apart and the surge of water in the engine room subsided, allowing the stern to finally settle back to an almost even keel with a slight starboard list and the propellers in the water. From aft-port and forward-starboard perspectives, survivors could clearly see that the stern righted itself from almost abeam of the fourth funnel without the bow, not being able to see much of the slumped aft tower from their viewpoints, if able to see it at all. Meanwhile, witnesses in forward-port and aft-starboard positions could clearly see the aft tower, but not its broken end; especially from aft starboard. This led to many survivors in those positions only seeing the initial breakup or having no clue where the liner broke at all. The fourth funnel remained standing during all of this and didn’t seem as though it would fall. Due to the weight of the forward port engine cylinder still being attached, the stern section listed over to port again as it began to sink.

Theory 3 — Low Angle Sinking Theory[]

Titanic Sinking Theories The LOW-ANGLE Break-Up Theory 1-21 screenshot

Credit: ShinGoji

The ship was at an angle of 14–18 degrees when her lights went out at 2:18. The ship suddenly snapped in two pieces, sending the sinking stern falling slowly into the water. Water surged into the bow and stern of the ship through the huge cracks, causing the bow to sink below the waves. The double bottom, still attached to both parts, pulled the stern to an angle of 6 degrees. Once at 6 degrees and the double bottom detached, the stern went vertical at 90 degrees and plunged.

Theory 4 — Cameron's Movie Theory[]

Titanic_Breaks_Scene

Titanic Breaks Scene

Titanic breaking in half in the 1997 movie.

The ship was at an angle of 45 degrees when her lights went out at 2:15AM. The ship suddenly snapped in two pieces, sending the sinking stern crashing down into the water, creating a huge wave killing people on the decks and crushing people in the water that were under the stren when it broke in half. Water surged into the bow and stern of the ship through the huge cracks, causing the bow section to sink beneath the waves. The double bottom, still attached to the almost afloat stern, pulled the stern to a 90-degree angle, where it sat momentarily for a minute. Once the double bottom separated and the bow went down, the stern rose up, sat idle for a few seconds and then dove straight down beneath the waves.

Theory 5 — V-Split Theory[]

Accurate Inaccurate

An accurate version of the V-break, next to the impossible and inaccurate V-break theory from Aaron1912.

The ship was at an angle of 11 degrees at 2:17AM. The ship then began to crack in front of the third funnel and break apart slowly. The stern fell back slowly five degrees back into the water, and water poured through the crack. With this new flooding area, it increased weight in between the two sections, bending the two broken parts together. When the double bottom failed, it allowed water to pour in, pulling the ship into shape somewhat resembling a V, though the bow stayed fully submerged. The two parts tangled together sank underwater together, until they separated underwater.

Another V-Break theory, proven to be false, states that the bow had risen out of the water after the break. This has been shown to be physically impossible due to the inundated bow's incredible mass. This theory was mainly peddled by YouTuber Aaron1912, a former Titanic enthusiast. His channel disappeared from YouTube, speculated to be for spreading false information. However, he's now back on YouTube under several different channel names including “Logan Dublin University” and "Aaron1912 Records & Research".

Theory 6 — No Fall Theory[]

The ship was at an angle of 30 degrees when her lights went out at 2:18AM. The ship suddenly cracked to the double bottom but stayed in the upright position. The whole ship then sank underwater at 50 degrees in a straightforward direction, the stern implode's causing the two parts to separated underwater.

Titanic Sinking Theories The Boiler Explosion Theory 1-26 screenshot

Credit: ShinGoji

Theory 7 — Fire / Boiler Explosion Theory[]

With any of the six previous theories, many survivors claimed to see a small explosion or a small fire occurring in the hull of the ship when she split in two. If this is true, the explosion was most likely caused by boilers exploding due to the breakup. If it was a small fire, it may have been caused by broken electrical wires snapped during the breakup, which showered sparks on flammable interiors. Sparks were reported to have flown from the broken electrical wires.

Theory 8 — Roy Mengot Theory (a former engineer)[]

Titanic Breakup Mengot Theory

Picture from Titanic Animations "Roy Mengot Theory" Video.

The ship was at an angle of 20–23 degrees when her lights went out at 2:17AM. The ship suddenly snapped in two pieces, just around the third funnel, causing the stern to slowly settle into the water. The keel fails first, and the draft and lower hull is crushed and breaks apart. The only thing holding the ship together now is B deck. Water surged into the bow and stern of the ship through the huge cracks, causing the bow section to sink beneath the waves. B deck breaks and the superstructure beneath the 3rd funnel crumbles. The stern rises to the high angle of 70–90 degrees, where it then sinks and disappears beneath the waves. You can find more information at this video made by Titanic Animations.

Theory 9 — Titanic Honor and Glory Theory (2020)[]

Titanic's Final Plunge - April 15, 1912 12-10 screenshot

The stern capsizing to port.


The ship was at an angle of around 26 degrees and when her lights went out at 2:19AM. The ship suffered a massive structural failure and the whole ship broke into 2 pieces. When the ship broke in half, all the funnels fell on to the port side, mainly because of the massive port list, The double keel is still connected, and the bow dragged the stern down, and eventually disconnected, the stern capsized to port. and the ship sunk in 2:20AM. Survivors like Charles Joughin (Baker) Also mentioned that he was walking on the hull of the ship.

Theory 10 — On A Sea of Glass Sinking[]

2021's On A Sea of Glass Sinking was the closest thing to what the survivors saw during the sinking (self-proclaimed statement), with Tom Lynskey and The Historians working together, they revised and create a new theory which also included a new Break-Up Theory of the Titanic.

On A Sea of Glass, is a Book Written By Bill Wormstedt, J. Kent Layton and Tad Fitch ([1]Link To Book) it portrays and shows numerous survivor accounts and tells the story of how the Titanic went under.

The final plunge occurs at 2:16AM, the Titanic keeps rising and stress builds up on both keel and the structures above near the 3rd funnel base and the aft grand staircase. Bending and rumbling Noises are heard, at around 2:17AM The ship begins to rise higher, as high as 23 degrees. as it reaches that tension and compression stresses work on the ship bending it further, the expansion joint is still trying to hold the titanic, thus the cracks on the top run around the ship splitting it into sections, the keel pushes the engines up a bit making the ship split into 4 major sections (The Aft Tower, the Forward Tower and the stern and bow sections). As the cracks finally meet the stern slowly settles back into the water, the ship initially breaks just in front of the 3rd funnel.

The Settling of The Stern (ON A SEA OF GLASS 2021)

The ship settles back.

(Referring to the picture or GIF on the right) Titanic, the stern sections with 2 other main sections (Aft and Forward Tower) settle back slowly on the water creating small splashes and waves. The emergency lights kick in, a massive cloud of sparks come rushing out near the break-up area (a fan-shaped eruption of sparks) as the stern settles back, massive groaning and straining noises do not stop. as heard and reported by survivors as well.

Seamen Frank Osman, May Have mistaken the tower for the engines fallin goff

2:17AM The Break Up Events. THE FALL OF THE FORWARD TOWER

The ship emits a dark red flame-like glow as the emergency lights kick in, the remaining funnels fall at this point. As the stern settles back, additional strain around the aft expansion joint cause it to fail and the Forward Tower to break off and crash into the ocean causing people near the area to falling to there deaths, some may have mistaken it for being the engines falling out of the ship. The forward tower section falls to the ocean, crushing survivors down below, The aft tower remains only just attached to the stern section.

The stern settles back for about a minute before 2:18AM, at which it begins to rise again, being pulled by the keel, to a(n) 85–90 degree angle before vanishing at 2:20AM.

VIDEOS OF THE SINKING:

[2]ON A SEA OF GLASS - Titanic REAL TIME SINKING *HISTORIAN EDITION*

[3]Titanic 109 - ON A SEA OF GLASS LIVE! Anniversary Livestream and Animation[]

Theory 11 — Tower Destruction Theory[]

The Titanic as it begins breaking.

The stern falling into the water. You can see the two tower sections becoming unstable.

As the ship reached an 18 degree angle with the water halfway up the Compass Tower. At 2:18AM, the ship's lights completely fail, and the ship's upper deck begins to form cracks. The hull in the split area begins bending and breaking apart. As the cracks grow larger, the upper 6 break apart. Now, only F Deck, G Deck, and the keel are holding the ship together. As Decks F and G break, the Forward Tower including a 1st class corridor, the 3rd funnel area, and the aft end of the Lounge start collapsing to the port side. As the stern softly settled down while still being at a 10 degree angle, the cable wiring connecting the masts started snapping, it tugged on both the forward and aft masts making them collapse, the forward mast falling onto the port bridge wing and the aft one collapsing to the port side while still being connected because its base dug down to C Deck, causing it to hang from the port side of the stern. As the bow sinks, the third funnel crushes the Compass Tower and the 4th funnel falls and rolls off the side of the ship. As the bow starts pulling the stern down with it, the aft tower breaks from the stern due to the bow pulling on it. As the stern starts getting pulled up, the aft tower starts breaking apart, destroying the Aft Grand Staircase. As the stern rises up to a 75 degree angle, the bow finally breaks free from the stern. As the bow begins its descent, the stern stays above the water and starts going under while slowly going completely vertical. And at 2:20AM, the stern went completely underwater.

Theory 12 — Titanic Honor and Glory Theory (2016)[]

The ship reached 20-30 degrees when the lights went out and the ship breaks down to the keel. It splits in front of the third funnel and behind the already collapsed second funnel, sending the stern crashing down into the water. After that, the remaining funnels fell in opposite directions, with the third falling to starboard and the fourth landing on the boat deck. The bow separates and sinks to the ground, pulling the stern with it, and the double bottom fails, separating the already sunken bow and stern. The stern capsizes to port and begins to sink, becoming vertical just as it begins to slide under completely.

Theory 13 — Banana Peel/Park Stephenson Theory[]

The Titanic Breaking (From the Kollected - National Geographic collaboration

The ship during the break-up. Notice that the ship is still listing to port at that point.

The ship reached an 23 degree angle as the starts to fractures down to the keel. The stern fell down while the double bottom acts as a hinge. The bow goes down to a 90 degree angle underwater when the double bottom fails, separating the bow and stern. The stern lists to port and begins to go under, becoming vertical just as it begins to slide under completely.

Bow Sinking Theory[]

The ship was at about 20 degrees, but the bow was only completely flooded with water as the bridge began to sink. The ship began to buckle up by 30 degrees, and then the ship started to weaken itself. Cracks appeared at the side of the ship (separating away the 2nd funnel to the 3rd funnel). Cracks started to open up, but causing a weakness. The bridge was completely flooded, and then it went to full buckle and break up at this point. The ship split into three pieces (the bow, the 2nd funnel section), causing a explosion at the boiler room and the keel to separate. The bow peeled out of the stern, separating it into two, causing a full management sink. The first funnel collapsed by it's weight, and the fourth funnel started collapsing, right smashing into the stern, eventually killing other people, and the stern lists to port, as the fourth funnel sinks right away. The bow starts going into it's sinking, right through the axis. The stern, did not maybe, and it rolled left again, causing all people to die on the stern by

Theory 14 — Oceanliner Designs' theory[]

On April 15, 1912, Titanic's bow sinks below the ocean's surface, leaving passengers and crew in lifeboats and in the stern of the ship in distress. Baker Charles Joughin, who was in his cabin, hears a strange noise and assumes it is the steel members of the hull beginning to fail. The hull, like a giant lever, was beginning to hog badly under the strain, and only minutes were left before it snapped. The U.S. Department of Commerce report reveals that stress concentrations were not removed from the ship's architecture, such as hatch corners and engine room casings. As the decks flex and bend, stresses build up in these areas, leading to cracks and possibly the shell plating itself failing due to freezing cold water and air temperatures. The Titanic's lights go out, possibly due to severed steam lines serving the electric dynamos. The double bottom and keel are jack-knifed and bent upward, similar to the Schenectady 30 years later. The hull fails at the keel, causing the two sections of double bottom to compress together, breaking the forward engine cylinders' bed plates. The cracks radiating from the casings above focus on a section beneath the third funnel, causing the fractures to join as one. Titanic breaks violently and cleanly, with the double bottom clinging on for dear life. The Titanic's superstructure collapses due to the lack of support for its massive heavy structures. The forward tower, beneath the third funnel, breaks free and falls into the water, bringing pieces of the galley and the engine room casing with it. The stern tips up open to the ocean. The double bottom finally separates, causing the ship to split into two major pieces. The exposed forward engine cylinders and their supports are severed by the jack-knifing double bottom. The aft tower and deck houses beneath the fourth funnel are also torn apart. The ship's heavy iron objects, including boilers and engine cylinders, land with a thunk, clumping below the ship's surface. The double bottom sections, the lightest, flap down and separate, leaving the ship on the sea floor. The full video about it can be found here.

Gallery[]

Trivia[]

  • The breakup was first seen in media in the 1996 Miniseries Titanic, as the discovery of the wreck had confirmed it by the release of any prior material.
  • It was originally thought that the Titanic sank in one piece until 1985 when the wreck was found.
  • Theories 2, 3, 4, 5 (first version), 10, 12, and 13 may have been the most likely ways the ship split and sank.
  • A 2009 video game titled Hidden Mysteries Titanic erroneously states that the ship broke in half at 1:30.
  • It was thought that the Titanic have broken either right behind the third funnel, right in front of it, or right under it.
  • Both theory 2 and theory 5 are the only ones to explain the "top-cant" that survivors said the stern took during the breakup.
  • Titanic may have had a few lights on after the break-up (via emergency dynamos). However, this is hotly debated and likely isn't true.
  • The ship broke into 4 main sections.
  • Titanic had a slight port list after the break-up, likely due to the loss of the forward cylinder of the starboard engine.
  • The most specific accounts of the break-up come from aft-port and forward perspectives, despite there being more accounts from other points of view, but these severely lack detail in comparison.

Sources[]

  1. https://www.encyclopedia-titanica.org/the-titanic-break-up.html
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