On 20th September 1911, HMS Hawke was involved in a collision with RMS Olympic, the sister ship of the ill-fated RMS Titanic. At the time of the collision, Olympic was under the command of Captain Edward Smith, who captained the Titanic on her maiden voyage and who lost his life when she sank.
The Hawke and the Olympic were sailing on parallel courses down the Solent towards the English Channel when the latter turned to starboard and across the course being taken by the Hawke. The latter’s captain - William Frederick Blunt - was unable to take effective evasive action and the Hawke’s ram bow hit the Olympic on her starboard side, near the stern.
Both ships suffered extensive damage. The Olympic was holed both above and below her waterline and two of her watertight compartment were flooded and a propeller shaft was twisted.
The damage suffered by RMS Olympic.
The Hawke’s bow was extensively damaged ...
The damage to the bows of HMS Hawke. Note that this image was heavily retouched when it was originally published
... and had to be completely rebuild … but without a ram.
HMS Hawke before her collision with RMS Olympic. Note that her bow is fitted with a ram..
HMS Hawke after she was repaired. Note that the bow is now straight and no longer has a ram..
