Editing RMS Olympic (section)

=== ''Hawke'' collision ===
{{Main|Olympic–Hawke collision}}
[[File:Hawke - Olympic collision.JPG|left|thumb|Images documenting the damage to ''Olympic'' (left) and ''Hawke'' (right) following their collision ([[:File:Olympic Hawke collision damage.jpg|other view here]])]]
''Olympic''{{'}}s first major mishap occurred on her fifth voyage on 20 September 1911, when she collided with the British [[cruiser]] {{HMS|Hawke|1891|6}}.<ref>{{harvnb|Chirnside|2004|p=67}}.</ref> The collision took place as ''Olympic'' and ''Hawke'' were running parallel to each other through the [[Solent]]. As ''Olympic'' turned to starboard, the wide radius of her turn took the commander of ''Hawke'' by surprise, and he was unable to take sufficient avoiding action.<ref name="Marriott"/> ''Hawke''{{'}}s bow, which had been designed to sink ships by [[Naval ram|ramming]] them, collided with ''Olympic''{{'}}s starboard side near the stern,<ref>{{harvnb|Chirnside|2004|p=81}}.</ref> tearing two large holes in ''Olympic''{{'}}s hull, above and below the waterline, resulting in the flooding of two of her watertight [[Compartment (ship)|compartments]] and a twisted propeller shaft. ''Olympic'' settled slightly by the stern,<ref>{{Cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=aG4TDQAAQBAJ | isbn=9780750963480 | title=RMS Olympic: Titanic's Sister | date=7 September 2015 | publisher=The History Press }}</ref> but in spite of the damage was able to return to Southampton under her own power; no one was killed or seriously injured. HMS ''Hawke'' suffered severe damage to her bow and nearly capsized;<ref name="titanico"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://perdurabo10.tripod.com/ships/id45.html|title=Olympic|work=tripod.com|access-date=24 April 2012|archive-date=4 July 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130704030245/http://perdurabo10.tripod.com/ships/id45.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Hawke was repaired, but sunk by the German [[U-boat]] {{SMU|U-9}} in October 1914.

[[Edward Smith (sea captain)|Captain Edward Smith]] was in command of ''Olympic'' at the time of the incident. Two crew members, stewardess [[Violet Jessop]] and stoker [[Arthur John Priest]],<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-17543632 "Titanic's unsinkable stoker"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181008221541/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-17543632 |date=8 October 2018 }} BBC News 30 March 2012</ref> survived not only the collision with ''Hawke'' but also the later sinking of ''Titanic'' and the 1916 sinking of ''Britannic'', the third ship of the class.<ref>{{harvnb|Beveridge|Hall|2004|p=76}}</ref><ref>{{harvnb|Piouffre|2009|p=89}}.</ref>

At the subsequent inquiry the [[Royal Navy]] blamed ''Olympic'' for the incident, alleging that her large displacement generated a suction that pulled ''Hawke'' into her side.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Bonner |first1=Kit |last2=Bonner |first2=Carolyn |title=Great Ship Disasters |publisher=MBI Publishing Company |year=2003 |pages=33–34 |isbn=978-0-7603-1336-7}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=4-EDAAAAMBAJ&q=Popular+Mechanics+1931+curtiss&pg=PA218 |title=Why A Huge Liner Runs Amuck |magazine=Popular Mechanics |access-date=29 February 2012 |date=February 1932 |publisher=Hearst Magazines |archive-date=6 January 2021 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210106104008/https://books.google.com/books?id=4-EDAAAAMBAJ&q=Popular+Mechanics+1931+curtiss&pg=PA218 |url-status=live}}</ref> The ''Hawke'' incident was a financial disaster for ''Olympic''{{'}}s operator. A legal argument ensued which decided that the blame for the incident lay with ''Olympic'' and, although the ship was technically under the control of the [[harbour pilot]], the White Star Line was faced with large legal bills and the cost of repairing the ship, and keeping her out of revenue service made matters worse.<ref name="Marriott">{{cite book|last=Marriott|first=Leo|title=TITANIC|year=1997|publisher=PRC Publishing Ltd|isbn=1-85648-433-5}}</ref><ref name=ArP2>[http://olympic.50webs.com/history2.html « Maiden Voyage – Collision With HMS ''Hawke'' »] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090622204538/http://olympic.50webs.com/history2.html |date=22 June 2009 }}, ''RMS ''Olympic'' archive''. Accessed 21 May 2009.</ref><ref name=MC76>{{harvnb|Chirnside|2004|p=76}}.</ref> However, the fact that ''Olympic'' endured such a serious collision and stayed afloat appeared to vindicate the design of the ''Olympic''-class liners, and reinforced their "unsinkable" reputation.<ref name="Marriott"/>

It took two weeks for the damage to ''Olympic'' to be patched up sufficiently to allow her to return to Belfast for permanent repairs, which took just over six weeks to complete.<ref name=Piouffre_p70>{{harvnb|Piouffre|2009|p=70}}.</ref> To expedite repairs, Harland and Wolff was obliged to replace ''Olympic''{{'}}s damaged propeller shaft with one from ''Titanic'', delaying the latter's completion.<ref>{{harvnb|Chirnside|2004|pp=69–70}}.</ref> By 20 November 1911 ''Olympic'' was back in service, but, on 24 February 1912, suffered another setback when she lost a propeller blade on an eastbound voyage from New York, and once again returned to her builder for repairs. To return her to service as soon as possible, Harland & Wolff again had to pull resources from ''Titanic'', delaying her maiden voyage by three weeks, from 20 March to 10 April 1912.<ref name=Piouffre_p70/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cruiseserver.net/travelpage/ships/ws_titanic.asp |title=Classic Liners and Cruise Ships – RMS Titanic |publisher=Cruiseserver.net |access-date=16 July 2009 |archive-date=6 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210106103858/http://www.cruiseserver.net/travelpage/ships/ws_titanic.asp |url-status=live }}</ref>