Editing RMS Olympic (section)

=== ''Titanic'' disaster ===
{{Main|Sinking of the Titanic}}
[[File:RMS Olympic near Isle of Wight.jpg|left|thumb|''Olympic'' photographed near the [[Isle of Wight]] in October 1912 after the ''Titanic'' disaster]]
On 14 April 1912, ''Olympic'', now under the command of [[Herbert Haddock|Herbert James Haddock]], was on a return trip from New York. [[Wireless operator]] Ernest James Moore<ref name="Titanic Inquiry Project 1912 2">{{harvnb|Titanic Inquiry Project|1912|p=2}}</ref> received the distress call from ''[[Titanic]]'', when she was approximately 505 miles [[Boxing the compass|west by south]] of ''Titanic''{{'}}s location.<ref name="Titanic Inquiry Project 2012 1">{{cite web |title=United States Senate Inquiry, Day 18, Proces Verbal (SS Olympic) |website=Titanic Inquiry Project |url=https://www.titanicinquiry.org/USInq/AmInq18PVOlympic01.php }}</ref> Haddock calculated a new course, ordered the ship's engines to be set to full power and headed to assist in the rescue.{{sfn|Chirnside|2004|p=76}}

When ''Olympic'' was about {{convert|100|nmi}} away from ''Titanic''{{'}}s last known position, she received a message from [[Arthur Rostron|Captain Rostron]] of Cunard's {{RMS|Carpathia}}, which had arrived at the scene. Rostron explained that ''Olympic'' continuing on course to ''Titanic'' would gain nothing, as "All boats accounted for. About 675 souls saved [...] Titanic foundered about 2:20&nbsp;am."<ref name="Titanic Inquiry Project 2012 1" /> Rostron requested that the message be forwarded to White Star and Cunard. He said that he was returning to harbour in New York.<ref name="Titanic Inquiry Project 2012 1" /> Subsequently, the wireless room aboard ''Olympic'' operated as a clearing room for radio messages.<ref name="Titanic Inquiry Project 2012 1" />

When ''Olympic'' offered to take on the survivors, she was turned down by Rostron under order from Ismay,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.titanicinquiry.org/USInq2/AmInq18PVOlympic02.php|title=TIP {{!}} United States Senate Inquiry {{!}} Day 18 {{!}} Proces-Verbal (SS Olympic), cont.|website=www.titanicinquiry.org|access-date=3 February 2019|archive-date=6 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210106104010/http://www.titanicinquiry.org/USInq2/AmInq18PVOlympic02.php|url-status=live}}</ref> who was concerned that asking the survivors to board a virtual mirror-image of ''Titanic'' would cause them distress.<ref>{{harvnb|Masson|1998|p=87}}.</ref> ''Olympic'' then resumed her voyage to Southampton, with all concerts cancelled as a mark of respect, arriving on 21 April.<ref name="thegreatoceanliners">{{cite web|url=http://www.thegreatoceanliners.com/olympic.html|title=TGOL – Olympic|work=thegreatoceanliners.com|access-date=26 April 2012|archive-date=13 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160413123227/http://www.thegreatoceanliners.com/olympic.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="MC79">{{harvnb|Chirnside|2004|p=79}}.</ref>

Over the next few months, ''Olympic'' assisted with both the [[American Titanic inquiry|American]] and [[British Titanic inquiry|British]] inquiries into the disaster. Deputations from both inquiries inspected ''Olympic''{{'}}s lifeboats, watertight doors and bulkheads and other equipment which were identical to those on ''Titanic''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.titanicinquiry.org/USInq/AmInq18header.php|title=TIP – United States Senate Inquiry – Day 18|work=titanicinquiry.org|access-date=19 May 2012|archive-date=7 April 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120407114016/http://www.titanicinquiry.org/USInq/AmInq18header.php|url-status=live}}</ref> Sea tests were performed for the British enquiry in May, to establish how quickly the ship could turn two points at various speeds, to approximate how long it would have taken ''Titanic'' to turn after the iceberg was sighted.{{sfn|Chirnside|2004|p=83}}<ref>{{harvnb|Masson|1998|p=111}}.</ref>