Ocean liner R.M.S. Olympic COBI 1687 - Historical collection 1:700

Did you know:

• Many historical sources testify to people who saw the Titanic and were amazed by its size and majesty. The truth, however, is that the first of the trio of sister ships that people could see in dry dock was the liner Olympic. 
• The White Star Line ordered a total of three vessels from the Harland & Wolff shipyards: Olympic, Titanic and Britannic. The original name of the liner Britannic was Gigantic, but after the Titanic disaster the White Star Line decided to rename her.
• Construction began on December 16, 1908, and the ship was launched on October 20, 1910.
• Shortly after entering service, a serious accident occurred during the fifth voyage, when currents from Olympic’s propellers disrupted the course of the cruiser HMS Hawke, which subsequently collided with Olympic.
• R.M.S. Olympic suffered damage to the hull in the stern section below the waterline and a destroyed drive shaft with propeller. The vessel therefore had to return to the docks for repairs. This interrupted work on the simultaneously built Titanic for a full two months. 
• After repairs, the ship was deployed on the regular Southampton – Cherbourg – Queenstown – New York route until the sinking of the Titanic in April 1912. After the Titanic tragedy, she was withdrawn from service to install additional lifeboats and to retrain the crew.
• In 1914, Olympic was requisitioned for military purposes. Both the fore and aft decks were fitted with a pair of 120 mm anti-submarine guns, which soon proved to be a very wise decision. 
• Olympic transported British and American soldiers across the ocean from the very first days of the unprecedented world war. 
• On May 12, 1918, there were 9,000 American soldiers on board Olympic when she was attacked by the German submarine U 103 at the entrance to the English Channel. During preparatory maneuvers to launch a torpedo, the submarine had to surface briefly. At that moment, the well-trained crews of the 120 mm guns were already waiting and opened fire. The German submarine was disabled, and the final blow was delivered by the order of Olympic’s captain, Bertram Fox Hayes, who commanded the ship to ram the submarine. The approaching 10-meter-high bow of the liner was the last thing the submarine’s crew ever saw.
• After the end of the First World War, Olympic returned to civilian service until 1935, when she was sold for scrap for £100,000. 
• Even today, you can see what the luxurious interior looked like. Simply visit the White Swan Hotel in Alnwick, England, which purchased the paneling from the First Class lounge and used it to decorate the hotel’s interior. 
  
  

Technical specifications:

• dimensions: length 269.1 m, beam 28.2 m, draft 10.5 m
• propulsion system: 2× steam engines, each with 4 cylinders and triple expansion 
• total propulsion output 43,400 kW
• fuel: coal, later converted to oil
• maximum speed 36 km/h (21 knots)
• voyage time on the New York route depending on weather: 6–7 days
• crew 860 including staff providing luxury service, of whom 400 worked in the ship’s kitchens
• passenger capacity: First Class 750 passengers, Second Class 375 passengers, Third Class 1,150 passengers

From the memoirs of Captain Bertram Fox Hayes:

“I ordered the ramming of the German submarine immediately. I was fully aware of the consequences if the Germans had managed to launch a torpedo. I am accused of taking excessive risks, but the truly excessive risk would have been to inadequately arm a civilian ship and thus turn her into an easy target. Nevertheless, I must say that Olympic, to my satisfaction, cut the submarine in two so smoothly as if the Germans had built it for precisely that purpose.”

About the building set :

• COBI building set 1687 R.M.S. Olympic is made of 595 high-quality ABS pieces
• scale 1:700 
  
• collection Historical Collection
• number of figures 0
• pad printed – no stickers
• accurate detailing
• made in the EU