Maritime Disasters Quiz | Maritime Disasters

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. This German battleship sank HMS Hood in the Battle of the Denmark Strait. Then was in turn disabled by HMS Dorsetshire on 27 May, 1941, 500 miles off the French coast. What was this pride of the German fleet called?

Answer: Bismarck

Bismarck had a short but eventful career. Attempting to evade British pursuers, she made for the French coast. Torpedo planes disabled her steering gear and she was trapped and sunk the next day, either by fire from the Dorsetshire or by scuttling, taking 2100 sailors with her.

2. Perhaps the most famous shipping disaster of all time. You need only a few clues. 15 April, 1912. Iceberg. What ship was she?

Answer: Titanic

Titanic struck an iceberg on her maiden voyage from Southampton to New York. She was considered unsinkable, but there is some evidence that faulty rivets may have contributed to her demise. Of the 2200 on board, 710 were saved. Only some 300 bodies were recovered.

3. This great lakes freighter sank on November 10, 1975 during a fierce storm. Over 700 feet long and 75 feet at the beam, she was christened in 1958. She sank in Canadian waters on Lake Superior. Who was she?

Answer: Edmund Fitzgerald

She was carrying a full load of ore pellets when struck by a storm containing winds of 65-90 miles an hour. She carried 29 crewman with her. She was the subject of a song written and recorded by Gordon Lightfoot, "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald". Opinions are now that she suffered some sort of structural failure which allowed water to enter one or more of the cargo hatches.

4. This German heavy cruiser was completed in 1936 and at war's outbreak managed to sink 9 ships, some 50,000 tons worth. She was cornered by HMS Exeter, HMS Achilles and HMS Ajax in December 1939 off the coast of South America. What ship was she?

Answer: Graf Spee

Graf Spee, under the command of Capt. Hans Langsdorff, was damaged and had to seek refuge in a Uraguayan port. Denied enough time to make proper repairs and believing that more British ships awaited his return to sea, he scuttled his ship near the mouth of the River Platte. He then committed suicide.

5. This passenger liner was torpedoed by the German sub U-20 off the southern coast of Ireland, on a voyage from New York to Liverpool on 17 May, 1915. Her sinking contributed to America's entry into World War I. What ship was she?

Answer: Lusitania

Despite warnings from the German embassy via newspapers, the Cunard liner sailed from New York as scheduled. She was rumored to be carrying munitions and the German Uboat captain considered her fair game. She was luxurious and fast, having held the Atlantic crossing record of 4 days, 19 hours. She took nearly 1200 people with her, among them 123 Americans.

6. The sinking of this ship in January 1945 produced the largest number of maritime casualties in history. She was a liner pressed into duty evacuating civilians and military personnel from Gdynia to Kiel. Torpedoed by a Soviet sub, the cost in lives was 9,000-10,000. Who was she?

Answer: Wilhelm Gustloff

Trapped in port for a large part of the war, she had served as a hospital ship and barracks for cadets in the submarine service. She was hit by at least 3 torpedos at night in very cold temperatures. Poor decision-making by her officers led to navigation lights being turned on, thus making her an easier target. Of the civilian and military deaths, some 4000 were children.

7. This river steamer sank just north of Memphis in April of 1865, when her boilers exploded. She was badly overcrowded, carrying wounded and released prisoners of war to Cincinnati. Who was she?

Answer: Sultana

Sultana was carrying nearly 2400, of whom 1800 drowned or burned to death. She had a legal capacity of 376. As she fought the current, the weight on her decks caused the ship to list one way, then the other, which in turn caused one or more of the boilers to come loose.

The resulting explosion and fire was tremendous. As the river has changed course, her remains were found in a cornfield 2 miles east of the river.

8. In December, 1987 this Philippine-registered passenger ferry sank after a collision with a fully loaded oil tanker. The explosion and fire killed more than 4000 people. Can you name her?

Answer: Dona Paz

Dona Paz was bound from Leyte to Manila. The oil tanker was carrying gasoline and other petroleum products. The collision and fire quickly set the Dona Paz ablaze, as well as the surrounding sea. There were but 25 survivors. Estimates of the toll taken in lives varies, but is believed to be well over 4000.

9. She was the second Battleship to be launched by the U.S. Navy. She lay in Havana Harbor on a mission to calm tensions between Spain and Cuban revolutionaries. On 15 February 1898, an explosion sent her to the bottom of the harbor. Name her.

Answer: U.S.S. Maine

The initial findings blamed the sinking on a mine and were instrumental in causing the Spanish American war. The yellow press, led by Hearst, agitated until war was declared. There were 266 casualties. The war led to the emergence of the U.S. as a world power. Ironically, after many studies and dives on the wreck, it is now believed that spotaneous combustion of coal dust in a bunker next to a powder room was the real culprit.

10. In November, 1898, this steamer left Boston headed for Portland, Maine and sailed into the teeth of one of the worst storms in history, the Portland Gale. She disappeared from sight. Who was she?

Answer: SS Portland

She was carrying between 190 and 200 people. Despite warnings of the impending weather, Captain Blanchard decided to try and outrun the storm. Bodies and debris began to wash up on shore the next day. She lies in 400 feet of water south of Boston.

Source: Author Pick61

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor trident before going online.
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Maritime Disasters Trivia Quiz

I will give clues describing the disaster, you name the ship.

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