Mark Chirnside
Member
It is often thought that Olympic during the 1930s was in a bad condition. Expressions such as ‘severe fatigue,’ ‘cracking-up hull’ and ‘tired worn-out machinery’ are commonly used. Actually, from a brief check of the ssurveys she does not seem to have been in bad condition at all for a ship of her age. The main for this post is her general machinery. After the repairs to her rivets and hull cracks from 1930/1931, every passenger certificate was issued for twelve months as far as I know after limited examination at the moment.
Regarding the oft-cited opinion that her machinery was tired, which it wasn’t, and that Olympic could only make 20 knots by the 1930s, I have the following stated before and after repairs:
Now, that should sort the speculation. She was therefore capable of well over 20 knots. About 21½ was averaged westbound against the current even at an easy average of seventy-six revolutions. As quoted, it was stated full revolutions (normal full speed) revolutions will be 78 r.p.m., which equates to nearly 23 knots or more. Certainly I should think over 22 knots even against a heavy current, but Olympic had had some new propellers since her early years and so Titanic comparisons do not fit or prove much. True, white star did claim she could do 23 knots average on service after the ‘new engines’ but although it is reported she was not that good it is not mentioned that she had slowed significantly to 20. She was still averaging 22½ knots in 1930, but that is the latest log extract I have. The surveyor even notes 21½ knots at an easy pace. In the 1920s she averaged 23 knots on several times.
I remember in one forum it was said that Wards noted Olympic’s hull as ‘surprisingly sound’ in late 1935 when they had her., but do not have the exact source.
Now, back to other trouble: stern frame replacement and general cracking. I have the following quotes:
Following the hull repairs of cracking in superstructure and near aft expansion joint, 1930/1931, which were not major compared to those found in other ships of the time, it seems that Olympic’s surveys did not note any hull defects and were all issued for twelve months after a brief examination at present:
Regarding the oft-cited opinion that her machinery was tired, which it wasn’t, and that Olympic could only make 20 knots by the 1930s, I have the following stated before and after repairs:
Now, that should sort the speculation. She was therefore capable of well over 20 knots. About 21½ was averaged westbound against the current even at an easy average of seventy-six revolutions. As quoted, it was stated full revolutions (normal full speed) revolutions will be 78 r.p.m., which equates to nearly 23 knots or more. Certainly I should think over 22 knots even against a heavy current, but Olympic had had some new propellers since her early years and so Titanic comparisons do not fit or prove much. True, white star did claim she could do 23 knots average on service after the ‘new engines’ but although it is reported she was not that good it is not mentioned that she had slowed significantly to 20. She was still averaging 22½ knots in 1930, but that is the latest log extract I have. The surveyor even notes 21½ knots at an easy pace. In the 1920s she averaged 23 knots on several times.
I remember in one forum it was said that Wards noted Olympic’s hull as ‘surprisingly sound’ in late 1935 when they had her., but do not have the exact source.
Now, back to other trouble: stern frame replacement and general cracking. I have the following quotes:
Following the hull repairs of cracking in superstructure and near aft expansion joint, 1930/1931, which were not major compared to those found in other ships of the time, it seems that Olympic’s surveys did not note any hull defects and were all issued for twelve months after a brief examination at present:
