We know that so called stress tests today are mostly done as computer simulation. But in the old days constructions were put under enormous forces to see their behavior. The most extreme test in that case was done to the TS Imperator. The TS Imperator was a german transatlantic vessel. She was designed to counter the british attempts to steal the german supremacy on the north atlantic. Up to 1906 the german vessels were the biggest, fastest and most luxurious ships on the North Atlantic. Then the british Lusitania and Mauretania were launched who were faster and bigger than any german vessel. In 1911 followed the colossal Olympic which was slower but bigger and more luxurious and her sister Titanic was already in the last months of her completion. That was unacceptable for the german HAPAG which ordered the TS Imperator. Imperator was designed to be bigger than Titanic and almost as fast as Mauretania. Her interios put those of the Titanic to shame. At her completion she was not only the biggest, but also the most powerful machine ever build from human hands. The Titanic desaster in 1912 did lead to some changes in her design. She got a doubble hull, more life boats, higher bulkheads, headlights and stronger pumps. But people were suspicious. Ballin, the president of HAPAG feared that the maiden voyage could not be booked out. That would have been a publicity desaster. He ordered the chief engineer of the Vulcan Yard into his office and asked him how much compartments of Titanic were damaged so she sunk. The engineer answered him that the british report said, that Titanic was damaged at the 5 front compartments. Ballin asked him, if the Imperator would survive that damage. The engineer answered him, that his calculations show, that her design could survive such an impact. Ballins answer was: "Great! Let us test it!"
The german emperor Wilhelm II was informed about that, because the construction was funded from the government. All newspapers announced the upcoming test. At the day the giant vessel was pulled from tugboats out of the drydock into deep water. Hundredthousands of people lined the docks at the harbor at Hamburg. When the vessel was in position, her bulkheads were closed, sealing her watertight compartments. The smaller ships from the Hamburg Firefighter department arrived and put large water pumps into the first 5 front compartments. The pumps were started and 7 tons of water rushed evry second in the bow of the ship. After 10 minutes you could notice that the bow began slowly to sink down and the stern rising. After 50 minutes the top of the bow started to sink under the water line and the propellers started to come out of the water as the stern was rising higher. She stopped in that position, since all 5 front bulkheads were full with water. Her hull was under so much stress that you could hear the steel "singing". Titanic was broken in two in that position but Imperator did hold out. The water was pumped out of her bow and she was pulled back into drydock for inspections and completion. Her maiden voyage half a year later was completly booked out.
The german emperor Wilhelm II was informed about that, because the construction was funded from the government. All newspapers announced the upcoming test. At the day the giant vessel was pulled from tugboats out of the drydock into deep water. Hundredthousands of people lined the docks at the harbor at Hamburg. When the vessel was in position, her bulkheads were closed, sealing her watertight compartments. The smaller ships from the Hamburg Firefighter department arrived and put large water pumps into the first 5 front compartments. The pumps were started and 7 tons of water rushed evry second in the bow of the ship. After 10 minutes you could notice that the bow began slowly to sink down and the stern rising. After 50 minutes the top of the bow started to sink under the water line and the propellers started to come out of the water as the stern was rising higher. She stopped in that position, since all 5 front bulkheads were full with water. Her hull was under so much stress that you could hear the steel "singing". Titanic was broken in two in that position but Imperator did hold out. The water was pumped out of her bow and she was pulled back into drydock for inspections and completion. Her maiden voyage half a year later was completly booked out.
