The RMS Olympic was the sister ship of the infamous Titanic, launched in 1910. Although it had a much more successful career, the Olympic was not without mishap. In 1930, the Olympic was involved in a collision with the HMS Hawke, a British warship. The impact was so strong, the Olympic was almost cut in two. Thanks to the quick thinking of the crew and passengers, however, the ship was able to limp into port for repairs after the accident.

The Olympic was ultimately repaired and returned to service. It continued to serve until 1935, when it was scrapped. The event was a reminder of the fragility of ships, especially in comparison to the more modern ships that followed.