RMS Harmony was a ship. It was owned by the White Star Line. It was one of the sister ships of the Bloxtanic and in the Olympic Ships. It often had voyages to Dahanani, New Blockers City and Southampton. The ocean liner was the last to be withdrawn from use in the Olympic Ships. The ship could handle a capacity of 2,400 people.
History
Construction
RMS Harmony’s construction begun in May 1909. It was launched on November 20, 1911, and made its maiden voyage on April 4, 1912.
Refit
The White Star Line temporarily withdrew Harmony from service in January 1913 to undergo a refit after RMS Bloxtanic sunk on April 15, 1912. The Bloxtanic had only 20 lifeboats, which could only fit half of the occupants on board, hence the reason why most people on Bloxtanic died. Harmony only had 17 lifeboats, less than both RMS Olympic and RMS Bloxtanic, both of which had 20 lifeboats. The number of lifeboats on Harmony was increased to 54, while Olympic’s lifeboat amount was increased to 68. Harmony was brought back into service in March 1913.
Near incident with U-103
On May 12, 1918, U-103 launched three torpedoes, targeting RMS Harmony. RMS Harmony was on the Dahanani-Bloxrazilia-New Blockers-Southampton route, when it sighted U-103. U-103 called off torpedoing Harmony. The RMS Olympic was only 34 miles away northwest from Harmony. The RMS Olympic was currently operating as HMT Olympic to carry troops during Roblox War I. The RMS Harmony had said: “THIS IS A WARNING FROM MHA, I REPEAT THIS IS A WARNING FROM MHA, BEWARE OF ROMARKIAN SUBMARINES ON BLOXLISH CHANNEL. WE JUST ESCAPED A TORPEDOING INCIDENT FROM U-103. U-103 LAST SEEN AT 48°56'N, 4°16'W AND HEADING NORTHWEST” (MHA was Harmony’s wireless tech callsign). Olympic had responded with: “MKC, WILL RAM IF SEE. THANK YOU MHA.” (MKC was Olympic’s wireless tech callsign). Ironically, a few hours later, U-103 sank after being rammed by HMT Olympic.
Withdrawal from Transatlantic services temporarily
After HMT Olympic and RMS Harmony’s U-103 incidents, the White Star Line temporarily withdrew Harmony from transatlantic services in July 1918. During the withdrawal period, the RMS Majestic II was added temporarily to the Olympic Ships as a substitute for RMS Harmony’s international routes, while RMS Harmony during this temporary withdrawal only sailed voyages between Belfast and Southampton. Harmony returned to transatlantic passenger routes in early 1920, while Majestic II was withdrawn from the Olympic Ships in 1919.
Refitting into Hospital Ship
In December 1919, RMS Harmony was refitted into a hospital ship. It then became called HMHS Harmony. It would transport the injured, wounded soldiers and those in critical condition. It was later transferred and refitted back to passenger service in 1922.
Ajax Tugboat Collision
On December 4, 1921, the RMS Harmony collided with the Ajax Tugboat in Belfast. The ship was repaired, but it was inadequately repaired.
Encounter at SS Newhaven’s sinking site
SS Newhaven distress calls
Harmony was one of the ships close to SS Newhaven, but they would take 7 hours to reach Newhaven, so they denied saving them. The RMS Belfast later saved Newhaven’s survivors but only raised 4 lifeboats as it didn’t have enough space.
Raising Lifeboats at sinking site and transporting to Port Angus
On October 1, 1923, when the Harmony was sailing from Dahanani to Southampton, they found lifeboats 4 and 6 from the Newhaven drifting on the Atlantic where the Newhaven sank. The RMS Belfast was in the meantime sailing to New Blockers City to transport the Newhaven survivors. Since the SS Newhaven was a Clyde Star Line ship, the RMS Harmony lifted those two lifeboats and transported it to Port Angus before resuming their journey to Southampton.
Sinking of the RMS Harmony & SS Bazomja
Retirement Plans (prior to sinking)
The Cunard-White Star Line planned to retire Harmony in 1937. Had RMS Harmony not sunk on this voyage, it would be sent to Jarrow for scrapping.
Sinking
On May 5, 1937, at 8:22PM, Bloxji Standard Time, the RMS Harmony and the lightship SS Bazomja collided with each other just 3.4km away from the Alefblox City Port. RMS Harmony’s bottom right starboard side collided with the bottom left-side of the port of SS Bazomja. RMS Harmony was on a voyage from Southampton to Dahanani and the SS Bazomja was on a route from Alefblox to Umek City. The SS Bazomja took about 24 minutes to sink fully, while the RMS Harmony took at least two and a half hours to sink. Since the distance between the two ships sink site was 6,400m, the 4 occupants of SS Bazomja were saved by Lifeboat No. 33 of the RMS Harmony around 9:03PM Bloxji Standard Time. Around 2,300 people survived onboard the RMS Harmony, with 100 deaths, and all 4 occupants of the SS Bazomja survived. All 2,304 survivors in the incident were rescued by the SS New Blockers.
At the time of the sinking, Harmony completed 314 voyages in 25 years, more than any other Olympic Ship liner, and the SS Bazomja had completed 82 voyages in four years.
Cause
The Tarentules Dynasty Shipping Board (TDSB)’s final report on August 14, 1937, concluded two reasons for the sinking of RMS Harmony, and one for SS Bazomja.
RMS Harmony Cause
- Collision with SS Bazomja.
- Inadequate repairs on the stern by Harland and Wolff after the Ajax Tugboat collision in 1921.
SS Bazomja Cause
- Collision with RMS Harmony.