On January 13th, the Costa Concordia capsized in the Tyrrhenian Sea just off the the western coast of Italy. Most of the 3,200 passengers and 1,000 crew were saved; as of the 21st, only the bodies of eleven passengers and one crew member had been found. The search continues with 20 people still reported as missing. The Costa Concordia can be added to the list of thousands of ships that have met their match with Poseidon out on the seas. Here's a list of the Top 6 Famous Shipwrecks Of The 20th Century.


  • 6

    Edmund Fitzgerald


    Sank in 1975 in Lake Superior


    On November 10, 1975, the Edmund Fitzgerald sank in Lake Superior during a fierce storm. Gordon Lightfoot's song “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald” made the ship famous as it told the tale of sinking The "Big Fitz" with all 29 crew members aboard.


    YouTube
    YouTube
    loading...
  • 5

    Lusitania


    Sank in 1915 off the coast of Ireland


    On May 7, 1915, the Lusitania was sunk by German U-Boat 20 off the coast of Ireland. She carried with her 1198 passengers which included about 100 children to the bottom. Of the passengers, 128 were American. Americans were outraged to learn that U.S. civilians were killed in a war in which they were officially “neutral”. The sinking of the Lusitania heightened tensions between the U.S. and Germany and helped sway American opinion in favor of joining the first world war. The ship sank in only 18 minutes.


    Getty Images
    Getty Images
    loading...
  • 4

    Britannic


    Sank in 1916 in the Aegean Sea


    Britannic was the third and largest Olympic-class ocean liner of the White Star Line. She was the sister ship of The Olympic and The Titanic. Britannic was intended to be a transatlantic passenger liner but was used as a hospital ship in 1915. Britannic struck an underwater mine and capsized within 55 minutes of the explosion. Thirty people were lost due to their lifeboats being sucked into the propellers of the ship.


    Getty Images
    Getty Images
    loading...
  • 3

    Carpathia


    Sank in 1918 off the east coast of Ireland


    The Carpathia is well known as the rescue ship of Titanic's survivors after Titanic went down in 1912. On July 17, 1918, the Carpathia was sailing off the east coast of Ireland when it was torpedoed and sunk by a German U-Boat. Carpathia had 157 passengers and crew that survived the tragedy. Some of the crew were lost below when the torpedo struck and the ship immediately started to flood.


    YouTube
    YouTube
    loading...
  • 2

    Titanic


    Sank in 1912 on trip to New York


    On April 14th -15th, 1912, the Titanic hit an iceberg and sunk within 2 hours and 40 minutes. She carried 1522 people to her death because there were not enough lifeboats to evacuate all of the passengers. At the time, the Titanic was the worst sea tragedy ever. After this, shipping laws were changed concerning lifeboats and how many passengers are were aboard a ship. 


    Getty Images
    Getty Images
    loading...
  • 1

    Wilhelm Gustloff


    Sank in 1945 in the Baltic Sea


    On January 30th, 1945, The Wilhelm Gustloff was torpedoed three times in the Baltic Sea. It was the worst maritime disaster as far as loss of life since the Titanic. She sank with over 9000 German refugees and wounded soldiers and crew who were escaping the war zone of Germany.


    Getty Images
    Getty Images
    loading...

More From Lite 98.7