Titanic's launch rams

Hydraulic rams for launching Titanic, 1911.

The hydraulic launching rams were positioned at the head of the slipway, directly below the bows of Titanic.  Mr Charles Payne of Harland & Wolff was in charge of the hydraulic apparatus which started Titanic's movement down the greased ways into the water, shortly after mid-day on 31 May 1911.

At 12:05 PM, two rockets were fired, followed by a third at 12:10 PM. At 12:13, the 26,000 ton hull started down the slipway under its own weight.