The Titanic Conspiracy Theory
I'm not sure I'd say this is my favourite conspiracy theory, as conspiracy theories generally get right on my tits, but as they go it's superficially plausible but completely insane: the Titanic Conspiracy Theory (Titanic as in the famous iceberg-beleagured ocean liner, not as in, "This is a really big conspiracy theory, so big that Huge, Colossal or Gigantic Conspiracy Theory just don't cut it - I know, let's call it the Titanic Conspiracy Theory!"; neither is it anything to do with James Cameron or Lew Grade).

The Titanic was the second vessel in a class of three virtually identical ocean liners, the first in service being the Olympic. In late 1911, the Olympic was involved in an apparently minor collision with a Royal Navy light cruiser, HMS Hawke. The Olympic was withdrawn from service for repairs, which was a financial disaster for her owners, the White Star Line, because not only was Olympic thus not collecting passenger revenue but the completion of the Titanic, still on the stocks, was being delayed because resources were diverted to repairing the Olympic. To make matters worse, a Royal Navy inquiry exonerated HMS Hawke of any blame (almost certainly wrongly), so the likelihood of the White Star Line collecting a fat insurance payout was remote.

The conspiracy goes that the White Star Line secretly switched the Olympic (which had suffered far worse damage than admitted to) and Titanic around during the Olympic's repairs, and planned to sink the damaged Olympic, now re-named Titanic, during her 'maiden' transatlantic voyage, thereby ridding themselves of a damaged liability and collecting on the insurance. There were supposed to be other ships nearby which would rescue all the passengers and crew, but for various reasons it all went tits-up resulting in the disaster we all know and love...

For a number of reasons this theory is, of course, completely fucking bonkers.
(Harry Webshiter Spiggley biggley bog., Thu 1 Dec 2011, 15:57, 6 replies)

and entirely plausible
There are a number of discrepancies in the hull of the wreck including additonal bulk heads used to brace the damaged section that seem to suggest that the Olympic was swapped for the Titanic with the intention of scuttling her on her maiden voyage to claim on the insurance.
In addition the actions of Captain Lord on the nearby Californian are pretty damning too.
www.titanic-titanic.com/titanic_conspiracy_theory.shtml
gives a good synopsis
www.amazon.co.uk/dp/0741419491?tag=rmstitanic0d&camp=1406&creative=6394&linkCode=as1&creativeASIN=0741419491&adid=08EZGFVXSD5NEHPFM5YX&&ref-refURL=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.titanic-titanic.com%2Ftitanic_conspiracy_theory.shtml
this book does make you think.
On the balance of things i would say its probably the Titanic on the bottom of the ocean but i wouldn't like to bet.
(andythepieman Is surfing the waves of indifference on, Thu 1 Dec 2011, 16:52, closed)

oh god i am agreeing with you.
my boss is a sea captain and a titanic nut and even he thinks this might be plausible.
( janet aylia y'all motherfuckers need jesus, Thu 1 Dec 2011, 18:22, closed)

Haaaaaaahahahaha! That's wonderful!

( Je suis un vagabond is an unfunny, up your own arse middle class knob, Thu 1 Dec 2011, 16:55, closed)

this too is my favourite Conspiracy theory. Back When Danny Wallace was good he did an excellent TV doc about it.
There seems to be lots of very strange coincidences and facts about this.
Well worth a look or two.
(BigAndyBee, Thu 1 Dec 2011, 22:48, closed)

Biggest flaw to me:
How do you keep the hundreds/thousands of people at Harland and wolff quiet? Surely it'd be pretty obvious which boat was in which dock, and with all those people someone would have blabbed.
( Greenbat, Fri 2 Dec 2011, 0:52, closed)

Titanic wasnt finished in Belfast
Ahhh but titanic was built in Belfast then fitted out in Southampton for some reason, could have swooped them en route and it might have been a gutted Olympic in Southampton... Still bonkers though.
(Gerflagenflople, Fri 2 Dec 2011, 12:20, closed)