BACKGROUND : The "Birkenhead" disaster was world news in 1852. This 1,400-bm iron paddle steamer (with sails) was designed and built by James Laird on the River Mersey in 1845. Her original name was HMS Vulcan. The figurehead on her bow was that of VULCAN (the Roman god of fire).Her hull was made of iron - a new design if compared to the old-fashioned wooden-hulled ships then in use. In 1847 HMS Vulcan was partly converted to a troop transport ship at Sheerness yards. A poop deck at the stern and third mast were added. In 1851 a forecastle deck was added at the bow and the conversion was completed at Portsmouth yards. Soon after the conversion the now renamed Birkenhead took troops to the Mediterranean and West Indies and proved her superiority over wooden sailing ships in terms of speed. [BACKGROUND] [HER LAST VOYAGE] [FATAL BLOW] [HUMAN ERROR] [PROCEDURE] [WOMEN & CHILDREN] [ORDER & DISCIPLINE] [SHARK ATTACK] [RESCUE]