The discovery of two large pieces of the Titanic's hull on the ocean floor indicates the fabled luxury liner sank faster than previously thought, researchers said Monday.

The hull pieces were a crucial part of the ship's structure and make up a bottom section of the vessel missing when the wreck was first located in 1985, the researchers said.

After the bottom section of the hull broke free, the bow and stern split, said Roger Long, a naval architect who analyzed the find.

David Brown, a Titanic historian, estimated before the latest find that the stern took 20 minutes to slide into the water.

"It turns out the Titanic was more merciful. It was over more quickly," Brown said.

The newly found hull sections, located about a third of a mile from the stern of the wreck, were examined during an expedition in August sponsored by The History Channel.

On Monday, Titanic experts met at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution to discuss their analysis of the find for a documentary to be aired on the cable channel on February 26.