Quote:
Originally Posted by desirableroasted
It is totally, absurdly random.
1) Merchant explodes like New Year's Eve with just an impact badly aimed. Cargo: lumber. 75 of 77 crew survive.
2) Passenger/cargo. Takes 3 days to go down after two torpedoes and finishing deck guns. Cargo: mail. 3 survivors.
Yeah. 'nother rum, Bertha.
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I agree with 1) but not so sure of 2). Shouldn't the location of the sinking be taken into account? If you sunk the passenger/cargo in the mid-Atlantic many miles from the nearest land, then the chances of survival would be reduced. Also the lifeboats may have been damaged forcing survivors into the sea also reducing survivability. There are many factors such as the state of emergency provisions in the lifeboats or lack of water that can influence the number that actually survive a sinking, even if they actually got off the ship in one piece.
Nemo
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"I'm afraid there is no disguising the fact that King's obsession with the Pacific and the Battle of Washington cost us dear in the Battle of the Atlantic".
Sir John Slessor GCB, DSO, MC, DL
AOC-in-C Coastal Command RAF
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