Quote:
Originally Posted by Aktungbby
What about the factor of each screw having it's own rudder as with a U-boat for more immediate wash bite and therefore greater control especially with a smaller craft such as a Uboat...
|
Unfortunately going astern means that the rudders are now in front of propellers, and the wash never crosses the rudders.
Quote:
|
as opposed to the Titanic, for example, which reversed engines and lost the 'bite' at a critical juncture and collided with the iceberg when probably it should have at least maintained speed and done a full port 90...
|
Very true. The faster a ship is going the tighter it turns. Another possibility would have been to reverse engines and slow as much as possible, hitting the berg head on. This would have caused considerable damage to the bow, but would likely not have affected more that two of the watertight compartments, leaving the ship afloat.
But of course we never think with that kind of logic when panic strikes, and I probably would have done exactly as they did.