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Originally Posted by Sailor Steve
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Originally Posted by Trex
What killed her was that one-in-a-million chance. Instead of hitting the iceberg straight on, she just grazed it, opening five comparments to the sea.
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Agreed. I've also read that the reaction of captain and crew were the exact opposite of what they should have been. If they had reversed engines and struck the iceberg head-on they would have smashed the bow and cause a lot of injuries, but almost certainly would have stayed afloat.
Conversely, if they had thrown the rudder hard over but left the engines at full speed there is a reasonable chance they would have missed the berg altogether. Ships actually turn tighter the faster they're moving.
As you say, a one-in-a-million chance. |
Interesting.
At "Encyclopedia Titanica", someone posted another theory about those last few seconds before the collision. The lookouts in the crow's nest may have initially seen the berg at a distance, but it was not on a collision course. Then the bridge crewmembers, who did not have as good a view, gradually adjusted the course to avoid some pack ice, inadvertently steering towards the much more dangerous solid iceberg. By the time the lookouts realized what was going on they were too close to evade. The traditional portrayal with the iceberg suddenly appearing out of the darkness may not be accurate.
Whatever happened, I guess it doesn't matter - Titanic's days are done.
