Steering astern!

[Rammstein0991]

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... 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...

Actually the popular theory among experts now is that Titanic should have taken the iceberg head on, which would have resulted in maybe 2 flooded compartments, which would have been well within Titanic's ability to sustain flotation, as it was Murdoch's orders to turn to port and then reverse engines basically was like rearing your hand back then slapping someone, only it was a ship slapping an iceberg.

[GJO]

Fascinating responses - thanks guys! Clearly there is a lot of RL experience on this forum. I was thinking of this problem when making a half mile run going astern with my narrow boat yesterday - the purpose of the journey was to get to the wharf and take on fresh water whilst discharging that which was anything but fresh! The fresh water tank (700 Imperial gallons when full) is at the bow and was nearly empty so the cross wind made going astern more challenging than ever and we only have a single three blade screw that is big enough to 'grab' the silt in the shallow canal and make the boat's stern 'walk' sideways . . .

Still we made it - and got back to our mooring for another patrol of SHIII which seemed so much more realistic with the real boat rocking and the real wind howling. And I am sure I heard my wife say "Jawohl Herr Kaleun, Alle Maschinen stop!" after I asked her to cut the engine . . .