So.. the titanic actually sunk because of bad steering.

[dangel]

Yeah, weird huh?

http://www.thestar.com/news/world/ar...c-sinking?bn=1

I guess that's what one would call a fairly BIG mistake for a bloke at work to make. And I can see why she didn't want to er.. "mention" the small fact afterwards.

[jim]

She "felt as if [she] owed it to the world to share the secret", but what she actually did was "comes clean about it all in her new novel, Good as Gold".

Seriously though, I remember seeing in a documentary ages ago that they changed turning direction during the approach to the iceberg. Is this the same story or something different?

[aidanjt]

So the helmsman didn't know the difference between left or right? I find that unlikely. I also find it unlikely that other officers on watch would stand there junk in hands while the helmsman steers into the iceburg.

Sounds more like a crappy fictional book promo.

[G4Z]

I thought it was well established that the rudder was too small for a ship of that size?

[dangel]

So the helmsman didn't know the difference between left or right? I find that unlikely. I also find it unlikely that other officers on watch would stand there junk in hands while the helmsman steers into the iceburg.

Sounds more like a crappy fictional book promo.

Well the claim is that ship steering systems changed... Now not being of a nautical persuasion, nor 100 years old I honestly don't know if this is true - but it would explain it, a bit.. Tiller versus Rudder.

I'm sure she wants to punt books too (who wouldn't?) though.

[redddraggon]

The Titanic sank because of multiple reasons.


1. Design - rudder too small
2. Speed and ignoring ice warnings
3. Poor observation (no binos for the lookout)
4. Substandard steel used for rivets.

And then a few other issues increased the tragedy:

- not enough lifeboats, and then allowing lifeboats to leave the ship half full.
- SOS calls and distress flares ignored by the closest ship

So I'd say there's not one definitive cause as to why the Titanic sank (although if there hadn't have been icebergs around it wouldn't have been able to hit one)

[IBM]

The Titanic sank because of multiple reasons.


1. Design - rudder too small
2. Speed and ignoring ice warnings
3. Poor observation (no binos for the lookout)
4. Substandard steel used for rivets.

I'm thinking the words 'iceberg' should be in that list somewhere....

[usxhe190]

Good point IBM.

The Titanic sank because of AN ICEBERG.

QED

[dangel]

Good point IBM.

The Titanic sank because of AN ICEBERG.

QED

Well, "hitting" an iceberg

Steering into it could of been a contributing factor - although lord knows, it's speed that kills above all else so they say

[redddraggon]

I'm thinking the words 'iceberg' should be in that list somewhere....

The Titanic sank because of multiple reasons.


1. Design - rudder too small
2. Speed and ignoring ice warnings
3. Poor observation (no binos for the lookout)
4. Substandard steel used for rivets.

And then a few other issues increased the tragedy:

- not enough lifeboats, and then allowing lifeboats to leave the ship half full.
- SOS calls and distress flares ignored by the closest ship

So I'd say there's not one definitive cause as to why the Titanic sank (although if there hadn't have been icebergs around it wouldn't have been able to hit one)

Good point IBM.

The Titanic sank because of AN ICEBERG.

QED

Well, "hitting" an iceberg

Steering into it could of been a contributing factor - although lord knows, it's speed that kills above all else so they say

Did you lot ignore most of my first post or something?

[dangel]

Did you lot ignore most of my first post or something?

No, did you fail to read the humour in ours?

No insult intended, just having a bit of fun bud!

[Butuz]

Hmmmmm are you sure the titanic actually sank..........?



Butuz

[MadduckUK]

Hmmmmm are you sure the titanic actually sank..........?



Butuz

was the Olympic, right

[usxhe190]

Did you lot ignore most of my first post or something?

Relax my friend, relax

And yes, I did ignore your last bit - just read your pts

[peterb]

As in most accidents, there wasn't a single cause, but a chain of events. Stopping any one of those may have saved the Titanic - although the absence of an iceberg would have made it a (near) certainty.