Titanic took a wrong turn… apparently

Ah thanks for that clarification chaps!:)
Fascinating and well presented links there CD.

I was about to say, each telegraph had two handles one for each engine (Port and Starboard naturally).

But I do not see any control for the third engine. I assume that was used when Ahead-Full was commanded. And was presumably stopped when and Astern speed was commanded?

Note: Interesting and sombre to see the Titanic’s telegraph is still in the Astern-Full position.

Everything you could ever want to know about the Titanic’s telegraphs! 😀

http://marconigraph.com/titanic/telegraphs/mgy_eotelegraphs1.html

More detailed information and diagrams here.

http://marconigraph.com/titanic/telegraphs/mgy_eotelegraphs4a.html

Really I want to know for sure, not have almost certains!

The main reciprocating engines (one on each outer screw) could certainly be run in different directions. I’m not sure about the arrangement for the telegraphs, there being three screws (engines), but I’ve seen arrangements for two screws on a single telegraph on other ships. I’ll try to find out.

The long chain could be traced all the way back to the quality of the steel plating used in construction, but Ignoring the ice pack warnings from the Californian could be argued to be the start of the sequence that led to the actual event.

Few mishaps…at sea or in the air…are caused by “just” one thing.

So I’m a bit skeptical about this being the smoking gun.
Rather, it’s the theory de jour…ike the rivets from a few years back.

Besides, wouldn’t the investigators in 1912 have been aware of the dual meanings?
Certainly a few of them would have been “old salts” and veterans of sailing ships.

Well, for Titanic there is a whole chain of events that led to her sinking, not just one thing.
I don’t think anyone is saying the possible steering confusion was a single cause.

I’m almost certain that it could.

pretty sure the engines were independant…

but it would be almost a certanty they could be run independently in opposite directions !!

Really I want to know for sure, not have almost certains!
If you only have one set of telegraphs and repeaters then they wouldn’t indicate engine differentials, only main overall commands.

When we went to visit the USS Texas mention was made of the engine systems. Apparently the USS Texas was the last US battleship to use similar coal-burning engines to the Titanic. They said that the Texas has some sort of special gear or something that could be used to nearly instantly reverse the thrust of the propellers and that this technology was available for the Titanic, but not used… don’t know if there’s any truth to that or not, but it was fascinating to see the big engines.

Ryan

It’s an atonishing truth. LOOK, my books sold out!
We get the formula thanks. Next.

Oh, re Rudder. The longer the craft, the smaller the rudder needs to be, it’s all about the distance from the Turning moment of the craft and the ratio between girth and length.
Similar affect is seen on the A380, proportionately short-fat therefore outrageously large fin and rudder.

This is where the serious Titanoracs hang out:
http://titanic-model.com/dc/dcboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=100&topic_id=38260&mode=full

Few mishaps…at sea or in the air…are caused by “just” one thing.

So I’m a bit skeptical about this being the smoking gun.
Rather, it’s the theory de jour…ike the rivets from a few years back.

Besides, wouldn’t the investigators in 1912 have been aware of the dual meanings?
Certainly a few of them would have been “old salts” and veterans of sailing ships.

There is a new series that starts on Monday at 9PM on channel 4 where they attempt to remanufacture some parts of the Titanic and one of the items is the bow and I think the anchor

Oooo! Series recording set… thanks for the heads up!

I’m almost certain that it could.

pretty sure the engines were independant isn’t the telegraph merely a visual signal to the engine room workers

an out of the ordinary request was sureley spoken

although if no telephone it would have been too slow to send a runner

but it would be almost a certanty they could be run independently in opposite directions !!

There is a new series that starts on Monday at 9PM on channel 4 where they attempt to remanufacture some parts of the Titanic and one of the items is the bow and I think the anchor

info, looks good 🙂

http://www.channel4.com/programmes/titanic-the-mission

http://www.newsletter.co.uk/news/TV-show-rebuilds-the-Titanic.6331941.jp

Just out of interest does anyone here know if the power could actually be applied differentialy to aid steering on Titanic?

I’m almost certain that it could.

As Ben says, given the size of the ship the rudder’s small. Rendered more ineffective by the ‘Full astern’ order…

Hi Ben, that is a sodding great rudder mind, even if it might not seem so!
If it was undersized then it would have been modified on sea trials or not signed off, and then the Titanic wouldn’t have got to where it did!

Just out of interest does anyone here know if the power could actually be applied differentialy to aid steering on Titanic?
I know it can be done now and that she had the two independant steam engines but was under the impression that there was only the one set of telegraphs etc on the Titanic.

I know many lives were lost, and the whole Titanic story/tragedy has always intrigued me. Please don’t think i’m being disrespectful to the dead but with the discussion about steering confusion i can’t help but think of The Navy Lark’s Mr. Phillips; left hand down a bit…

Either way imho the size of the rudder Is it for me – im sure that ive read that the only way to have turned and missed the berg was to have reversed one engine to assist the rudder

Tiny for a ship 882 feet in length

To be fair, there are conflicting reports about what speed was ordered.