Why Did the Titanic Have to Have Its Engines Put in Reverse to Try to Miss the Iceberg?

The controversy surrounding the handling orders given to the Titanic during its collision with an iceberg has been a subject of much debate. One aspect that often comes into question is why the ship's engines were reversed, and the subsequent navigational maneuvers attempted to avoid the disaster. This article aims to clarify the events leading up to the collision, the nature of the orders given, and the effect of these maneuvers on the Titanic's fate.

The Disputed Orders Given Before the Collision

The precise orders given to the Titanic when the iceberg was reported to the bridge is a matter of dispute. According to Robert Hitchens, the helmsman, First Officer William Murdoch issued the order “hard-a-starboard” to the helm. In those days, tiller orders (commands given to the helmsman) were used instead of rudder orders. This order was interpreted as a command to turn the ship to the port side. However, there is evidence suggesting Murdoch later shifted the tiller from hard-a-starboard to hard-a-port, a maneuver termed a port around to warp around an object, thereby moving the stern away from the iceberg.

The Effective Turning Maneuver of a Ship

It is important to note that a ship’s turning behavior is quite different from that of a car. In a car, you simply steer and the wheels move in the desired direction, causing the car to turn. However, in a ship, the rudder is used to move the bow, but the ship’s pivot point is not at the stern, and the momentum of the vessel must be overcome, causing the ship to crab into the turn before fully responding to the rudder's direction. This means that while the bow might move clear in response to Murdoch's initial order, the stern would still be moving towards the iceberg, necessitating a shift in the tiller to port.

Design Flaws of the Titanic

Several design flaws contributed to the Titanic's inability to effectively avoid the iceberg. Firstly, the ship only had one rudder, which was too small for its size and did not have sufficient authority for rapid emergency maneuvers. Secondly, the centerline screw, which the rudder was behind, was turned by a turbine, and this turbine could not be reversed. The outboard screws, however, could be reversed and were turned by reciprocating steam engines.

The Importance of Reversing Engine Orders

When Murdoch issued the order to "all back full," the helmsman had to move the engine order telegraph to "all back full," and the engine room crew had to acknowledge this order by matching the needles on their engine order telegraph before reversing the steam engines. This process took valuable time, during which the Titanic was still moving toward the iceberg. When the engines were reversed, the centerline screw (powered by the turbine) stopped turning, disrupting the water flow past the rudder and further slowing the turning process. This contributed to the inevitability of the collision.

Post-Analysis and Speculation

Post-sinking, Robert Hitchens and other witnesses' testimonies became conflicting, making it impossible to determine with certainty what Murdoch did or did not do. If Murdoch had continued with the port engine reversed and kept the other engines ahead full, he might have maintained rudder authority and increased the rate of turn. However, issuing such a complex order under stress is highly questionable.

A Deeper Understanding of the Titanic's Navigation

Putting all this into perspective, the Titanic's navigation and maneuverability were severely limited by its design. The captain had to work with what was available to him, and under the circumstances, he acted in what he believed was the best interest of the ship and its passengers. It is easy to critique decisions made decades later, but this discussion highlights the complexities involved in such critical maneuvers.