otnmbrd wrote:
This becomes an engineering question and I'm not an engineer.

Maybe, but you're a lot more of an engineer than Navvie.

... However,
considering the mass involved, I'd assume that the process for reversing
engines running at full sea speeds (even recips) would involve a good
deal more than just "throwing a lever" G

Oh yeah, it would take a bit of time and some applied skill at the
lever. You *could* just throw it into full reverse, but it would be
dangerous.

I assume commercial ships don't practice stop-and-lock or crashback
drills like a military ship does.

A stop-and-lock on a turbine plant takes a bit less skill, since all you
have to do is shut of steam on the ahead throttle and crack open the
astern throttle, then slowly open it further. Less things to break, too.
There's the risk of losing vacuum on the condenser (there are far fewer
stages in the reverse turbine) which I assume would not be the case for
a normal recip plant; but would be a potential hazard with the Titanic
because of diverting steam from the central turbine.

When the ship is going slower, it's a lot easier.


If the steam to the turbine was cut off and the central prop left to
freewheel, then the rudder would have lost some effectiveness... but
if the prop was engaged in reverse (which the Titanic's couldn't be
anyway) then it would be far worse.


Would require another turbine, but agreed.

Right... some people think you just hit the clutch and shift into "R"
apparently.




Well, if you're interested there is a lot of data to look at
http://www.titanicinquiry.org/
has both American and British inquiries and all the testimony.


G I've been through much of this in the past, so I've forgotten many
of the specifics, but remember there being many unanswered questions
since their knowledge base was relatively new at the time.

Didn't you used to participate in the alt.history.ocean-liners.titanic
newsgroup? That was an interesting bunch. I seem to recall you and a
couple of other old salts discussing the issue of bringing the
Californian alongside the Titanic.

Anyway, imho the Inquiries are the best primary source of info about the
collision & sinking.


At any rate, I'm a firm believer that the Titanic could have benefited
from today's technology on rudders, not only in size but in shape and
location (Hate a twin screw with single rudder).

Well, her hull was shaped much like the previous generation of sailing
ships. The aft sections would have to be shaped quite differently to
have twin rudders. But Olypmic & Titanic were goreous ships... they
looked like tremendous yachts to my eye.

Regards
Doug King