Tim Maltin

And that's because having swerved the bow away, it was then presenting her whole starboard side to the Berg.

And that's because having swerved the bow away, it was then presenting her whole starboard side to the Berg.

Titanic nearly missed the berg. It missed the part of the berg above the sea. Unfortunately for Murdoch, there was a very large flat spur of ice that was a couple of meters below the surface. In fact, the harder port order, instead of or as well as clearing the stern, it actually had the effect of driving the bow of Titanic into the ongoing iceberg.

Titanic nearly missed the berg. It missed the part of the berg above the sea. Unfortunately for Murdoch, there was a very large flat spur of ice that was a couple of meters below the surface. In fact, the harder port order, instead of or as well as clearing the stern, it actually had the effect of driving the bow of Titanic into the ongoing iceberg.

The explosive force of hitting the iceberg was a million foot tons a second. It was enough to lift the Washington Monument a foot in a second. So in other words, it was like a bomb going off. People have said that if Murdoch hadn't actually swerved, if you like, to nearly avoid the iceberg, that then there would have been a head-on collision.

The explosive force of hitting the iceberg was a million foot tons a second. It was enough to lift the Washington Monument a foot in a second. So in other words, it was like a bomb going off. People have said that if Murdoch hadn't actually swerved, if you like, to nearly avoid the iceberg, that then there would have been a head-on collision.

And it's true that this actually would have saved Titanic because it would have had the effect a bit like a car crash, if you like, with crumple zones. It would have the effect of concertina-ing in the first hundred feet of the ship. But the rest of the ship would have been completely intact.

And it's true that this actually would have saved Titanic because it would have had the effect a bit like a car crash, if you like, with crumple zones. It would have the effect of concertina-ing in the first hundred feet of the ship. But the rest of the ship would have been completely intact.

And in fact, the deceleration at 22 knots in, say, the first 100 feet of crumpling would actually not have even thrown people out of their beds. So it would have been like a motor car of the day gradually coming to a stop.

And in fact, the deceleration at 22 knots in, say, the first 100 feet of crumpling would actually not have even thrown people out of their beds. So it would have been like a motor car of the day gradually coming to a stop.

Now that would have very sadly killed all 80 of the firemen who were birthed down in the bow of the ship who were not on duty at the time.

Now that would have very sadly killed all 80 of the firemen who were birthed down in the bow of the ship who were not on duty at the time.

He jolly nearly succeeded. Now, of course, if he'd taken the decision to carry straight on and Titanic had survived and the first hundred feet had been smashed in, then he'd definitely have been sacked and people would just have thought he was a complete idiot and not trying to avoid the berg.

He jolly nearly succeeded. Now, of course, if he'd taken the decision to carry straight on and Titanic had survived and the first hundred feet had been smashed in, then he'd definitely have been sacked and people would just have thought he was a complete idiot and not trying to avoid the berg.

So I think it's one of those situations where he did his best at the time and really he did what any sensible, experienced person would do.

So I think it's one of those situations where he did his best at the time and really he did what any sensible, experienced person would do.

It was only light damage, but the problem was that it was over 200 feet. that she was designed to float with any two watertight compartments flooded, and she was designed to float even with her first four watertight compartments flooded. What she wasn't designed to float with was breaches in her first five compartments.

It was only light damage, but the problem was that it was over 200 feet. that she was designed to float with any two watertight compartments flooded, and she was designed to float even with her first four watertight compartments flooded. What she wasn't designed to float with was breaches in her first five compartments.

The bird just slightly nicked into the fifth watertight compartment, which, if you like, was the Achilles heel. It was the thing which meant that Titanic would sink to the bottom.

The bird just slightly nicked into the fifth watertight compartment, which, if you like, was the Achilles heel. It was the thing which meant that Titanic would sink to the bottom.