FALSE. In fact Titanic turned very well. Her stern easily cleared the iceberg under port helm, when she had—only moments
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107 #36: If Titanic had been going more slowly, she could have turned more quickly
FALSE. If Titanic had been travelling more slowly, she would also have turned more slowly. Edward Wilding, one of Titanic’s
Continue reading107 #35: Titanic’s engines were put in reverse just before collision, making the ship less responsive to her helm and compounding the accident
FALSE. The only evidence we have of Titanic’s engines being put in reverse comes from Fourth officer Boxhall, who did
Continue reading107 #34: Titanic was going at the maximum speed she was capable of when she sighted the iceberg
FALSE. Although Titanic’s engine telegraph was set to ‘full speed ahead’ at the time, and the ship was going faster
Continue reading107 #33: If Titanic’s lookouts had had binoculars, they’d have spotted the iceberg earlier
FALSE. Binoculars are intended for inspecting objects which have first been picked up by the naked eye. Using them to
Continue reading107 #32: Titanic’s lookouts could smell the ice that night
TRUE. The reference in James Cameron’s 1997 film, Titanic, to lookout Reginald Lee’s claim that he could ‘smell ice’ stems
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