On 01/05/2012 18:21, Tim Watts wrote:
hugh wrote:
....
The Titanics initial design unsinkability was destroyed by removing
bulkheads to create a massive uninterrupted deck.

I'll just clarify that I don't think the design was "unsinkable" (unlike,
say, a foam filled canoe) - just "very good". It did hold up for quite a
while despite having some bloody big holes ripped in it... Sadly, if there
had been enough lifeboatsand the crew had been drilled on a full
evacuation, that design might have bought them enough time to save a
considerable proportion of the passengers and crew.

They didn't managed to launch all the lifeboats they had, so it is far
from certain that more would have improved matters. OTOH, if they had
sent up red flares instead of white, the Californian would probably have
steamed to the rescue and picked up a lot of people before they died.

Colin Bignell