On 10 Jan 98 at 19:49, Eric Bergerud wrote:

> BTW: years ago a geologist who was also a Titanic junkie told me he thought
> that the ship could have survived had it not turned away, but would have
> rammed the berg headon. Sound plausible?

Hello Rick,

I’m not a geologist, but it’s been accepted theory in NA circles since the
collision that had the Titanic struck the berg head on, she would have most
likely not only survived, but probably arrived in NYC under her own steam
and only slightly late.

As to her “brittle” shell plating, the weak link in a riveted hull is the
rivet, not the plate. When I started sailing and had the opportunity to enjoy
an interesting trip on an old riveted hull, after the storm had
passed we could
wander the lower holds and pick up rivet heads by the bucketful.

The “T” wasn’t holed by the collision, she had many seams opened by the
deformation of the hull shearing the rivets in half. There’s been quite a bit
of speculation over the years as to her chances of survival had she been a
welded hull.

Regards,

James

Capt. James H. E. Maugham, President
J.H.E. Maugham and Associates, Inc.
Naval Architects, Marine Engineers, Marine Surveyors, Salvors
CaptJHEM@waterw.com