10 Ways You Think About The Titanic All Wrong

8. The Sinking Was Enabled By Short-Sighted Engineering

Titanic being described as "unsinkable" may have been unfortunate, but it must be appreciated that it was designed to be able to stay afloat in traditionally hazardous states of disrepair. Had the Titanic hit the iceberg in pretty much any other way it wouldn't have sunk.

Along the length of the ship, Titanic was broken up by fifteen watertight bulkheads, connected by doors that could be sealed remotely from the deckhouse. This meant that Titanic could have a hull breach and take on water within one section, yet still stay afloat. Indeed, it could have the first four compartments breached and still be fine. Unfortunately, the iceberg broke through the first six, and as these bulkheads only went as high as D deck (midway up the ship) the water simply spilled over each bulkhead, slowly pulling it down from its bow.

The reason the gash tore so long along the ship was because of its poor turning capabilities; only two of the three propellors could reverse, so when the ship tried to swerve around the berg it was unable to change course to a big enough degree. Had it continued straight, however, it would have most likely stayed afloat; the bow would have been pummelled, but fewer compartments would have been breached.