Danbiddle wrote:
In my opinion, there is another reason for the sinking of the Titanic. The ship was actually designed with a rudder similar to the Clipper ships earlier on, and was consequently far smaller than adequate for a ship of Titanic's size.

In comparison to Mauretania and Lusitania, Cunard Line's largest ships (31,000 gross tons compared to Titanic's 46,000), the Titanic's rudder was actually much smaller than the Mauretania's, resulting in a much worse turning ability. This factor, in combination with the clear, calm night meant that there was aprroximately half a mile to avoid the iceberg, and the fact that the Titanic was travelling at full speed as well as the inadequate rudder sealed the fate of the ship.

In addition, Titanic had three propellers, but only the outer two could go into reverse, and the central propeller remianed stopped, and this made it harder to stop the ship.

Murdoch's maneouver was the standard avoidance maneouver of the day, and his reactions to the incident cannot be criticised heavily. Earlier in his career he avoided a collision in Arabia:

During 1903, Murdoch finally reached the stormy and glamorous North Atlantic run as Second Officer of the new liner Arabic. His cool head, quick thinking and professional judgement averted a disaster when a ship was spotted bearing down on the Arabic out of the darkness. He overrided a command from his superior, Officer Fox, to steer hard-a-port, rushing into the wheelhouse, brushing aside the quartermaster and holding the ship on course. The two ships passed within inches of one another. Any alteration in course would have actually caused a collision.

In hindsight, if he had reversed the port propeller and kept the starboard prop in full ahead, the ship could have turned faster, but as it was Murdoch did all he could.

All in all, it boils down to the fact that there is no one reason for the collision, and the fact that throughout the day seven radio messages had been received that indicated an icefield 74 miles across in front of their path. If these had all reached Captain Smith, I am sure he would have reduced speed, no mattter what Ismay may have said.

Sorry for the long post!

Cheers,

Dan