> >> A head-on collision would have broken open only the fore-most
> >> "watertight" compartment, which, even if full of water, would
> >> apparently not have caused the ship to sink.
> >
> >Ah, but would either of you choose to hit the iceberg (at the risk of
> >damaging millions of pounds (in todays money) of internal fittings
and
> >the hull), and then explain to the captain you thought it would be
> >safer to hit the iceberg than go around it! :-)
>
> I'm sure the captain didn't see it as a choice between colliding head
> on or in a glancing blow. He surely saw it as a choice between
> colliding (if he didn't change course) and not colliding (if he did).
>
> Adrian
IIRC the Captain was in bed - the first officer made the decision!
John HMSNbPedant
