Titanic - the command is definitely "hard to......
Discussion
The direction "hard to staboard" was for the diection of the rudder, hard to starboard on the rudder means the ship will turn to port. Like moving a tiller bar. If they wanted to turn to starboard the call to the man on the wheel would be "hard to port".
>> Edited by FourWheelDrift on Friday 22 July 23:08
>> Edited by FourWheelDrift on Friday 22 July 23:08
FourWheelDrift said:
The direction "hard to staboard" was for the diection of the rudder, hard to starboard on the rudder means the ship will turn to port. Like moving a tiller bar. If they wanted to turn to starboard the call to the man on the wheel would be "hard to port".
Confusing.... no wonder the ship sunk!
FourWheelDrift said:
The direction "hard to staboard" was for the diection of the rudder, hard to starboard on the rudder means the ship will turn to port. Like moving a tiller bar. If they wanted to turn to starboard the call to the man on the wheel would be "hard to port".
Turn a ships wheel to port and the ship will go to port.
Tillers are different, they pivot across the pintles.
tallbloke said:
The direction "hard to staboard" was for the diection of the rudder, hard to starboard on the rudder means the ship will turn to port. Like moving a tiller bar. If they wanted to turn to starboard the call to the man on the wheel would be "hard to port".
Turn a ships wheel to port and the ship will go to port.
Tillers are different, they pivot across the pintles.
What do you mean? Back in 1912 steering commands were given in reverse because they still used the old rudder commands e.g pushing to bar to the right meant the rudder would turn and make the ship go left. And vice versa.
simpo two said:
e.g pushing to bar to the right meant the rudder would turn and make the ship go left. And vice versa.
Yes, but that's a tiller. Large ships don't use tillers. I'm sure that if you say 'Starboard' it's because you want the ship to go to the right.
they still used those commands in 1912 on board big ships even if they had a wheel. Tradition you could say.
Useless info.
The Titanic Rudder steering gear
The rudder rose to the steering gear room on C-deck under the poop deck. There is reinforcement under the deck for the heavy steam steering engines that turned the rudder as well as for the rudder mount itself. All steering commands from the helm on the bridge were translated to commands to make the steam steering gear twist the rudder one way or another. This was done automatically via cables.
On the wreck today, the poop deck above seems to have been pushed in and now rests on top of the steering gear.
And I belive MR FWD is correct
from ]www.geocities.com/murdochmystery/Hard-a-starboard.html
Nevertheless, his response is immediate and instinctive. He rushes into the enclosed navigating bridge and sets the engine telegraphs to “Stop engines”, then to “Full astern together” and orders Quartermaster Hichens to put the helm to “Hard-a-starboard”. Under an archaic system of helm orders then in force, this meant the ship’s bow would swing to port.
Hichens turns the wheel hard over and acknowledges “Hard a-starboard, sir.”
“Quickly [Murdoch] glanced at a set of printed instructions posted near the helmsman: ‘In case of emergency, to close watertight door on tank top, press bell for 10 seconds to give alarm; then move switch to “on” position and keep it there…’ He then reached for the lever which electrically activated the doors…” (Triumph and Tragedy, 137)
Remembering that all this activity is taking place in a space of a few seconds, it is quite likely that Murdoch may have not waited for the warning bell to ring for ten seconds, pressing the bell and pulling the lever almost simultaneously. In doing so, he activates a hydraulic system that automatically lowers the watertight doors into a closed position in the engine room and boiler room bulkheads. Within 15 seconds of pulling the emergency lever, the bulkhead lower doors are shut.
After what must have seemed an eternity, the Titanic begins to veer to port. The lookouts watch helplessly as the iceberg nears and then finally strikes the starboard bow, brushing along the side of the ship. According to Hichens, as the iceberg passes amidships, Murdoch then orders the helm “hard-to-port,” apparently with the intention of swinging the vulnerable propellers and rudder away from the edge of the iceberg. In this, Murdoch succeeds. He has also avoided a head-on collision, but what results is a far more fatal “glancing blow.” Beneath the water line, the iceberg scrapes along Titanic’s hull, denting the plates, popping rivets and causing enough damage to breach the first five watertight compartments to the sea. Based on the mathematical certainty that if more than four holds are flooded, water will spill into the next compartment and so on, the Titanic is sure to sink, albeit gradually over the next several hours.
Depending on their location aboard the ship, some are startled by the impact, while others are completely oblivious to what has just occurred. One person roused by the collision is Captain Smith, who, within a minute, rushes up to the bridge.
BB
>> Edited by Ballistic Banana on Friday 22 July 23:44
The Titanic Rudder steering gear
The rudder rose to the steering gear room on C-deck under the poop deck. There is reinforcement under the deck for the heavy steam steering engines that turned the rudder as well as for the rudder mount itself. All steering commands from the helm on the bridge were translated to commands to make the steam steering gear twist the rudder one way or another. This was done automatically via cables.
On the wreck today, the poop deck above seems to have been pushed in and now rests on top of the steering gear.
And I belive MR FWD is correct
from ]www.geocities.com/murdochmystery/Hard-a-starboard.html
Nevertheless, his response is immediate and instinctive. He rushes into the enclosed navigating bridge and sets the engine telegraphs to “Stop engines”, then to “Full astern together” and orders Quartermaster Hichens to put the helm to “Hard-a-starboard”. Under an archaic system of helm orders then in force, this meant the ship’s bow would swing to port.
Hichens turns the wheel hard over and acknowledges “Hard a-starboard, sir.”
“Quickly [Murdoch] glanced at a set of printed instructions posted near the helmsman: ‘In case of emergency, to close watertight door on tank top, press bell for 10 seconds to give alarm; then move switch to “on” position and keep it there…’ He then reached for the lever which electrically activated the doors…” (Triumph and Tragedy, 137)
Remembering that all this activity is taking place in a space of a few seconds, it is quite likely that Murdoch may have not waited for the warning bell to ring for ten seconds, pressing the bell and pulling the lever almost simultaneously. In doing so, he activates a hydraulic system that automatically lowers the watertight doors into a closed position in the engine room and boiler room bulkheads. Within 15 seconds of pulling the emergency lever, the bulkhead lower doors are shut.
After what must have seemed an eternity, the Titanic begins to veer to port. The lookouts watch helplessly as the iceberg nears and then finally strikes the starboard bow, brushing along the side of the ship. According to Hichens, as the iceberg passes amidships, Murdoch then orders the helm “hard-to-port,” apparently with the intention of swinging the vulnerable propellers and rudder away from the edge of the iceberg. In this, Murdoch succeeds. He has also avoided a head-on collision, but what results is a far more fatal “glancing blow.” Beneath the water line, the iceberg scrapes along Titanic’s hull, denting the plates, popping rivets and causing enough damage to breach the first five watertight compartments to the sea. Based on the mathematical certainty that if more than four holds are flooded, water will spill into the next compartment and so on, the Titanic is sure to sink, albeit gradually over the next several hours.
Depending on their location aboard the ship, some are startled by the impact, while others are completely oblivious to what has just occurred. One person roused by the collision is Captain Smith, who, within a minute, rushes up to the bridge.
BB
>> Edited by Ballistic Banana on Friday 22 July 23:44
silverback mike said:
I always felt a bit safer when at sea to hear the pipe "Diving stations" Then feeling the helmsman lean on the planes a bit, get below it all is what I say, enough of this skimming around. 
When did you used to serve? I am going onboard one this morning to sort some problems out
gh0st said:
I always felt a bit safer when at sea to hear the pipe "Diving stations" Then feeling the helmsman lean on the planes a bit, get below it all is what I say, enough of this skimming around.
When did you used to serve? I am going onboard one this morning to sort some problems out
Left in 1997 after serving on the nuclear boats in Plymouth. Had a right hoot in the RN.
silverback mike said:
silverback mike said:
I always felt a bit safer when at sea to hear the pipe "Diving stations" Then feeling the helmsman lean on the planes a bit, get below it all is what I say, enough of this skimming around.
When did you used to serve? I am going onboard one this morning to sort some problems out
Left in 1997 after serving on the nuclear boats in Plymouth. Had a right hoot in the RN.
Nice mate! If you would like me to say hello to anyone let me know!
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