The Enigma of the Titanic's Propeller Area: Why No Inundation?

When the Titanic struck the iceberg on the night of April 14, 1912, the collision caused significant damage. The ship's watertight compartments and overall design played crucial roles in preventing the ship from sinking rapidly. However, one often asks, why didn't water flood into the areas around the propeller immediately after the collision?

Location of Damage

Firstly, let's consider the location of the damage. The iceberg primarily impacted the forward sections of the ship, particularly the first five compartments. The propeller and the engine room were situated towards the rear of the ship, known as the stern. Since the collision did not directly damage these critical areas, the water that entered the ship could not immediately flood the propeller area.

Watertight Compartments

Another key factor is the watertight design of the Titanic. Its hull was built with compartments that were designed to contain flooding. Even if the first five compartments were breached, the ship was designed to stay afloat as long as the water level did not exceed a certain height. This compartmentalization helped to prevent the immediate flooding of the propeller area.

Waterflow Dynamics

Water tends to flow towards lower pressure areas. The propeller shaft, being further back and lower in the ship, was not directly connected to the damaged compartments. This natural flow of water prevented immediate flooding in the propeller area.

The Tubular System and Lignum Vitae

Although the collision itself caused the water to enter the compartments, the ship's design and materials used in the propeller shaft area helped mitigate damage. Ship propeller shafts pass through the hull through tubes, which can be a source of leakage. To prevent this, early designs included packing glands lined with strong but slippery materials like lignum vitae.

Lignum Vitae is a strong, dense, and slippery wood that is often used in these sealing applications. It is particularly suitable for use in submarines, where any oil used could leave a trail on the surface. At the submarine base in New London, Connecticut, a lake was used to store lignum vitae planks. These planks, weighted and kept submerged, were used to prevent warping and cracking, which could render the wood useless.

Conclusion

The combination of the iceberg's position, the ship's watertight design, and the use of lignum vitae in the sealing mechanisms of the propeller shafts all contributed to the fact that water did not immediately flood into the areas around the propeller after the collision. However, the damage to the forward compartments eventually led to the ship's sinking as the flooding spread.

Understanding these factors not only sheds light on the Titanic's design failures but also highlights the ingenuity and advanced engineering of the era.