Titanic's Rockets - Senan Molony

[Mila]

Is it known how many fairing positions there were on the Titanic and on what decks these were?
Thanks.

 

[Ioannis Georgiou]

>>fairing positions<<

Do you mean firing positions? The tube was at the solid bulkhead close to the emergency boat on the boat deck.

 

[Mila]

>>fairing positions<<

Do you mean firing positions? The tube was at the solid bulkhead close to the emergency boat on the boat deck.

Yes, I misspelled. I meant "firing".
Could somebody please explain to me what could have been a reason the rockets did no very high "about half the height of the steamer’s masthead light" as testified Californian’s Second Officer Herbert Stone? I mean it is not just the rockets appeared simply low. They appeared low comparing to the Titanic's masthead.
Thank you.

 

[Aaron_2016]

Yes, I misspelled. I meant "firing".
Could somebody please explain to me what could have been a reason the rockets did no very high "about half the height of the steamer’s masthead light" as testified Californian’s Second Officer Herbert Stone? I mean it is not just the rockets appeared simply low. They appeared low comparing to the Titanic's masthead.
Thank you.

Super refraction. Other ships recorded strong refraction (distortions in the atmosphere that magnify and elevate objects on the water).

Edited photo to get a rough idea. I see this effect quite regularly on the Irish sea.

On the Californian a crew member called Gibson testified that the lights of the ship he was looking at appeared to rise into the air (A sure sign of refraction). He was asked:

Q - When you looked at this ship's red light and thought that it seemed queer, did you also look at her lights in the afterpart of her?
A - Yes.
Q - How did they stand in relation to the red light?
A - They did not seem to be the same as they were before.

- "It seemed to be higher out of the water than what it was before."
- "They were in the same position, but they seemed to look different."
- "She looks rather to have a big side out of the water."

Q - You have told us about this red light, that you thought it was higher out of the water?
A - Yes.
Q - Did you look to see whether these after-lights seemed higher up out of the water, or lower in the water?
A - I noticed them all at the same time.
Q - What, the red light and the others too?
A - Yes.
Q - And do you mean that the white light seemed higher out of the water as well as the red light?
A - Yes.

I believe the refraction is the only plausible reason why the Titanic appeared to be much closer, why the rockets did not burst high above her mast, why no sounds at all could be heard, and why her morse lamp signals were unreadable.

A video about refraction from the Titanic documentary - Titanic: Case Closed.

 

[Mila]

On the Californian a crew member called Gibson testified that the lights of the ship he was looking at appeared to rise into the air (A sure sign of refraction).

I believe the ship could have appeared to rise into the air because she was listing and sinking. Do you know on what time the witness observer her rising into the air?

BTW I cannot see your pictures for some reason, and I really would like to see them.

Thank you.

 

[Aaron_2016]

I believe the ship could have appeared to rise into the air because she was listing and sinking. Do you know on what time the witness observer her rising into the air?

BTW I cannot see your pictures for some reason, and I really would like to see them.

Thank you.

I used to believe that was the moment the Titanic rose high into the air, but Gibson said her red light (port side light) was also higher in the air when he observed all of her lights rising up together. If he was observing the Titanic's stern in the air then her red side light should have been well submerged, but instead it was elevated higher up with all of her other lights together. Gibson gave the time that he and 2nd officer Stone noticed her lights high out of the water.


Q - What had you noticed between one o'clock and twenty minutes past one, looking at her through your glasses?
A - The Second Officer remarked to me, "Look at her now; she looks very queer out of the water; her lights look queer."

"It seemed to be higher out of the water than what it was before."

I believe the Titanic turned northwards and was facing the Californian almost head on. This not only disguised her true size, but the refraction made her elevate and appear closer as well.

.

 

[Mila]

Thank you for sharing a very nice image of what appears to be a great illustration of a towering effect!
But, the documentary you're pointing out to says it was a superior mirage, and remember people from the Californian could see nothing, but the lights.
Here's an example of the ships lights under superior mirage conditions https://timmaltin.files.wordpress.com/2016/04/screen-shot-2016-04-10-at-22-38-01.png?w=768 Has any witness reported seeing anything like that?
One more question, if I may please. How many witnesses reported seeing rockets go low?
Thank you!