An Analytical Approach to the Question of a Clock Change

One of the ongoing arguments that continues to be brought up is the question of whether or not clocks on Titanic were put back some time before the accident took place Sunday night, April 14, 1912. Some of the deck crew, awakened by the accident at 11:40 p.m. ship’s time, thought that it was close to the time that they were due to take their watch on deck, which would be at 12 o’clock. Despite Boatswain’s Mate Albert Haines, who was awake and on duty at the time, testifying that “The right time, without putting the clock back, was 20 minutes to 12,” there are some that try to argue that a 24 minute clock adjustment had already taken place, and the time of the accident on an unadjusted clock still keeping April 14th time would have been 4 minutes past 12.

Key Points

Clock Change Debate

The document addresses the ongoing debate about whether the clocks on the Titanic were set back before the collision on April 14, 1912.
Some crew members believed it was close to their watch time (midnight) when the collision occurred at 11:40 p.m. ship's time.

Run Time Analysis

The key to resolving the clock change question is determining the run time from noon Sunday to the time of the accident.
If the run time was 11 hours 40 minutes, no clock change occurred. If it was more than 12 hours, a clock change of 23-24 minutes had taken place.

Taffrail Log Data

The analysis relies on taffrail log mileage data provided by quartermasters George Rowe and Robert Hichens.
The taffrail log measures the distance travelled through the water, which is independent of the water's speed.

Speed and Distance Calculations

Titanic was carrying about 75-76 revolutions per minute on her engines, maintaining a consistent speed through the water.
Using the log data, the document calculates the run time from noon to the collision as approximately 11 hours 33 minutes, suggesting no clock change.

Error Analysis

The document considers potential errors in log mileage and time intervals, concluding that the derived run time falls within acceptable limits.
A run time of 11 hours 40 minutes aligns with the reported log mileage and engine revolutions, supporting the no-clock change theory.

Conclusion

The analysis indicates that a 24-minute clock adjustment before the accident is unlikely, as it does not match the detailed applied analysis.
The ship's performance and speed through the water remained consistent, further supporting the conclusion that no clock change occurred.

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