Some people wonder if counter flooding the stern could have saved her. She was designed to remain afloat if five watertight compartments were breached, the iceberged breached six at the bow. The result was that as they filled they lowered the bow and water overtopped and filled the seventh, then the eigth, until she settled by the bow.
If they had counter flooded two or three comparments in the stern, she may have leveled off and remained stable in the extremely calm waters that prevailed on that day. Even if they only bought time, it might have been enough to prevent the high death toll.
never heard that one before.
not sure if it would have helped much though. by the time they realized the state they were in, may have been too late for counterflooding to be effective.
also, while it may have kept the ship fairly level, it would not have prevented more water from coming in the in the bow, and would have added the additional water in the stern. it would sink level, instead of bow first, maybe change the amount of time by a few minutes, but not enough to make much difference to people in the water.