For all those interested (and with access?) the October 1996 (things are
coming out earlier and earlier) issue of Naval History (printed by the
U.S. Naval Institute) has an interesting article about the sinking of the
Titanic and then an interview with Dr Ballard...the guy who dived on it
originally.
 
The article (in a nutshell) states that it wasn't the 300-ft gash itself
(don't forget, she was built with watertight compartments) that sank the
Titanic, rather the "steel of the [ship] was more brittle than that used
today."   The freezing cold of the water, etc. lessened the integrity of the
hull (plating and rivets)...and the rest is history...
 
The article obviously goes into more detail...
 
The Ballard interview, among other things, discusses his views on the
"salvage" of HMS Titanic.  He doesn't like it...
 
For anyone interested, the Naval Institute has a web page at
        http://www.usni.org
 
It doesn't look like the Naval History page has been updated for this
latest edition, but you can get the magazine by calling the bookstore in
Annapolis (it's on the web page 410-268-4110 (4112 on weekends).
 
Happy Hunting...
 
Ken Liss
U of Minnesota
 
P.S. I don't work for the USNI...just been a member for a long time!