- In full:
- His Majesty’s Hospital Ship Britannic or
- Abbreviated:
- HMHS Britannic
-
What was the Britannic?
The Britannic was a British ocean liner, sister to the Olympic and Titanic, purposed for transatlantic luxury travel for the White Star Line. Construction began in 1911, but after the Titanic sank, the Britannic was redesigned with more lifeboats and increased watertight compartments.
Before it could operate commercially, it was requisitioned as a hospital ship during World War I in 1915. In November 1916, while en route to Lemnos, Greece, an explosion occurred, likely caused by a mine. The ship sank within 55 minutes near Kéa island. Despite the rapid sinking, rescue efforts saved over 1,030 people; 30 lives were lost. Jacques Cousteau discovered the wreckage in 1975.
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Which country built the Britannic?
The Britannic was built in Belfast, Northern Ireland, by the Harland and Wolff shipbuilding firm. It was commissioned by the White Star Line as one of a class of transatlantic luxury liners, designed for comfort rather than speed. The Britannic was a sister ship to the Olympic and the Titanic. Construction on the Britannic began on November 30, 1911, and it was launched on February 26, 1914.
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What was the original purpose of the Britannic?
The Britannic was initially designed as a transatlantic luxury liner for the White Star Line, intended for comfort rather than speed. It was conceived in 1907 as part of a class of liners including the Olympic and Titanic. Construction began in 1911, but after the Titanic sank, the Britannic was redesigned with enhanced safety features. However, before it could begin its commercial service, World War I broke out, and in 1915, the Britannic was requisitioned as a hospital ship.
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How was Britannic similar to or different from the Titanic?
The Britannic, Titanic, and Olympic were sister ships designed for comfort, not speed, for the White Star Line. After the Titanic sank, the Britannic was redesigned to incorporate more safety modifications, such as more lifeboats and increased watertight compartments.
The Britannic, originally intended to be larger and more luxurious than its sister ships, measured approximately 882 feet in length with a gross tonnage of 48,158. The Titanic was approximately 882.5 feet long and about 92.5 feet wide with a gross registered tonnage of 46,328 tons. The Britannic never operated as a commercial vessel, as it was refitted as a hospital ship during World War I. In 1916, the Britannic sank after hitting a mine, while the Titanic sank in 1912 after hitting an iceberg.
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What happened to the Britannic during World War I?
The Britannic never operated as a commercial vessel. It was refitted as a hospital ship during World War I. On November 21, 1916, near Kéa Island, Greece, an explosion occurred on the ship, likely caused by a mine. Although only six of its watertight compartments flooded initially, water soon entered through open portholes as the ship listed. An attempt to beach the ship failed, and the Britannic sank in about 55 minutes. Despite the rapid sinking, rescue efforts were successful, and only 30 people died, while over 1,030 were saved.
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How is the wreck of the Britannic explored and remembered today?
The Britannic, sister ship to the Titanic and Olympic, sank in 1916 after hitting a mine during World War I. In 1975, Jacques Cousteau located the wreck of the Britannic, which rests on its starboard side at a depth of 390 feet (119 meters). The ship is mostly intact, save for a large hole in its bow.
Like the Titanic, the Britannic's legacy lives on through books, documentaries and museum exhibits.
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Britannic, British ocean liner that was a sister ship of the Olympic and the Titanic. Having never operated as a commercial vessel, it was refitted as a hospital ship during World War I and sank in 1916, reportedly after striking a mine.
The Britannic was built by the Belfast firm of Harland and Wolff as part of a class of transatlantic luxury liners for the White Star Line. The class, which was designed for comfort rather than speed, was conceived in 1907 and initially included only the Olympic and Titanic. The third ship was added later, and it was planned to be larger and more luxurious than its sister ships. On November 30, 1911, construction began with the laying of the keel. After the Titanic sank in April 1912, however, the ship was redesigned to incorporate various safety modifications. Notably, more lifeboats were added, and its watertight compartments (which featured doors that allowed the sections to be isolated from each other) were increased to 17 in number, 5 of which were raised from E deck to B deck. In addition, its name was reportedly changed from Gigantic to Britannic. After the hull was completed, the ship was launched on February 26, 1914. The Britannic was scheduled to begin its commercial service the following year. However, with the start of World War I in 1914, the Britannic was requisitioned as a hospital ship in 1915. Upon its completion, the ship measured approximately 882 feet (269 metres) in length and had a gross tonnage of 48,158.
On December 23, 1915, the Britannic undertook its maiden voyage, sailing from Liverpool, England, to the Greek island of Lemnos, via Naples. After collecting some 3,300 casualties, the ship departed for Southampton, England, and arrived there on January 9, 1916. The Britannic sailed on two subsequent voyages before being released from war duty in June 1916. However, two months later it was again requisitioned. On November 12, 1916, the Britannic departed from Southampton for Lemnos on its sixth voyage. At approximately 8:15 am on November 21, some 2 miles (3 km) from Kéa island, Greece, an explosion occurred on the ship. Initial reports suggested the cause as either a mine or a torpedo, though later evidence pointed to a mine. (In October a German U-boat had laid mines in the area.) Although damage was extensive, only six of the watertight compartments flooded, and the ship remained afloat. As the ship listed, water began to enter open portholes on the starboard side. In an attempt to beach the ship off Kéa, Capt. Charles Bartlett ordered full speed. The movement, however, caused more water to enter the ship, and Bartlett quickly ordered the engines stopped. At approximately 9:07 am the Britannic sank. (While the Titanic took 2 hours and 40 minutes to founder, the Britannic was lost in about 55 minutes.) Several boats came to rescue the survivors, including the Scourge and Heroic. Despite the speed of its sinking, only 30 people were killed. More than 1,030 were saved.
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In 1975 French ocean explorer Jacques Cousteau discovered the wreckage of the Britannic. The ship was found lying on its starboard side at a depth of some 390 feet (119 metres). It was intact except for a large hole in its bow.