HMHS Britannic was the third and final ship of the Olympic class of steamships and the second White star line ship with the name Britannic. She was also the younger sister ship of the RMS Olympic and the RMS Titanic.
Britannic's hull was lauched just before the start of the first world war and designed to be the safest ship at the time. In 1915, Britannic was transformed into a hospital ship and made many voyages to Greece to rescue wounded soldiers from combat.
On the morning of November 21, 1916, HMHS Britannic struck a naval mine planted by the Imperial German Navy near the Greek island of Kea and sank 55 minutes later, killing 30 people. There were 1,066 people onboard Britannic's final voyage and 1,036 people were rescued from the lifeboats.
Britannic was the largest ship lost during the first world war and remained lost until the discovery of her wreck in 1975 by Jacques Cousteau. She is also the largest intact passenger shipwreck in the entire world.
here is a photo of HMHS Britannic leaving Southampton, heading for Lemnos, Greece. November 10, 1916.
YOU ARE READING
HMHS Britannic
Non-FictionThis is the story of the Britannic, the sister ship of the Titanic and the final ship of the Olympic class liners made by the white star line.