In appearance the Britannic resembled the Titanic, having an enclosed
promenade A-Deck, but one large difference was the lifeboat davits which
were much more prominent on the Britannic.
Below decks, the Britannic was similar to her sisters, but additional safety features (such as a double skin) were "built in" rather than retrofitted. Although her service speed was not intended to be increased, she was fitted with a more powerful turbine capable of developing 18,000HP compared to the 16,000HP of the Olympic, it was the largest marine turbine in the world.
Launched on 26th February 1914, fitting out was delayed by WW1 and financial/industrial difficulties. On 13th November 1915 the Britannic was requistioned as a hospital ship becoming HMHS (His Majesty's Hospital Ship) Britannic.
Receiving a coat of brilliant white paint, with huge red crosses each lit by 125 lights. On 11th December 1915 she left Belfast and started her short career.
On 8:12am on 21st November 1916 Britannic struck a mine (some still contest it was a torpedo) in the Kea Channel, Aegan sea. Despite her improved safety features, the Britannic began to sink in a cruel copycat of her sister's end four years earlier.
Attempts were made to beach the ship on the nearby island of Kea, but it was not to be. Two lifeboats, launched without authority from the port side were sucked into the propellers and smashed to pieces....the occupants didn't stand a chance.
At 9:07 the stern disappeared beneath the ocean....from that moment the Olympic became the last survivor of White Star's dream of a three-ship New York shuttle.
In retrospect, the disaster could have been much worse. If the Britannic had been on a homebound journey with wounded aboard, the loss of life would have been unthinkable.
In 1976 the famous French explorer Cousteau discovered the wreck lying on her side at a depth of 110 metres and recovered a few small objects.
Considering the shallow water that the Britannic rests in, and the length of time her position has been know it's perhaps ironic that the wreck of the Britannic is safer from would-be salvagers than the Titanic. As a requisitioned ship in the service of Crown, the wreck to this day belongs to the British Government.
On 27th August 1995, the British newspaper, The Sunday Express, reported that a team of 12 Greek divers led by Kostos Thoktardis would attempt to raise the wreck. A week later (3rd September 1995) The Sunday Express reported that Paul Louden-Brown wrote to the British Ministry of Defence insisting that representations were made to the Greek Govt to stop Mr Thoktardis's plans.