HMHS Britannic
Largest hospital ship sunk by mine in 1916.
via Wikipedia: RMS Olympic · see source
HMHS Britannic was the third and final vessel of the White Star Line's Olympic class of ocean liners and the second White Star ship to bear the name Britannic. She was the younger sister of RMS Olympic and RMS Titanic and was intended to enter service as a transatlantic passenger liner. She operated as a hospital ship from 1915 until her sinking near the Greek island of Kea, in the Aegean Sea in November 1916. At the time Britannic was the largest hospital ship in the world, and the largest vessel built in Britain.
- sank
- 21 November 1916
- field
- Maritime / Hospital Ship
- nationality
- British
- known_for
- Largest hospital ship in the world; largest ship lost in the First World War; la
Lore & Background
The ship was designed to be the safest of the three ships with design changes made during construction due to lessons learned from the sinking of the Titanic. Britannic was laid up at her builders, Harland & Wolff, in Belfast, for many months before being requisitioned by the British government to be operated as a hospital ship. In 1915 and 1916 she operated between the United Kingdom and the Dardanelles. Britannic was the largest ship lost in the First World War. After the War, the White Star Line was compensated for the loss of Britannic by the award of SS Bismarck as part of postwar reparations; she entered service as RMS Majestic.
Reader's Guide
HMHS Britannic represents a pivotal example of wartime maritime loss and the application of safety lessons from the Titanic disaster. Her design incorporated a double hull, raised watertight bulkheads, and advanced gantry davits intended to launch all lifeboats even with a list. Despite these improvements, a single mine sank her in 55 minutes, killing 30 people. Her sinking highlighted the vulnerability of even the most advanced ships to naval mines. The vessel's history also illustrates the repurposing of civilian liners for military medical service during the First World War. Today, the wreck is owned by maritime historian Simon Mills, and continues to be studied for insights into early 20th-century shipbuilding and wartime operations.
Did You Know?
- Britannic was the third and final vessel of the White Star Line's Olympic class, younger sister of RMS Olympic and RMS Titanic.
- Britannic sank in 55 minutes after striking an Imperial German naval mine near the Greek island of Kea on 21 November 1916.
- After the war, White Star Line was compensated for Britannic's loss by the award of SS Bismarck, which entered service as RMS Majestic.
Common Misconceptions (Editorial)
1. Some believe Britannic was sunk by a submarine or torpedo, but according to the facts on record, she sank after striking an Imperial German naval mine near the Greek island of Kea. 2. Another common misconception is that Britannic was the only Olympic-class ship lost, but the facts confirm her sister Titanic also sank, making Britannic the third and final vessel of the class.
Why It Matters (Editorial)
HMHS Britannic endures as a powerful symbol of medical mercy in wartime, her conversion from a luxury liner to a hospital ship reflecting the tragic repurposing of civilian assets during the First World War. Her rapid sinking—in just 55 minutes—and status as the largest ship lost in that conflict continue to captivate historians and remind us of the human cost of war and the fragility of even the most ambitious engineering.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is HMHS Britannic?
She was the third and final ship in White Star Line's Olympic-class trio, the sister vessel to both RMS Olympic and RMS Titanic. Originally built as a transatlantic passenger liner, she was later repurposed as a hospital ship during the First World War.
How did HMHS Britannic sink?
In late November 1916, while on a mission in the Aegean Sea near the Greek island of Kea, she struck a naval mine and went to the bottom. That event made her the biggest hospital ship ever lost to a mine and the largest vessel lost during WWI.
What role did HMHS Britannic play in World War I?
Starting in 1915, she carried wounded troops as a hospital ship and held the distinction of being the largest one of its kind in the world at the time. She was also the biggest ship ever constructed in Britain.
Why is HMHS Britannic historically important?
She holds multiple records: the largest hospital ship destroyed by a mine, the biggest ship lost in the First World War, and the largest intact passenger liner resting on the ocean floor. As the last of the three Olympic-class sisters, she completes one of the most famous shipbuilding projects of the early twentieth century.
Where is the wreck of HMHS Britannic today?
She lies on the Aegean seabed off the coast of Kea, Greece, where she went down on 21 November 1916. To this day she remains the largest intact passenger ship found on the seafloor.
More in Famous Shipwrecks 1-22
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