Britannic: Patroness of the Mediterranean
The Britannic was destined to be the more famous RMS Titanic's sister ship, serving the North Atlantic passenger route as the most luxurious and safe of the Olympic-class liners! But it wasn't to be.....
WWI saw the Britannic converted to a hospital ship while still under constructions. Serving as the HMHS Britannic, she struck a sea-mine in the Mediterranean sea and sunk.
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The aft gantry davits were never completed on the HMHS Britannic, but had they been completed, they would have held a vast number of lifeboats - freeing up the boat decks for passenger enjoyment. ⠀
A look at one the Engine Order Telegraphs used to control the HMHS Britannic. The handles can be moved to send orders down to the engine room, with separate controls for the port and starboard steam engines. There's also a display indicating the RPM of each engine.
Looking over the Britannic's boat deck at dusk.
The green lights running the length of the HMHS Britannic were one of the two ways it could be identified as a hospital ship at night time - together with its light up red crosses.
Looking forward from the aft of the ship, the HMHS Britannic looks very busy! With it's Welin davits, gantry davits, cargo cranes, funnels masts, ventilation and more - there's lots needed to keep a ship that size ticking!
The Britannic's swimming pool as it could have been: despite the reduction in space following the added safety features to the Britannic, the swimming pool aboard the RMS Britannic was planned to be the most impressive of the Olympic-class liners.
The HMHS Britannic on a clear and calm morning.
The lifeboats of the Britannic! THe HMHS Britannic had 3 types of lifeboats: wooden, collapsibles, and cutters. In this shot, we can see the rows of wooden lifeboats loaded onto the Welin davits ready to be launched, with a collapsible lifeboats next to each davit in reserve.
The boat deck of the HMHS Britannic, showing off 2 of the ship's impressive funnels! Visible just to the left of the funnel is the compass tower: a small tower raised above the deck of the ship to allow for more accurate readings of the compass housed there.
The HMHS Britannic in the Mediterranean dusk!
HMHS Britannic at anchor having launched one of its two motorboats, seen in the sea to the Britannics starboard side.
There were several changes planned to the Britannic's swimming pool compared to the Olympic and Titanic. The walkway on one side was removed to make way for the double hull, and marble walls and other ornate furnishings were added.⠀
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The swimming pool was not repurposed in the Britannic's conversion to a hospital ship, but most of the furnishings were significantly stripped back. ⠀
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The swimming pool was not repurposed in the Britannic's conversion to a hospital ship, but most of the furnishings were significantly stripped back. ⠀
The sun setting between the lifeboats of the HMHS Britannic. ⠀
This would have been a more familiar sight for the Britannic - the Mediterranean sun glaring down from above!
A sight the Britannic never got see: the northern lights. After completion as a hospital ship, she served in the Mediterranean sea, and sank before completing her hospital ship service.
The green running lights along the deck certainly make for an unusual atmosphere on the deck of the Britannic at night!
HMHS Britannic at night
HMHS Britannic at night, showing off its illuminated red crosses and green running lights identifying it as a hospital ship.
Almost listing at 90 degrees as the aft of the Britannic takes its final plunge beneath the waves.
Britannic developing a heavy list to starboard as the bow slips beneath the waves.
Lowering the lifeboats.
HMHS Britannic under anchor at sea.
Nothing much to say about this one - just a shot of the bow of the Britannic in her White Star Line livery. ⠀
An aft view of the Britannic in her White Star Line livery. In this shot you can see how only 3 of the funnels have smoke coming from them - the forth funnel (the aftmost one) was a dummy, with only limited functionality.⠀
With a propeller port and starboard, as well as one in the middle, the triple-screw configuration of the Olympic liners was unusual in a time where most ships just had 2. Three notices were placed around the aft of the ship reminding nearby boats to use caution as the ship had 3 propellers.⠀
The new electric gantry davits that were fitted to the Britannic could store multiple lifeboats, meaning the boat deck could really be opened up to provide more space and better views for the enjoyment of first class passengers.⠀
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However, the Britannic was converted to a hospital ship and it went to sea with a mixture of gantry and Welin davits, with lifeboats lining the boat deck.⠀
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However, the Britannic was converted to a hospital ship and it went to sea with a mixture of gantry and Welin davits, with lifeboats lining the boat deck.⠀
Following the lessons learned in safety and luxury from her sister ships RMS Olympic and RMS Titanic, the Britannic was intended to be completed as the most luxurious passenger liner on the seas. Here's how she would have looked had she gone into service as the passenger liner RMS Britannic. ⠀
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She was being fitted out with her internal furnishings when, in November 1915, she was requisitioned by the British Admiralty as a hospital ship, and she was repainted into the green and white hospital ship livery.⠀
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She was being fitted out with her internal furnishings when, in November 1915, she was requisitioned by the British Admiralty as a hospital ship, and she was repainted into the green and white hospital ship livery.⠀
The Britannic had awnings fore and aft of the superstructure, which could be deployed to offer additional protection from the elements. In this night time shot, the forward Well Deck is covered by one of the awnings.
The second way of spotting a hospital ship at night is the large red cross - illuminated with dozens of lightbulbs. There was a light-up red cross front and aft, on both sides of the ship - making it hard to miss!⠀
These green running lights ran the length of the Britannic's superstructure and aft - on both port and starboard sides of the ship. ⠀
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During the daytime, the distinctive white and green (with red crosses) livery identified the ship as a hospital ship, but at night, it could not be guaranteed this livery would be seen. These lights were one of two methods by which a hospital ship could be easily identified at night.⠀
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During the daytime, the distinctive white and green (with red crosses) livery identified the ship as a hospital ship, but at night, it could not be guaranteed this livery would be seen. These lights were one of two methods by which a hospital ship could be easily identified at night.⠀
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