by Thomas Scharff

In 1914, two years after the Titanic sank, her sister ship, the Britannic, was completed. She was launched on February 26, 1914. The Britannic was used as a hospital ship during World War I. She measured 882 feet 9 inches long, 94 feet wide, and had a gross tonnage of 48,158. She was built to be slightly wider than the Titanic.

If you’re wondering, yes—she also sank, but fewer people died. Built with lessons from the Titanic disaster in mind, she featured an extensive double hull along her engine and boiler rooms, and 6 of her 15 watertight bulkheads were extended up to B Deck. The Britannic struck a naval mine and sank at 9:07 a.m.

Only 30 people died when HMHS Britannic sank. The ship capsized and eventually slipped beneath the sea. You might say this isn’t a big deal, but it is still an important part of maritime history.

Facts:

• The Britannic was originally going to be named RMS Gigantic, but the White Star Line changed the name after the Titanic disaster in 1912.
• The Britannic’s stern split after it sank and reached the ocean floor.
• The Britannic was the largest and final ship built for the White Star Line.