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The Sinking of HMHS Britannic is one of the most notable maritime disasters of the early 20th century, closely tied to the story of her famous sister ship, the Titanic. Here are the detailed facts:

Overview of HMHS Britannic

Name: His Majesty’s Hospital Ship Britannic

Class: Olympic-class ocean liner (sister to Titanic and Olympic)

Built by: Harland and Wolff, Belfast

Owner: White Star Line

Launched: February 26, 1914

Intended Use: Luxury passenger liner

Requisitioned as: Hospital ship during World War I

Sinking Details

Date of Sinking: November 21, 1916

Location: Kea Channel, Aegean Sea (near Greece)

Mission: Transporting wounded soldiers from the Middle East

Cause: Underwater explosion – believed to be a mine laid by German submarine U-73

Sequence of Events

1. Explosion: Around 8:12 AM, an explosion occurred on the starboard side of the ship.

2. Rapid Flooding: Bulkheads failed to contain the water effectively, and flooding spread quickly.

3. Evacuation: Captain Charles Bartlett ordered an immediate evacuation.

4. Lifeboat Tragedy: Two lifeboats were launched prematurely and were sucked into the still-turning propellers, killing 30 people.

5. Time to Sink: The Britannic sank in just 55 minutes – much faster than Titanic.

Casualties

People on Board: Approx. 1,065 (medical staff, crew, and a few wounded soldiers)

Deaths: 30 (mainly from the lifeboat incident)

Survivors: Over 1,030

Why She Sank So Fast

The ship had open portholes (for ventilation), which allowed water to flood in faster.

Though she had more lifeboats and better safety measures than Titanic, the quick flooding and running engines contributed to the disaster.

Interesting Facts

Violet Jessop, a nurse on board, survived Britannic—and the Titanic—making her one of the few people to survive both major sinkings.

The wreck of Britannic was discovered in 1975 by Jacques Cousteau and is the largest passenger ship wreck on the ocean floor.

She was the largest ship lost during World War I.