HMHS Britannic was the third and final vessel of the White Star Line's Olympic class of ocean liners, launched in 1914. She was designed to be the largest and safest of the trio, with notable modifications made after the Titanic disaster, including an increased beam of 94 feet (29 meters) to accommodate a double hull around the engine and boiler rooms, and raising six of her fifteen watertight bulkheads to B Deck. Her overall dimensions were similar to her sister ships, Olympic and Titanic, but her internal volume surpassed theirs, with a gross tonnage of 48,158, making her the largest British-built vessel at the time. Powered by two triple-expansion steam engines and a low-pressure steam turbine, Britannic could reach speeds of up to 23 knots. Her external design featured large, electrically powered gantry davits capable of launching all 48 lifeboats—each capable of carrying 75 or more people—ensuring ample safety measures. The interiors were elaborately planned, with luxurious first-class amenities including a grand staircase, veranda cafes, and a pipe organ, as well as improved facilities like individual bathrooms in many cabins, which were never utilized due to her sinking. Construction began at Harland & Wolff in Belfast, with her keel laid on 30 November 1911. Despite plans for transatlantic service, her construction was interrupted by World War I, shortly after her launch. Requisitioned as a hospital ship in 1915, she was painted white with red crosses and served in the Aegean Sea, providing medical care for wounded soldiers. Her design as a hospital ship included 3,309 beds and several operating rooms. On 21 November 1916, Britannic struck a naval mine in the Kea Channel, planted by U-73, and sank within 55 minutes. Despite her size and safety features, the explosion flooded her first six watertight compartments, and her open portholes and watertight doors contributed to rapid flooding. The sinking resulted in 30 fatalities out of 1,066 on board, but the majority of passengers and crew survived, aided by more plentiful lifeboats and closer rescue ships than those at Titanic. Her wreck lies at approximately 400 feet (122 meters) deep near Kea, discovered in 1975 by Jacques Cousteau. The vessel remains remarkably intact, with significant structural damage from the mine and the sinking process. Britannic's sinking marked the largest loss of a ship in World War I, and her discovery has made her the largest intact passenger shipwreck in the world, contributing significantly to maritime history and underwater exploration.

This description has been generated using GPT-4.1-NANO based on the Vessel's wikidata information and then modified by ShipIndex.org staff.