HMHS Britannic, sister to the RMS Titanic, is launched at Harland and Wolff shipyard in Belfast

The HMHS Britannic was the third and largest vessel of the Olympic-class ocean liners built for the White Star Line. Launched in 1914 at the Harland & Wolff shipyard in Belfast, she was originally intended to be a luxurious transatlantic passenger liner, sister ship to the RMS Olympic and the ill-fated RMS Titanic. However, before she could enter passenger service, World War I broke out. As a result, Britannic was requisitioned by the British government and converted into a hospital ship, painted white with large red crosses to indicate her humanitarian role.

As a hospital ship, Britannic served in the Mediterranean, transporting wounded soldiers from the Gallipoli campaign back to Britain. She was equipped with operating theaters, wards, and medical staff quarters, and could carry over 3,000 patients. Significant safety improvements had been made to her design following the Titanic disaster, including enhanced watertight compartments and additional lifeboats. These upgrades were meant to make her one of the safest ships afloat, and for a time she successfully completed several voyages without incident.

On the morning of November 21, 1916, while sailing in the Aegean Sea near the Greek island of Kea, Britannic struck a German naval mine laid by U-73. The explosion caused catastrophic damage, and despite efforts to save her, she sank in less than an hour. Thanks to improved evacuation procedures and calm sea conditions, most people on board survived; 30 lives were lost out of more than 1,000 aboard. Today, the wreck of the Britannic lies at the bottom of the Aegean Sea and is considered one of the best-preserved large shipwrecks in the world, serving as a poignant reminder of both maritime ambition and the tragedies of war.