HMHS Brittanic Was Titanic's Dark Twin
A Doomed Sister Ship
Though the Titanic might be the most famous ocean liner in history—few know that her sister ship, the HMHS Britannic, also met a horrifying end.
She Needed To Be Redesigned
Initially, the Britannic's dimensions were very similar to the Titanic's. Of course, after the Titanic's tragic sinking, changes had to be made. While still being built, the Britannic underwent a significant overhaul, which made it far safer.
She Was Safer Than The Titanic
The loss of the Titanic was a hard lesson to learn. That's why the Britannic had a larger turbine with 18,000 horsepower, a double hull to protect the boiler rooms and engine, and 48 lifeboats which could carry more than the ship's capacity. The ship seemed prepared to dodge any tragedy thrown at her, but nothing could have prepared the passengers for its ultimate fate.
She Became A Hospital Ship
Due to the beginning of WWI, the Britannic had to take on a brand new mission. Instead of being a British passenger ship—decked out in luxurious furnishings—she became a hospital ship.
She Had Bright Markings
To make it known to potential enemies that it wasn't a threat, the Britannic identified itself with recognizable markings: a horizontal green stripe and big red crosses. Even its new name screamed out the ship's purpose as HMHS stood for "His Majesty's Hospital Ship".
