SS Britannic (1874)

SS Britannic

**SS *Britannic*** was an ocean liner of the White Star Line. It was the first of three ships of the White Star Line to sail with *Britannic* name.

*Britannic* was a single-screw passenger steamship equipped with sails built for the White Star Line's North Atlantic run. It was initially to be called *Hellenic*, but, just prior to her launch, her name was changed to *Britannic*. Together with her sister *Germanic*, *Britannic* sailed for nearly thirty years, primarily carrying immigrant passengers on the highly trafficked Liverpool to New York City route. In 1876 it received the Blue Riband, both westbound and eastbound, by averaging almost 16 knots (30 km/h).

## Accommodations

The *Britannic* and her sister *Germanic* were both built to carry a total of 1,720 passengers in two classes when fully booked, 220 Saloon Class Passengers (Title of First Class at that time) and 1,500 Steerage Passengers. As the ships were virtually larger versions of the "Oceanic" class ships built in the previous years, their accommodations were very similar, with some variances to give each ship its own character. *Britannic*'s saloon accommodations, consisting of a large, spacious dining saloon and a large number of two and four berth cabins were located in the centre of the ship on the main deck, being the upper of the two decks enclosed within the hull above the waterline. The steerage accommodations were located on the two lower decks and consisted of large dormitory-style cabins capable of sleeping up to 20 passengers lined against the hull, with an open space running along the centre line of the ship where passengers could congregate. These accommodations were divided into two main sections at either end of the ship, berths for single men in the bow and berths for single women, married couples and families in the stern.

## Career

On 25 June 1874 she made her maiden voyage, from Liverpool to New York. In the autumn of 1876, she captured the westbound Blue Riband and a month later set the eastbound record as well, becoming the only White Star ship ever to hold both records simultaneously. She lost the westbound record to her sister, *Germanic*, in April 1877 and the eastbound one to the Guion Line's *Arizona* in July 1879.

On 4 July 1881 *Britannic* ran aground in fog at Kilmore, County Wexford, Ireland, and remained stuck for two days. All the passengers were safely landed at Waterford. *Britannic* sprang a leak in her engine room after being re-floated and was beached at Wexford Bay. She had to be patched up and pumped before returning to Liverpool.

### **SS *Celtic* collision**

On 19 May 1887, at about 5:25pm, the White Star liner SS *Celtic* collided with *Britannic* in thick fog about 350 miles (560 km) east of Sandy Hook, New Jersey. *Celtic*, with 870 passengers, had been steaming westbound for New York City, while *Britannic*, carrying 450 passengers, was on the second day of her eastward journey to Liverpool. The two ships collided at almost right angles, with *Celtic* burying her prow 10 feet (3 m) in the aft port side of *Britannic*. *Celtic* rebounded and hit two more times, before sliding past behind *Britannic*.

Six steerage passengers were killed outright on board *Britannic* and another six were later found to be missing having been washed overboard. There were no deaths on board *Celtic*. Both ships were badly damaged, but *Britannic* more so, having a large hole below her waterline. Fearing that she would founder, the passengers on board began to panic and rushed the lifeboats. *Britannic's* captain, Hugh Hamilton Perry,[3] pistol in hand, was able to restore some semblance of order, and the boats were filled with women and children, although a few men forced their way on board. After the lifeboats had launched, it was realized that *Britannic* would be able to stay afloat, and the lifeboats within hailing distance were recalled. The rest made their way over to *Celtic*. The two ships remained together through the night and the next morning were joined by the Wilson Line's *Marengo* and *British Queen* of the Inman Line, and the four slowly made their way into New York Harbor. *Britannic* was repaired at New York and was out of service for nearly a month.

Two and a half year old Eleanor Roosevelt was on board the Britannic at the time of the collision, with her father Elliott, mother Anna and aunt Tissie. Eleanor was lowered into a lifeboat, screaming and protesting. She and her parents were taken to the Celtic and eventually returned to New York. Eleanor raised a huge protest at the prospect of going back on board a ship to continue the family's trip to Europe. Her parents went on to Europe, leaving the little girl with a maternal aunt. Eleanor had a lifelong fear of water and ships as a result of this incident.

### ***Czarowitz* collision**

On 2 January 1890, *Britannic* collided with *Czarowitz* – a British brigantine bound from Fowey, Cornwall, England, to Runcorn, Cheshire, England, with a cargo of china clay – in the Crosby Channel as *Czarowitz* was about to enter the River Mersey. *Czarowitz* sank.

### **Later career**

*Britannic* continued on the Liverpool–New York run. On one journey in August 1891, the 17-year-old ship recorded her fastest-ever crossing from New York to Queenstown, making the journey in 7 days, 6 hours, and 52 min.

In August 1899 *Britannic* was requisitioned by the Royal Navy and converted for use as a troopship to transport soldiers to the Second Boer War in South Africa, becoming known as HMT (Hired Military Transport) #62. During this period, under the command of Bertram Fox Hayes, *Britannic* transported 37,000 troops to and from the conflict over three years.[6] She continued in this role until the war concluded in October 1902. On her return, *Britannic*'s condition was such that she was condemned on inspection and sold for scrap for £11,500. She was towed to Hamburg, Germany, and broken up during 1903.