SS Britannic (1874)

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Career
Name:	Britannic
Owner:	White Star Line
Port of registry:
Route:	Atlantic crossing.
Builder:	Harland & Wolff, Kiel, Germany
Laid down:	February 3, 1874
Maiden voyage:	June 25, 1874
Honors and awards:	Blue Riband winner
Fate:	Sold, scrapped 1903
General characteristics
Type:	Steamship, single funnel
Tonnage:	5004 tons
Installed power:	Steam
Propulsion:	Single screw
Sail plan:	4 masts
Speed:	15 knots

SS Britannic was the first of three ships to sail with the Britannic name. All were part of the "Silver or White Star Line", famous for the Titanic and other ocean liners.

The Britannic was a steamship equipped with sails. It was initially to be called the Hellenic, but, just prior to her launch, her name was changed to the Britannic. Its twin was the Germanic. The Britannic sailed for nearly thirty years, primarily carrying immigrant passengers on the highly trafficked Liverpool to New York route. In 1876 it received the Blue Riband, both westbound and eastbound, by averaging almost 16 knots.

On 19 May 1887, at about 5:25 in the afternoon, the White Star liner SS Celtic collided with Britannic in thick fog about 350 miles (560 km) east of Sandy Hook, New Jersey. The Celtic, with 870 passengers, had been steaming westbound for New York City, while the Britannic, carrying 450 passengers, was on the second day of her eastward journey to Liverpool. The two ships collided at almost right angles, with the Celtic burying her prow 10 feet (3 m) in the aft port side of Britannic. The 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, 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 the Celtic. The two ships remained together through the night, and the next morning were joined by the Wilson Line's Marengo and the British Queen of the Inman Line, and the four slowly made their way into New York Harbor.

[edit] Sources and references

• History of the Britannic
• reprint of an article from Illustrated London News, May 28, 1887 of the collision

Records
Preceded by City of Chester	World's largest passenger ship 1874 – 1875	Succeeded by City of Berlin
Preceded by City of Berlin	Holder of the Blue Riband (Westbound) 1876 – 1877	Succeeded by Germanic
Preceded by Germanic	Atlantic Eastbound Record 1876 – 1879	Succeeded by Arizona