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II
Upon arrival back in Southampton on May 20th, Thomas Andrews, Bruce Ismay and William Pirrie, with input from Captain Smith, begin a slight revision to the then building Britannic. Thomas Andrews and Captain Smith impress upon Ismay and Pirrie the fact that Titanic very nearly foundered due to her design. That if damage control had been slightly less vigorous or taken but 10-15 minutes longer, Titanic would now be on the bottom of the North Atlantic. This information is kept very quiet with few people being informed of the changes resulting from these discussions. Britannic has new, more powerful pumps installed. Increasing pumping capacity from 1700 tons per hour to 2500 tons per hour. Other changes incorporated included adding a watertight double skin along the engine and boiler rooms. Thomas Andrews recommended raising the height of the watertight bulkheads as well as adding a watertight "cap" to each compartment, but was overruled as this would drastically increase the time it would take to build Britannic. It was also determined to refit Olympic and Titanic during the slow season over the next two years with the inner skin. Additionally, Olympic was to be further modified with features that proved popular on Titanic. Namely the First Class Parlour Suites with private promenade decks and Café Parisian.
Over the course of 1912, Olympic and Titanic begin to dominate the Transatlantic trade. Having gained reputations as not only luxurious and comfortable, but as "lucky" ships. The elite of the world eagerly await Britannic joining the fleet as White Star has promised that she will be even more luxurious than her older sisters. Britannic is launched on May 9, 1913. She begins fitting out immediately. Harland and Wolff estimate that she will be completed in late March, 1914. White Star begins planning her maiden voyage for April 8, 1914.
Beginning in November, 1912 Olympic is pulled from service and given her refit. It extends to March, 1913. She reenters service on March 12, 1913. Titanic would follow her older sister in December, 1913. Needing fewer modifications, she reenters service on February 5, 1914.
On the other side of the Atlantic, the US Presidential election of 1912 is in full swing. Teddy Roosevelt secures endorsements from John Jacob Astor and Isador Strauss. Helping him to beat out incumbent President William Taft for the Republican nomination for President. President Taft, despite personally disagreeing with Roosevelt's actions, endorses him for President. Major Archibald Butt, Military Advisor and personal friend to both men plays the role of peacemaker and smoothes things over between them. This prevents a fracturing of the Republican party and improves Roosevelt's image to the public. After a contentious election, Theodore Roosevelt is elected President of the United States in November, narrowly beating out William Jennings Bryan who was nominated for the 4th time by the Democratic Party.
On April 8, 1914 RMS Britannic departs Southampton on her maiden voyage with Captain Smith in command after being relieved of command of Titanic by Captain Bertram Fox Hayes. She is hailed by the press as the last word in luxury at sea. With her maiden voyage, White Star Line finally accomplishes the dream first laid out by J. Bruce Ismay and William J. Pirrie back in 1907 to build the largest most luxurious liners afloat. The trio almost immediately become the preferred way of crossing the Atlantic by the rich and poor alike. Olympic, Titanic, and Britannic easily surpass Cunard's liners in average passenger lists on every crossing, with only Aquitania rivaling them. Upon Britannic's return to Southampton after her maiden voyage, Captain EJ Smith, after 34 years of service with White Star Line, retires to his home in Southampton. He is succeeded in command of Britannic and as Commodore of the White Star Line by Captain Charles Alfred Bartlett.
In August, 1914, World War One erupts in Europe. Initially, the three Olympic-class liners, and White Star's other liners, are booked full of Americans trying to escape Europe and get home. Though, due to the threat of U-boats, the schedule is altered to terminate first at Liverpool, then at Glasgow. The eastbound voyages, however, are practically empty. By late September, bookings have fallen sharply. Mainly due to the increased U-boat threat. Though it should also be noted, that very few Americans are left in Europe. Due to these conditions, White Star decides to lay up the Olympic-class liners for the duration of the war. All three vessels are laid up in Belfast by mid October.
In May, 1915, the three Olympic-class liners along with the Cunard liners Mauritania and Aquitania were requisitioned as troop ships by the British Admiralty. The need for large liners as troop ships arises following the American Declaration of War after the sinking of the Lusitania and the deaths of 128 Americans earlier that month. The ships were soon stripped of their opulent fittings and outfitted to carry over 6,000 troops, the three ships together could transport an entire division from North America to the European Continent in 6 days.
Following American entry into the war, the three Olympic-class liners primarily operated between New York and Cherbourg, France. Though they would occasionally run between Halifax and Cherbourg carrying Canadian troops in concert with the two Cunard liners. It was while transporting Canadian soldiers that HMT 2811 Titanic fired on a suspected U-boat. Though no results were recorded at the time, it was revealed after the war that the U-boat in question was U-66. The shots from Titanic's 4.7" gun hit and damaged her conning tower, forcing her to abandon her planned attack. HMT 2812 Britannic, however, was not so lucky.
On the morning of October 8, 1915, Britannic was struck abreast of Boiler Room 6 by a U-Boat launched torpedo. Luckily for Britannic, Captain Bartlett, being keenly aware of the U-Boat threat was sailing with all watertight doors closed and damage control materials ready to hand. The torpedo knocked out Boiler Room 6 as well as damaging Compartments 3 and 4. Though damaged, Britannic safely made it to port in Halifax. The damage to Britannic was soon patched and she sailed for New York to be repaired. Incidentally, in the same dry dock that held Titanic 3 years earlier after her brush with the iceberg. Unlike Titanic, which was repaired in three weeks, Britannic will be laid up in New York for several months, requiring the installation of new boilers and associated machinery in boiler room 6. Her survival is credited to the changes made after Titanic's damage. As the additional pumps she was fitted with helped keep the flooding at bay. Britannic will not leave dry dock until February, 1916.
Olympic too was to have an eventful wartime career. On October 1st, 1915 Olympic sighted lifeboats which turned out to be from the French vessel Provincia, which had been torpedoed and sunk that very morning. 34 survivors of the sinking were taken on board. Though Captain Haddock would be criticized by the British Admiralty for endangering his ship by stopping in an area with known U-boat activity, the French Government saw the matter somewhat differently, awarding Captain Haddock the Gold Medal of Honour. During Olympic's refit after the war, a large dent with a crack in the center was discovered below the waterline. It was determined that it was caused by a torpedo that failed to detonate. Once again cementing Olympic's status as a lucky ship.
With the Great War ending in March, 1917 with a decisive defeat of the Central Powers the Olympic-class liners were soon engaged in returning American and Canadian troops (and their brides) home. By the end of 1917 the three ships, along with other White Star Vessels, were returned to White Star. All three ships were sent to Harland and Wolff for refits. Not only were their interiors restored and updated, but they were also converted to oil firing boilers. This reduced their engine room crew from 300, to 60. It also has the effect of increasing their top speed to nearly 25 knots. During their wartime service, the Olympic-class liners carried over 1 million men over nearly 600,000 miles. The trio are nicknamed "The Reliables" for their steady service and toughness. It is a name that will stick to the ships for the remainder of their careers.
The most striking changes to the ships, however are all above deck. During their conversion to troop ships, additional lifeboat davits were installed. The ships now could carry up to 72 lifeboats, more than their design originally called for. Though White Star grumbles that the additional davits break up the ships' clean lines, they do not remove them, considering the cost to be prohibitive. Though now equipped to handle 72 boats, the trio in practice only sail with 24. As carrying additional boats inboard will clutter the Boat Deck. The aft Well Deck is also covered to provide Third Class passengers a covered deck space useable in bad weather. All three ships return to service by April, 1918; quickly reestablishing their dominance on the North Atlantic route. This is aided by Cunard's loss of Lusitania in 1915 and the subsequent delay in converting the SS Imperator (reparations for the loss of Lusitania) into the RMS Berengaria.
Cunard is not the only company to be awarded a former German liner. White Star receives the Norddeutsher Lloyd liner SS Columbus (as compensation for the loss of RMS Oceanic), soon rechristened RMS Homeric. She too is sent to Harland and Wolff in 1918 to be refitted and brought up to White Star's standards. Along with the rest of White Star's fleet, she is converted to oil firing boilers from coal. Homeric is placed on White Star's Liverpool to Boston run.
Over the course of 1912, Olympic and Titanic begin to dominate the Transatlantic trade. Having gained reputations as not only luxurious and comfortable, but as "lucky" ships. The elite of the world eagerly await Britannic joining the fleet as White Star has promised that she will be even more luxurious than her older sisters. Britannic is launched on May 9, 1913. She begins fitting out immediately. Harland and Wolff estimate that she will be completed in late March, 1914. White Star begins planning her maiden voyage for April 8, 1914.
Beginning in November, 1912 Olympic is pulled from service and given her refit. It extends to March, 1913. She reenters service on March 12, 1913. Titanic would follow her older sister in December, 1913. Needing fewer modifications, she reenters service on February 5, 1914.
On the other side of the Atlantic, the US Presidential election of 1912 is in full swing. Teddy Roosevelt secures endorsements from John Jacob Astor and Isador Strauss. Helping him to beat out incumbent President William Taft for the Republican nomination for President. President Taft, despite personally disagreeing with Roosevelt's actions, endorses him for President. Major Archibald Butt, Military Advisor and personal friend to both men plays the role of peacemaker and smoothes things over between them. This prevents a fracturing of the Republican party and improves Roosevelt's image to the public. After a contentious election, Theodore Roosevelt is elected President of the United States in November, narrowly beating out William Jennings Bryan who was nominated for the 4th time by the Democratic Party.
On April 8, 1914 RMS Britannic departs Southampton on her maiden voyage with Captain Smith in command after being relieved of command of Titanic by Captain Bertram Fox Hayes. She is hailed by the press as the last word in luxury at sea. With her maiden voyage, White Star Line finally accomplishes the dream first laid out by J. Bruce Ismay and William J. Pirrie back in 1907 to build the largest most luxurious liners afloat. The trio almost immediately become the preferred way of crossing the Atlantic by the rich and poor alike. Olympic, Titanic, and Britannic easily surpass Cunard's liners in average passenger lists on every crossing, with only Aquitania rivaling them. Upon Britannic's return to Southampton after her maiden voyage, Captain EJ Smith, after 34 years of service with White Star Line, retires to his home in Southampton. He is succeeded in command of Britannic and as Commodore of the White Star Line by Captain Charles Alfred Bartlett.
In August, 1914, World War One erupts in Europe. Initially, the three Olympic-class liners, and White Star's other liners, are booked full of Americans trying to escape Europe and get home. Though, due to the threat of U-boats, the schedule is altered to terminate first at Liverpool, then at Glasgow. The eastbound voyages, however, are practically empty. By late September, bookings have fallen sharply. Mainly due to the increased U-boat threat. Though it should also be noted, that very few Americans are left in Europe. Due to these conditions, White Star decides to lay up the Olympic-class liners for the duration of the war. All three vessels are laid up in Belfast by mid October.
In May, 1915, the three Olympic-class liners along with the Cunard liners Mauritania and Aquitania were requisitioned as troop ships by the British Admiralty. The need for large liners as troop ships arises following the American Declaration of War after the sinking of the Lusitania and the deaths of 128 Americans earlier that month. The ships were soon stripped of their opulent fittings and outfitted to carry over 6,000 troops, the three ships together could transport an entire division from North America to the European Continent in 6 days.
Following American entry into the war, the three Olympic-class liners primarily operated between New York and Cherbourg, France. Though they would occasionally run between Halifax and Cherbourg carrying Canadian troops in concert with the two Cunard liners. It was while transporting Canadian soldiers that HMT 2811 Titanic fired on a suspected U-boat. Though no results were recorded at the time, it was revealed after the war that the U-boat in question was U-66. The shots from Titanic's 4.7" gun hit and damaged her conning tower, forcing her to abandon her planned attack. HMT 2812 Britannic, however, was not so lucky.
On the morning of October 8, 1915, Britannic was struck abreast of Boiler Room 6 by a U-Boat launched torpedo. Luckily for Britannic, Captain Bartlett, being keenly aware of the U-Boat threat was sailing with all watertight doors closed and damage control materials ready to hand. The torpedo knocked out Boiler Room 6 as well as damaging Compartments 3 and 4. Though damaged, Britannic safely made it to port in Halifax. The damage to Britannic was soon patched and she sailed for New York to be repaired. Incidentally, in the same dry dock that held Titanic 3 years earlier after her brush with the iceberg. Unlike Titanic, which was repaired in three weeks, Britannic will be laid up in New York for several months, requiring the installation of new boilers and associated machinery in boiler room 6. Her survival is credited to the changes made after Titanic's damage. As the additional pumps she was fitted with helped keep the flooding at bay. Britannic will not leave dry dock until February, 1916.
Olympic too was to have an eventful wartime career. On October 1st, 1915 Olympic sighted lifeboats which turned out to be from the French vessel Provincia, which had been torpedoed and sunk that very morning. 34 survivors of the sinking were taken on board. Though Captain Haddock would be criticized by the British Admiralty for endangering his ship by stopping in an area with known U-boat activity, the French Government saw the matter somewhat differently, awarding Captain Haddock the Gold Medal of Honour. During Olympic's refit after the war, a large dent with a crack in the center was discovered below the waterline. It was determined that it was caused by a torpedo that failed to detonate. Once again cementing Olympic's status as a lucky ship.
With the Great War ending in March, 1917 with a decisive defeat of the Central Powers the Olympic-class liners were soon engaged in returning American and Canadian troops (and their brides) home. By the end of 1917 the three ships, along with other White Star Vessels, were returned to White Star. All three ships were sent to Harland and Wolff for refits. Not only were their interiors restored and updated, but they were also converted to oil firing boilers. This reduced their engine room crew from 300, to 60. It also has the effect of increasing their top speed to nearly 25 knots. During their wartime service, the Olympic-class liners carried over 1 million men over nearly 600,000 miles. The trio are nicknamed "The Reliables" for their steady service and toughness. It is a name that will stick to the ships for the remainder of their careers.
The most striking changes to the ships, however are all above deck. During their conversion to troop ships, additional lifeboat davits were installed. The ships now could carry up to 72 lifeboats, more than their design originally called for. Though White Star grumbles that the additional davits break up the ships' clean lines, they do not remove them, considering the cost to be prohibitive. Though now equipped to handle 72 boats, the trio in practice only sail with 24. As carrying additional boats inboard will clutter the Boat Deck. The aft Well Deck is also covered to provide Third Class passengers a covered deck space useable in bad weather. All three ships return to service by April, 1918; quickly reestablishing their dominance on the North Atlantic route. This is aided by Cunard's loss of Lusitania in 1915 and the subsequent delay in converting the SS Imperator (reparations for the loss of Lusitania) into the RMS Berengaria.
Cunard is not the only company to be awarded a former German liner. White Star receives the Norddeutsher Lloyd liner SS Columbus (as compensation for the loss of RMS Oceanic), soon rechristened RMS Homeric. She too is sent to Harland and Wolff in 1918 to be refitted and brought up to White Star's standards. Along with the rest of White Star's fleet, she is converted to oil firing boilers from coal. Homeric is placed on White Star's Liverpool to Boston run.
- SsgtC
- Word Count: 1.6k