Sister Ships of the Titanic: Olympic and Britannic

The Titanic, often seen as a symbol of maritime engineering and technological advancement, shines a spotlight on its sister ships, Olympic and Britannic, which were constructed to follow in its wake. These three ships, now known as the Olympic-class, were renowned for their engineering and luxurious design. However, their fates were quite different from one another.

Olympic Class: A Legacy of Luxury and War Service

The Olympic class of ships was part of a larger plan initiated by Cunard-White Star. The class consisted of three vessels: the Olympic, Titanic, and Britannic, all designed to operate as passenger liners. Each ship weighed approximately 45,000 tons and was powered by the most advanced propulsion systems of their time.

RMS Olympic was the first of the class to be launched in September 1910. After serving a prosperous career of 24 years, the ship was converted into a troopship during World War I. Despite the changes, the ship maintained its reputation as 'Old Reliable' among its crew. After the war, she resumed her role as a passenger liner until she was eventually scrapped in 1935 due to economic constraints brought on by the Great Depression.

H.M. Hospital Ship Britannic, the third ship of the class, was requisitioned by the British government and renamed as H.M.H.S. Britannic. Unlike her sister Titanic, Britannic never operated as a passenger liner and was instead used as a hospital ship during World War I. She met her fate in November 1916 when a German naval mine caused the wreck to sink in the Aegean Sea.

The Fates of the Olympic and Britannic

Among the three Olympic-class ships, the Titanic and Olympic had their fates interwoven with the Great War. However, their stories diverged after the war. Olympic continued her career, becoming a valuable asset during the conflict and returning to a role as a passenger liner afterward.

H.M.H.S. Britannic, on the other hand, saw her service as a hospital ship in World War I. Her relatively short life was filled with the challenges and dangers of wartime hospital operations. The sinking of Britannic was a tragic event that claimed the lives of several crew members and marked the end of her brief career in service.

Replacement Ships and Post-War Compensations

After the devastating loss of H.M.H.S. Britannic, the White Star Line sought compensation from the Allied powers. As part of the reparations following World War I, they were awarded S.S. Bismarck. This ship entered service as R.M.S. Majestic, continuing the legacy of the Olympic-class ships with a new name and purpose.

It's essential to note that there were never two Titanics built. The Titanic, as mentioned in the 'Barbara Frum' question, is a reference to a fictional scenario often depicted in fiction and documentaries to reflect on the tragedy. The correct answer is that there were three ships in the Olympic class: the Olympic, Titanic, and Britannic.